| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 20.40 | � | HERON::BUCHANAN | Andrew @vbo DTN 828-5805 | Thu Jun 01 1989 17:10 | 18 |
| "NASA is using TI's Explorer LX multiprocessor workstation to develop an
expert system for monitoring and diagnosing environmental conditions on
board the space shuttle during ground operations.
"Called KATE (KB Autonomous Test Engineer), the system takes fill advantage
of the multitsking features of the Exploere LX. KATE is implemented in
Common Lisp, and will use the LX's UNIX capability to communicate with
other systems.
"Now at the testing stage, KATE is used in the Orbiter Maintenance &
Refurbishment Facility, the hangar where the shuttle orbiters are stored,
to monitor and control a range of ground support functions. Its first task
is to control the supply of conditioned air to the orbiters while they are
in the hangar. In the future, KATE will control electrical, mechanical and
fluid systems."
Taken from 'intelligence', TI bimonthly AI marketing propaganda document.
APR-89. Copied without permission!
|
| 20.41 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 05/29/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jun 07 1989 11:06 | 512 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 007510
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 06-Jun-1989 08:17pm ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 05/29/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of May 29, 1989
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
---------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 29, 1989
GENERAL:
BUSH APPROVED FUNDING FOR LANDSAT SATELLITES
DEFENSE:
MARINE HELICOPTER CRASHED OFF OKINAWA, JAPAN
AIA RECOMMENDS WAYS FOR PENTAGON AND INDUSTRY TO INTEGRATE AI
SECOND STAGE NOZZLE SOURCE OF FAILURE IN FIRST SMALL ICMB FLIGHT TEST
FY 1989 REQUEST FOR MIDGETMAN SMALL ICBM PROGRAM IN TROUBLE
DEFENSE CONSULTANT AND NAVY ENGINEER SENTENCED IN PROCUREMENT SCANDAL
NASA:
APOLLO 11 CREW GATHERED IN WASHINGTON TO PROMOTE SPACE EXPLORATION
CAPPS COMPUTER TESTED BY AMES RESEARCH CENTER AND DARPA
JAMES FLETCHER NASA CONSULTANT UNDER 130 DAY CONTRACT
INTERNATIONAL:
GORBACHEV SAYS SOVIETS SPEND 9% OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT ON DEFENSE
SOVIETS HAVE SPENT $2.38 BILLION ON MIR SPACE STATION SINCE 1986
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES TO JOIN IN BID FOR NWA INC.
EUROPEAN FIGHTER AIRCRAFT STEERING COMMITTEE UNABLE TO AGREE ON RADAR
ARIANESPACE DELAYED LAUNCH OF ARIANE 44L BOOSTER FOR THIRD TIME
BUSINESS:
FEDERAL GRAND JURY SUBPOENAED RECORDS FROM GD AND MARTIN MARIETTA
GE NAMES NEW VICE PRESIDENTS FOR AEROSPACE DIVISIONS
GENERAL ELECTRIC CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING THE ARMY OF $23 MILLION
HARRIS CORP. CONVICTED IN PHILIPPINES KICKBACK SCHEME
HUGHES AIRCRAFT TO CUT WORKFORCE BY 8%
KAMAN HELICOPTERS TO BE SOLD TO PORTUGAL
LORAL'S SALE OF TWO DIVISIONS TO BE CHALLENGED BY BANNER INDUSTRIES
MARTIN MARIETTA CONDUCTED FIRST FIRING OF ADATS MISSILE
VICKERS PURCHASES MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ELECTRO-MECHANICAL DIVISION
CONTRACT AWARDS:
NAVY EXERCISED $33 MILLION OPTION WITH AIL SYSTEMS
ALLIED-SIGNAL GIVEN AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS CONTRACT
CRAY RESEARCH RECEIVED COMPUTER RESEARCH CONTRACT
E-SYSTEMS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $41.7 MILLION
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON ARMY CONTRACT FOR STINGER MISSILES
HONEYWELL ISSUED ANTI-TANK MISSILE LAUNCHERS CONTRACT
LITTON INDUSTRIES RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $189.9 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED $16.5 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GOT CONTRACTS TOTALING $131.1 MILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GIVEN TACTICAL JAMMING EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
RAYTHEON AWARDED $77.7 MILLION IN ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTS
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for May 29, 1989.
May 30, 1989
GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ACQUIRE COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE APOLLO SUPERCOMPUTER
May 31, 1989
GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK MANAGEMENT DSU/CSU
June 1, 1989
JSC TO NEGOTIATE WITH LORAL INSTRUMENTATION
No relevant RFPs for June 2, 1989.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BUSH APPROVED FUNDING FOR LANDSAT SATELLITES
President Bush approved funding for continued operation of two existing
Landsat satellites and the launching of a third. The move is a victory
for Vice President Dan Quayle, chairman of the National Space Council,
which recommended that funding continue. The two existing satellites
will cost an additional $5 million through FY 1989 and $19 million next
year.
DEFENSE:
MARINE HELICOPTER CRASHED OFF OKINAWA, JAPAN
A U.S. Marine helicopter crashed during training operations off
Okinawa, Japan, and 14 of the 22 Marines aboard are missing. Of the
eight Marines rescued so far, four were injured and four were unharmed.
The CH-46 helicopter crashed at 11:45 pm during a routine amphibious
training exercise. The cause of the crash in not known and is under
investigation.
AIA RECOMMENDS WAYS FOR PENTAGON AND INDUSTRY TO INTEGRATE AI
As part of the Aerospace Industries Association's (AIA) Key
Technologies for the 1990s project, the group recommended that the
Pentagon and industry begin a process of rapid, iterative prototyping
as the fastest way to advance artificial intelligence (AI) technology
and to get AI capabilities into weapon systems. AIA suggested that the
Pentagon start inserting AI into predominantly conventional computing
systems in order to take advantage of a relatively low risk technology.
SECOND STAGE NOZZLE SOURCE OF FAILURE IN FIRST SMALL ICMB FLIGHT TEST
The Air Force announced that a fault in the second stage nozzle was the
cause for the failure of its first Small ICBM flight test. The
missile, which blew up 70 seconds after its launch, achieved 85% of the
test goals during the 1,100 mile flight. Though the Air Force is not
exactly sure about what went wrong, they will review the data "to
pinpoint the cause of the problem and take corrective action before
continuing the flight test program."
FY 1989 REQUEST FOR MIDGETMAN SMALL ICBM PROGRAM IN TROUBLE
Congressional sources reported that the $100 million FY 1989
reprogramming request to keep the Midgetman Small ICBM program alive is
in trouble in Congress and will face even greater opposition in the
Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee. The Air Force sent the
reprogramming request to Capitol Hill in an effort to continue the
program through FY 1989 and provide for flight test hardware, support
and recertifying and qualifying the reduced subcontractor base. The
request comes out of the $600 million funding provided for MX rail
mobile and does not impact its 1992 deployment date.
DEFENSE CONSULTANT AND NAVY ENGINEER SENTENCED IN PROCUREMENT SCANDAL
Defense consultant William A. Parkin and former Navy engineer Stuart
Berlin received 26 month sentences for their roles in a bribery scheme
to obtain secret bid information to help Teledyne Industries Inc. and
Hazeltine Corp. obtain Pentagon contracts. The two men were also fined
$25,000 each. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Aronica said that both
men had fully cooperated with the Justice Department's "Operation Ill
Wind" investigation.
NASA:
APOLLO 11 CREW GATHERED IN WASHINGTON TO PROMOTE SPACE EXPLORATION
After nearly 20 years, the crew of the Apollo 11 gathered at NASA
Headquarters in Washington and called for continued space exploration
and a permanent manned presence in space. The three man crew were the
first to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. The three also support
the re-establishment of the National Space Council. Neil Armstrong
said that he hopes the council "not spend a lot of time reviewing
current programs but that they take a longer look so that they can put
the policies in place (for) the programs of the 1990s and the next
century."
CAPPS COMPUTER TESTED BY AMES RESEARCH CENTER AND DARPA
The Configurable Architecture Parallel Processing System (CAPPS)
computer has been tested by Ames Research Center and the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The CAPPS is a low-cost
parallel-processing computer with a potential capability equaling
existing advanced supercomputers. The system was developed by General
Microelectronics Inc. (GMIC), San Diego, CA, under contract to Northrop
Corp. with the research program funded by DARPA and managed by NASA's
Ames.
JAMES FLETCHER NASA CONSULTANT UNDER 130 DAY CONTRACT
Former NASA Administrator James Fletcher became a consultant to the
agency the day after retiring. Mr. Fletcher is under a $41,920
contract not to exceed 130 days. His duties include advising
Administrator-designate Richard Truly and other NASA officials on
current and future space programs in which he has critical knowledge.
Mr. Fletcher retired from NASA on April 8.
INTERNATIONAL:
GORBACHEV SAYS SOVIETS SPEND 9% OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT ON DEFENSE
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said that his country spends about
9% of its gross national product (GNP) on defense expenditures. This
is four times the amount previously acknowledged by the Soviets. This
figure translates to about $124 billion at the artificially high
official rate of exchange. The U.S. spends about 6% of its gross
national product on military spending.
SOVIETS HAVE SPENT $2.38 BILLION ON MIR SPACE STATION SINCE 1986
A Soviet space official told the Tass news agency that the Soviet Union
has spent $2.38 billion on its manned space program since launching the
Mir space station in early 1986 and has recovered only $600,000 in
commercial experiments. The costs include launching Mir, launching the
Kvant astrophysical module, eight Progress resupply spacecraft and the
crew of the spacecraft.
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES TO JOIN IN BID FOR NWA INC.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines joined with Los Angeles investor Alfred
Checchi as a minority partner to bid on NWA Inc. NWA is the parent
company of Northwest Airlines. The surprise move adds to the current
industry speculation that European carriers are trying to penetrate the
U.S. domestic market.
EUROPEAN FIGHTER AIRCRAFT STEERING COMMITTEE UNABLE TO AGREE ON RADAR
After a two day meeting in West Germany, the European Fighter Aircraft
steering committee failed for the second time to reach an agreement on
the plan's radar. Both Italy and the U.K. wanted the Euroradar ECR-90,
but West Germany supported the German-led MSD-2000 development and
Spain abstained. Sources said it is expected that the decision will be
made at the cabinet level in each of the four nations.
ARIANESPACE DELAYED LAUNCH OF ARIANE 44L BOOSTER FOR THIRD TIME
For the third time, the launch of the first Ariane 44L booster will be
delayed until Arianespace is able to determine the cause of a liquid
hydrogen leak in the third stage engine. The booster will carry the
Superbird A and DFS Kopernikus 1 telecommunications satellites. The
new launch date has not been announced.
BUSINESS:
FEDERAL GRAND JURY SUBPOENAED RECORDS FROM GD AND MARTIN MARIETTA
A federal grand jury in Philadelphia has subpoenaed the corporate
records pertaining to political contributions, speaking fees and other
gifts to Rep. Joseph McDale (R-PA) from both General Dynamics (GD)
Corp. and Martin Marietta Corp. Rep. McDale's disclosure reports
revealed that both companies paid speaking fees to him and provided him
with free transportation. Both companies said they were complying with
the court's requests. Rep. McDale denies all allegations of improper
use of funds.
GE NAMES NEW VICE PRESIDENTS FOR AEROSPACE DIVISIONS
General Electric Co. (GE) named five new vice presidents, among them
were two from GE's aerospace units. Lawrence Greenwood was appointed
vice president and general manager of the astro-space division of GE's
aerospace unit in East Windsor, NJ. Also, Fred Breidenbach was named
vice president and general manager for the defense systems division in
GE's aerospace unit in Pittsfield, MA.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING THE ARMY OF $23 MILLION
A civil suit was filed by federal prosecutors charging General Electric
Co. with defrauding the Army of $23 million on a $244 million contract
to provide computer support systems. The suit alleges that GE's
Management & Technical Services Co. unit fraudulently inflated costs
for battlefield computer systems manufactured for the Army. The
company and the two officials named in the criminal case have all
pleaded innocent.
HARRIS CORP. CONVICTED IN PHILIPPINES KICKBACK SCHEME
Harris Corp. was convicted in a federal court for participating in a $2
million kickback scheme that involved a Defense Department loan to the
Phillipines. Harris pleaded no contest to the charge that it helped
Moreno, a Filipino businessman, to make false claims to the
Pentagon under the auspices of an aid program to the Phillipines. The
company was fined $200,000 and ordered to pay $300,000 to settle civil
claims, excluding civil tax liability.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT TO CUT WORKFORCE BY 8%
Hughes Aircraft Corp., a division of General Motors Corp., announced it
will cut its work force by 8%, or 6,000 jobs, over the next six months.
Hughes President David White said that most of the job cuts will come
through attrition and early retirement programs, rather than layoffs.
Hughes is forced to cut its workforce because of smaller defense
outlays.
KAMAN HELICOPTERS TO BE SOLD TO PORTUGAL
Kaman Corp. announced it has been informed by the State Department that
the government intends to sell five Kaman SH-2F helicopters to
Portugal. The helicopters are made by the Kaman Aerospace Corp. and
have a total value of about $94 million.
LORAL'S SALE OF TWO DIVISIONS TO BE CHALLENGED BY BANNER INDUSTRIES
Banner Industries, Inc. said that they plan to contest the sale of
Loral Corp.'s two divisions to its chairman, since Banner was actually
the higher bidder. Loral sold the two divisions to Bernard L.
Schwartz, Loral's chairman and chief executive office and Robert Hodes,
a Loral director and attorney who headed a special committee of outside
directors that handled the sale.
MARTIN MARIETTA CONDUCTED FIRST FIRING OF ADATS MISSILE
Martin Marietta Missile Systems conducted the first firing of an Air
Defense Anti-Tank System (ADATS) missile from a pre-production vehicle
configured for ADATS' use as the Army's Line-of-Sight Forward Heavy air
defense system. The missile was launched from White Sands Missile
Range, NM.
VICKERS PURCHASES MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ELECTRO-MECHANICAL DIVISION
Vickers Inc., a subsidiary of Trinova Corp., has bought McDonnell
Douglas Corp.'s Electro-Mechanical Division. The new business will be
called Vickers Electromech Grand Rapids and will be based in Grand
Rapids, MI. The purchase is part of a continuing strategic re-
direction for Vickers, in which the company wishes to focus on the
aerospace-marine-defense business. Terms of the sale were not
disclosed.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
NAVY EXERCISED $33 MILLION OPTION WITH AIL SYSTEMS
The Navy exercised a $33 million option with AIL Systems Inc., a unit
of Eaton Corp., to buy 70 additional advanced electronic assemblies for
the EA-6B Prowler aircraft. The option procures AIL's universal
exciters; electronic assemblies that are part of the ALQ-99 tactical
jamming system aboard the EA-6B.
ALLIED-SIGNAL GIVEN AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS CONTRACT
Allied-Signal Inc. was given a $47.4 million Air Force contract for
aircraft electronics.
CRAY RESEARCH RECEIVED COMPUTER RESEARCH CONTRACT
Cray Research Inc. received a $27.6 million Army contract for computer
research.
E-SYSTEMS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $41.7 MILLION
E-Systems Inc. was awarded a $41.7 million Navy contract for
battlefield management systems.
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON ARMY CONTRACT FOR STINGER MISSILES
General Dynamics Corp. won a $195.6 million Army contract for Stinger
missiles.
HONEYWELL ISSUED ANTI-TANK MISSILE LAUNCHERS CONTRACT
Honeywell Inc. was issued a $13.3 million Army contract for anti-tank
missile launchers.
LITTON INDUSTRIES RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $189.9 MILLION
Litton Industries Inc. received a $189.9 million Navy contract for
communications systems for tactical aircraft operations.
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED $16.5 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. was awarded a $16.5 million Air Force contract
for test-range facilities.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GOT CONTRACTS TOTALING $131.1 MILLION
McDonnell Douglas Corp. got $131.1 million in contracts for Navy AV-8B
aircraft, Air Force ejection seats and Air Force computer research.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GIVEN TACTICAL JAMMING EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas was given a $12.4 million Navy contract for tactical
jamming equipment.
RAYTHEON AWARDED $77.7 MILLION IN ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTS
Raytheon Co. was awarded $77.7 million in contract for Army Stinger
missiles and Navy Standard missile parts.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for May 29, 1989.
May 30, 1989
GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ACQUIRE COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
It is the government's intent to acquire sole source from Racal-Milgo',
under GSA Schedule GS00K86AGS5310, a central processing unit,
communication management system along with two terminals, two printers
and many other assorted hardware and peripherals. No contract award
will be made in response to this notice of intent to acquire the
hardware since this synopsis of intent to place an order against the
schedule contract cannot be considered a request for proposals/offers.
Written responses will be evaluated only if they include complete
pricing and technical data to enable the Government to determine if a
solicitation is warranted. Responses must be received within 15
calendar days after publication of this notice. If no responses are
received to the effect that this is available from another source, an
order will be placed against Racal-Milgo's current GSA schedule.
Contact: Ann Maples
U.S. Army Missile Command Directorate for
Procurement & Production
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 842-7441
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE APOLLO SUPERCOMPUTER
NASA Lewis Research Center intends to procure the following items from
Apollo Computer Inc.; the Apollo Domain Series 10000 Personal
Supercomputer Workstation, including other assorted hardware and
peripherals. All responsible sources may submit written responses
within 15 days from the date of this notice. No contract award will be
made on the basis of this notice. Inquiries concerning this
requirement should reference 374231.
Contact: Diane Corso
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2755
May 31, 1989
GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK MANAGEMENT DSU/CSU
Under solicitation W81BYP 9123-0004/6-1002, the government has a
requirement to procure, on a brand name or equal basis, a
Communications Network Management Data Service Unit/Channel Service
Unit (DSU/CSU) stand alone, 38 each, and a Communications Network
Management Data Service Unit/Channel Service Unit Rack Mounted, 12
each, along with many other assorted peripherals. Responses to this
notice must be received within 15 calendar days after this notice.
Responses/request for the RFP must state that vendor is not currently
on the Consolidated List of Debarred, Suspended and Ineligible
Contractors or otherwise ineligible to receive Government contracts.
When responding please reference solicitation number W81BYP 9123-0004/
6-1002.
Contact: Lottie Manning
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Building 1748
Fort Eustis, VA 23640-5538
(804) 878-2502
June 1, 1989
JSC TO NEGOTIATE WITH LORAL INSTRUMENTATION
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) proposes to enter into negotiations
with Loral Instrumentation for a telemetry processor network and
workstation and many other assorted peripherals. All responsible
sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the agency.
Written response must be received within thirty days of this notice.
No solicitation is available.
Contact: Lawrence Kenyon
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG 41 (33)
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4146
No relevant RFPs for June 2, 1989.
|
| 20.43 | AIIC's NewsCapsule 6/5/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jun 13 1989 18:44 | 74 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 007493
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 05-Jun-1989 04:19pm ETE
From: AIIC
AIIC@AIADM@SELECT@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: AIIC's NewsCapsule 6/5/89
================================================================================
* * * * * * * * ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION CENTER * * * * * * * *
+ + + + + + + + NewsCapsule + + + + + + + +
* * * * * * * * Monday, June 5, 1989 * * * * * * * *
================================================================================
DEC STOCK: 93 1/8 +3/4
TOCCO, INC.
+++++++++++
* "Tocco Introduces Artificial Intelligence Software"
<PR Newswire 6/1/89>
Tocco Inc., a subsidiary of Park Ohio Industries, Inc. has
introduced a software tool for quickly and accurately
troubleshooting its modular and compact induction heating power
supplies.
Using a series of multiple choice questions directed at the
operator, the system will quickly pinpoint the cause of system
failures, whether they involve logic malfunction, cooling
problems, power component failure or other causes.
Tocco Diagnostic Assistant is the product of a joint venture
between Tocco and Ford Motor Company's Manufacturing Development
Center located in Michigan. Tocco custom engineers, manufactures
and sells induction heating systems for heat treating, forging,
brazing, shrink fit and other heating applications.
Tocco Diagnostic Assistant is designed for use by operators and
electrical maintenance personnel with no previous computer
experience and can be used without any special training.
SUN MICROSYSTEMS
++++++++++++++++
* "Hiccup for a Computer Superstar"
<NYT 6/2/89 P. D1>
Sun Microsystems announced that earnings for the 4th quarter,
ending June 30, will be much below the results for the same period
a year ago.
According to CEO Scott McNealy, "problems in start-up production
of new products were responsible for a break in his company's
seven and a half years of unbroken growth." However, some analysts
are worried that the company has grown to a size beyond its young
founders' ability to manage.
PLEASE NOTE: * indicates full-text article is located in the Information
Center. Please come down and copy article if you wish to
do so.
AI Information Center
DLB5-1/E3
291-8256
AIADM::AIIC
|
| 20.44 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 06/19/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jul 04 1989 16:46 | 632 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 007759
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 27-Jun-1989 07:42pm ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 06/19/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 19, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
--------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 19, 1989
GENERAL:
FIRST WOMAN GRADUATES FROM U.S. AIR FORCE TEST PILOT SCHOOL
COMMUNICATION SATELLITES DOMINATE COMMERCIAL PAYLOAD MANIFEST LIST
DEFENSE:
U.S. AND SOVIETS RESUME TALKS ON LONG-RANGE NUCLEAR ARSENALS
TWO SECRET DEFENSE DEPT. SPACECRAFT WILL BE DEPLOYED FROM COLUMBIA
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVED MILITARY PROCUREMENT BUDGET
NEW ESTIMATES FOR B-2 STEALTH BOMBER PROGRAM ARE $70 BILLION
WATKINS TO ANNOUNCED CRACKDOWN ON CONTRACTORS AT NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANTS
AIR FORCE CHIEF BELIEVES THEY WILL EVENTUALLY RECEIVE FUNDS FOR MX
SENATOR GLENN TOLD CHENEY B-2 BOMBER PRODUCTION SHOULD BE SUSPENDED
NAVY ADOPTS NEW COMPUTER PROCUREMENT RULES TO ENHANCE COMPETITION
FORMER OFFICIALS URGE RESTRAINTS ON "STAR WARS" TESTING
NASA:
NASA ISSUED NEW LONG-RANGE SPACE SHUTTLE MANIFEST
NASA ASTRONAUT TO GO TO UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE
GODDARD OPENS SPACE ROBOTICS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FACILITY
GORE URGES PRESIDENT BUSH TO RENEW SUPPORT OF THE SPACE STATION
COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE APPROVE NASA BUDGET
NASA TO USE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS TECHNOLOGY FOR BASELINE STATION
INTERNATIONAL:
AEROSPATIALE, THOMSON-CSF AND SELENIA JOINED TO FORM EUROSAM
ENGINE STALL PRIMARY CAUSE FOR SOVIET MIG-29 CRASH AT PARIS AIR SHOW
LANDLOCKED CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND SWITZERLAND BECOME MEMBERS OF INMARSAT
LUFTHANSA EXERCISES OPTIONS FOR GENERAL ELECTRIC ENGINES
INDIA TO SET UP 22 SATELLITE EARTH STATIONS
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH 8-9 SATELLITES A YEAR, TAKE LAUNCH ORDERS
LAST ARIANE 3 BOOSTER CARRYING ESA'S OLYMPUS 1 TO LAUNCH JUNE 30
BUSINESS:
AMERICAN AND DELTA DROP PLANS TO MERGE COMPUTER RESERVATIONS SYSTEMS
BOEING SAYS U.S. GOVERNMENT SUSPENDED SALES TO CHINA
GD CFO PRAISES THE END OF FIXED-PRICE WEAPON DEVELOPMENT
HONEYWELL SOLD DEFENSE COMMUNICATIONS AND PRODUCTION DIVISION
LITTON STOPPING WORK UNDER $1.7 BILLION CONTRACT WITH SAUDI ARABIA
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED LICENSE TO LAUNCH BRITISH SATELLITE
NAVY LIFTS SUSPENSION FROM THREE UNISYS DIVISIONS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING GOT CONTRACT FOR SUPPORT OF ROYAL SAUDI AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT
BOOZ, ALLEN AND HAMILTON RECEIVED $20 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
CRAY RESEARCH WON ARMY CONTRACT FOR CRAY Y-MP SUPERCOMPUTER
GENERAL DYNAMICS GOT NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $14.9 MILLION
GENERAL ELECTRIC AWARDED $100.7 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
GRUMMAN AEROSPACE ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT
ITT GIVEN ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
LITTON INDUSTRIES RECEIVED $17 MILLION CONTRACT FROM BOEING
LTV AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE GOT AERODYNAMIC SYSTEM ANALYSIS CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA AND TEXAS INSTRUMENTS RECEIVED JOINT VENTURE CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $16.5 MILLION
MORTON THIOKOL TO CONDUCT SOLID PROPULSION INTEGRATION FOR ALS
RAYTHEON ISSUED ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURE IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT
ROCKWELL WINS CONTRACT CONCERNING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF B-1B
UTC AWARDED ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $49.6 MILLION
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
June 19, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE DISPLAY PROCESSORS
No relevant RFPs for June 20, 1989.
June 21, 1989
AMES RESEARCH PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST HEWLETT-PACKARD
No relevant RFPs for June 22-23, 1989.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
FIRST WOMAN GRADUATES FROM U.S. AIR FORCE TEST PILOT SCHOOL
The first woman to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
did so on June 10. Capt. Jacquelyn S. Parker completed the rigorous
11-month course and has been assigned as a multi-engine test pilot with
the 4950th Test Group at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Capt.
Parker was also the first woman T-38 instructor pilot at Reese Air
Force Base, TX and later flew as a C-141 aircraft commander and
instructor pilot before entering the test pilot school.
COMMUNICATION SATELLITES DOMINATE COMMERCIAL PAYLOAD MANIFEST LIST
According to the Transportation Department's revised commercial launch
manifest, communication satellites dominate the nine commercial
payloads to be launched in the U.S. by the end of the year. The
manifest lists 28 commercial launches through mid-1993.
DEFENSE:
U.S. AND SOVIETS RESUME TALKS ON LONG-RANGE NUCLEAR ARSENALS
The United States and the Soviet Union resumed talks on long-range
nuclear arsenals in Geneva, Switzerland. After seven months of recess,
the talks are aimed at reducing strategic weapons. Both countries have
yet to come to any sort of an agreement on either space-based and sea-
launched missiles.
TWO SECRET DEFENSE DEPT. SPACECRAFT WILL BE DEPLOYED FROM COLUMBIA
Two secret Defense Dept. spacecraft will be deployed from the Columbia
into low Earth orbit on space shuttle Mission 28, which is scheduled to
be launched on July 31. The Columbia will also carry a mixture of
eight military and civilian scientific experiments. The shuttle will
be launched from Kennedy Space Center, FL. and will land at Edwards Air
Force Base, CA.
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVED MILITARY PROCUREMENT BUDGET
A House Armed Services subcommittee narrowly approved President Bush's
proposed military procurement budget by a vote of 10-9. The budget,
however must still face the full committee. Rep. Les Aspin (D-WI),
House Armed Service Committee Chairman, said he isn't sure the budget
will survive the House without major changes. Secretary of Defense
Dick Cheney said that he is determined to win the fight against the
lawmakers who want to shift billions of dollars to controversial
programs slated for termination by the Bush administration.
NEW ESTIMATES FOR B-2 STEALTH BOMBER PROGRAM ARE $70 BILLION
According to Deputy Defense Secretary Donald Atwood, estimates from a
recent high-level Defense Dept. review of the B-2 stealth bomber
program place total costs at $70 billion. Total cost figures should be
available upon completion of the flight test phase. Mr. Atwood also
told the Senate that the first flight of the B-2 would be within the
next few weeks. The Pentagon has already spent $22.4 billion on
developing the bomber.
WATKINS TO ANNOUNCED CRACKDOWN ON CONTRACTORS AT NUCLEAR WEAPONS PLANTS
In light of the recent suspension of payments to Rockwell International
Corp. which runs the Rocky Flats Colorado weapons plant, Energy
Secretary James Watkins intends to announce a crackdown on contractors
at the nation's nuclear weapons plants. Mr. Watkins intends to force
the contractors to adhere to the new, more stringent laws and
regulations concerning health and environmental standards. The
announcement is due in a week or two.
AIR FORCE CHIEF BELIEVES THEY WILL EVENTUALLY RECEIVE FUNDS FOR MX
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Larry D. Welch said he believes the Air
Force will eventually get the money it needs to proceed with President
Bush's MX/Small ICBM plan. Gen. Welch said there is "widespread
agreement that we would rather have the (MX) Peacekeeper on rails than
in silos."
SENATOR GLENN TOLD CHENEY B-2 BOMBER PRODUCTION SHOULD BE SUSPENDED
In a letter to Defense Secretary Richard B. Cheney, Senator John Glenn
(D-OH) wrote that it is "totally irresponsible" to continue B-2 bomber
production without definitive flight test results to support it. Sen.
Glenn pointed out that without a single test flight, eight bombers have
been approved at a cost of seven billion dollars. He said he supports
continued B-2 technology research, but feels that additional funds
should become available for conventional programs that have been
terminated or deferred.
NAVY ADOPTS NEW COMPUTER PROCUREMENT RULES TO ENHANCE COMPETITION
The Navy has adopted new procurement rules in order to enhance
competition among its computer suppliers. The policy changes are
designed to answer the recent criticism by the congress and industry
that the Navy favors certain vendors. Navy Undersecretary Everett
Pyatt said the new rules are intended "to provide all vendors equal
access to information concerning current needs and planned growth" in
the Navy's data-processing operations. The changes also include the
formation of an office to provide independent technical review of
procurement plans, better scrutiny of major computer contracts and
better response to industry complaints about specific contracting
actions.
FORMER OFFICIALS URGE RESTRAINTS ON "STAR WARS" TESTING
A group of former senior U.S. officials said that the Bush
Administration should consider restraints on developing space-based
missile defenses in the strategic arms talks with the Soviet Union.
The group, which included former Defense Secretaries Harold Brown,
James R. Schlesinger and Melvin Laird; former Secretary of State Cyrus
Vance; and former Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helmes,
suggested that the U.S. be prepared to agree on a 10-year recommitment
to the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty along with negotiations on
precise limits on testing that could lead to an anti-missile defense.
The report was made public by the private, Johns Hopkins Foreign Policy
Institute (Washington).
NASA:
NASA ISSUED NEW LONG-RANGE SPACE SHUTTLE MANIFEST
NASA issued a new long-range space shuttle manifest, adding flights for
space station assembly and new international and space science
payloads. Over the next six years, NASA plans to build the shuttle
flight rate to 13-14 annually. Among the flights are three space
station assembly flights, scheduled for 1995; two additional flights
for Spacehab, bringing the total to six for the commercially developed,
pressurized cargo carrier designed for flight inside the shuttle cargo
bay; a third flight for the European Space Agency's European
Retrievable Carrier (EURECA); and six additional Shuttle Solar
Backscatter Ultraviolet missions.
NASA ASTRONAUT TO GO TO UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE
Astronaut George D. Nelson, who has flown three times as a mission
specialist, will leave NASA to become assistant provost and an
associate professor of astronomy at the University of Washington,
Seattle.
GODDARD OPENS SPACE ROBOTICS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FACILITY
Goddard Space Flight Center has opened its Space Robotics Advanced
Technology Facility, to be used to develop the Flight Telerobotic
Servicer (FTS) and robotic technology for the Space Station and other
applications. The facility includes a gantry robot 40 feet wide, 60
feet long and 20 feet high with six degrees of freedom, capable of
lifting up to two tons of payload and applying 4,000 foot-pounds of
torque. Suspended from one mast of the gantry is a set of tele-
operated industrial arms to be used as an FTS simulator. Another mast
has a grapple to simulate the Space Station's remote manipulator
system.
GORE URGES PRESIDENT BUSH TO RENEW SUPPORT OF THE SPACE STATION
Senator Al Gore, Jr. (D-TN) said that the $2.1 billion requested for
the Space Station will need renewed presidential support if it is to
succeed. "I just hope the President is willing to come up to Capitol
Hill and fight for the Space Station because many...in the House are
after it," said Senator Gore.
COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE APPROVE NASA BUDGET
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved
NASA's FY 1990 $13.274 billion authorization request and added $100
million to it. The committee also approved the nomination of Richard
Truly as NASA administrator. Among the individual programs approved,
the committee granted the full $2.1 billion requested for the space
station and $30 million for the CRAF-Cassini program. Also, it added
$72 million for the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite
program, including $62 million for the spacecraft and $10 million for
an upper stage and $10 million for the Total Ozone Mapping
Spectrometer. And, the Gravity Probe-B program received $25 million
from the committee.
NASA TO USE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS TECHNOLOGY FOR BASELINE STATION
NASA announced that due to the technical risk, they will use
photovoltaic cells to provide 75 Kw of power for the baseline station,
rather than use solar dynamic technology. Associate administrator for
the Space Station William Lenoir made the announcement, saying the
decision is part of a technical assessment of about 200 program issues.
Mr. Lenoir went on to say that while the solar dynamic technology is
further along technically, the photovoltaic is still less expensive and
much safer.
INTERNATIONAL:
AEROSPATIALE, THOMSON-CSF AND SELENIA JOINED TO FORM EUROSAM
France's Aerospatiale, Thomson-CSF and Italy's Selenia have joined to
form the Eurosam consortium to design and market air defense systems.
The consortium follows an agreement signed in October 1988 by the
French and Italian governments to jointly develop new missile systems.
Eurosam plans to produce naval surface-to-air and land-based, ground-
to-air weapons for deployment with French and Italian forces.
ENGINE STALL PRIMARY CAUSE FOR SOVIET MIG-29 CRASH AT PARIS AIR SHOW
Soviet officials said that an engine stall was the primary cause of the
crash of the MiG-29 single-seat fighter at the Paris air show.
Following the preliminary investigation into the cause of the crash,
officials said that it appeared that a foreign object had damaged the
engine, causing it to stall. Officials said they plan to make a
complete accident investigation. The pilot, Anatoly Kvotchur, ejected
safely and sustained only minor injuries. No other injuries occurred.
The MiG-29 was destroyed.
LANDLOCKED CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND SWITZERLAND BECOME MEMBERS OF INMARSAT
Czechoslovakia and Switzerland became the 55th and 56th members,
respectively, of the International Maritime Satellite (Inmarsat)
Organization. They are Inmarsat's only landlocked members. Of the
eight Swiss-owned terminals using Inmarsat satellites, seven are on
ships and yachts and only one is on land.
LUFTHANSA EXERCISES OPTIONS FOR GENERAL ELECTRIC ENGINES
Lufthansa German Airlines exercised options on engines to power three
Boeing aircraft from General Electric Co.'s aircraft engines unit. In
total, the order is valued at approximately $100 million.
INDIA TO SET UP 22 SATELLITE EARTH STATIONS
India plans to set up 22 satellite earth stations in an effort to
improve telecommunications services in its mountain and island regions.
India's first coastal earth station will link with an International
Maritime Satellite (Inmarsat) satellite over the Indian Ocean and is
scheduled to be ready by the end of this year. The RS-16 Inmarsat
earth station will service ships, planes, and land vehicles.
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH 8-9 SATELLITES A YEAR, TAKE LAUNCH ORDERS
Following Arianespace's annual shareholders meeting at the Paris air
show, the company announced it will launch 8-9 satellites a year.
Since January 1, 1988, Arianespace has signed 11 launch contracts,
making it number one in the commercial satellite market, with more than
a 50% market share. In addition, since June 1, 1989, the company has
booked a cumulative total of 72 satellite launch orders, worth over $4
billion. In 1988, Arianespace posted $451 million in total sales, with
net earnings of $18.8 million.
LAST ARIANE 3 BOOSTER CARRYING ESA'S OLYMPUS 1 TO LAUNCH JUNE 30
The last Ariane 3 booster, carrying the European Space Agency (ESA)
Olympus 1 experimental communications satellite, is expected to be
launched from Kourou, French Guiana on June 30. The Olympus was built
for ESA by British Aerospace in order to provide experimental
evaluation of new technology for direct broadcast television and
telecommunications.
BUSINESS:
AMERICAN AND DELTA DROP PLANS TO MERGE COMPUTER RESERVATIONS SYSTEMS
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have dropped their plans to merge
their computer reservations systems after the Justice Department
threatened them with a civil antitrust suit to block the proposed deal.
The transaction, valued at $2 billion, would substantially inhibit
competition in the sale of computer reservation services to travel
agents, according to Attorney General Dick Thornburgh, thus violating
antitrust laws. The two airlines began to discuss the joint venture
because they feared that federal regulators might force airlines to
restrict their computer-reservations systems.
BOEING SAYS U.S. GOVERNMENT SUSPENDED SALES TO CHINA
Boeing Co. announced that the U.S. government has suspended the sale of
three Boeing 757-200 jetliners and six CH-47 Chinook helicopters to
China. The three commercial aircraft were scheduled to be delivered at
the end of this month to Guangzhou Airlines and Shanghai Airlines. The
order is valued at over $40 million. The Chinook military transport
helicopters, valued at more than $100 million, were not to be delivered
for a few years. The sale was blocked under President Bush's
suspension of military products sales to China due to the recent
Tiananmen Square massacre. Boeing officials stressed that the sale has
only been suspended, not canceled.
GD CFO PRAISES THE END OF FIXED-PRICE WEAPON DEVELOPMENT
General Dynamics (GD) Corp.'s corporate vice president and chief
financial officer (CFO) James Cunnane praised the Pentagon's decision
to end fixed-price weapon development. Mr. Cunnane said the decision
will improve the quality of weapons systems and stimulate competition
and investment within the industry.
HONEYWELL SOLD DEFENSE COMMUNICATIONS AND PRODUCTION DIVISION
Honeywell Inc., announced it has sold its Defense Communications and
Production Div. to Group Financial Partners, Inc. The division in
Tampa, FL, has approximately 800 employees and reduces tactical
military communications systems. Six months ago, Honeywell sold its
Training and Control Systems Div. to Hughes Aircraft Co.
LITTON STOPPING WORK UNDER $1.7 BILLION CONTRACT WITH SAUDI ARABIA
Litton Industries Inc. announced that it began prematurely closing down
its work to install and supply a Saudi Arabian air-defense system,
under a contract worth more than $1.7 billion, in response to the
Saudis stopping payments to Litton. A spokesperson for the company
said that they do not know why the Saudis stopped paying Litton during
the last year of the 10-year contract. The majority of the work left
to be done on the project involves providing spare parts and manuals to
the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED LICENSE TO LAUNCH BRITISH SATELLITE
McDonnell Douglas Corp. received a license from the U.S. Department of
Transportation to launch a British direct broadcast television
satellite. The BSB-1 satellite will be launched from Cape Canaveral by
a Delta 4925 booster in August.
NAVY LIFTS SUSPENSION FROM THREE UNISYS DIVISIONS
The Navy lifted the suspension from three Unisys Corp. units after the
company agreed to maintain an extensive in-house ethics program, revamp
its contracting procedures and make organizational improvements.
Unisys also agreed to reimburse the government for the $200,000 it cost
to conduct the investigation. Under the agreement, the Navy has the
right to regularly monitor Unisys' compliance. Unisys' Shipboard and
Ground System Group, Computer Systems Div. and Communications Systems
Div. were all suspended last March.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING GOT CONTRACT FOR SUPPORT OF ROYAL SAUDI AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT
Boeing Co. got a $158 million Air Force contract for maintenance and
support of the Royal Saudi Air Force aircraft.
BOOZ, ALLEN AND HAMILTON RECEIVED $20 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Booz, Allen and Hamilton Inc., received a $20 million firm fixed price
and time and material Air Force contract for non-personal engineering
and analyzes services. The contract is scheduled to be completed in
June 1994. Two hundred-fifty-five bids were solicited and ten
proposals were received. The solicitation began in June 1988 and was
completed March 1989.
CRAY RESEARCH WON ARMY CONTRACT FOR CRAY Y-MP SUPERCOMPUTER
Cray Research Inc. won a $25.5 million Army contract for Cray Y-MP
supercomputer and peripheral equipment to be used for military and
civil works projects related to national defense, flood control and
navigation.
GENERAL DYNAMICS GOT NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $14.9 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. got a $14.9 million letter contract for limited
production of 500 guided missile round packs from the Navy. The work
is expected to be completed in May 1992. Naval Sea Systems is the
contracting activity.
GENERAL ELECTRIC AWARDED $100.7 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
General Electric Co. was awarded $100.7 million in defense contracts
for navigation satellite support services for the Air Force and gun
parts for the Navy.
GRUMMAN AEROSPACE ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Grumman Aerospace Corp., Melbourne Systems Div., was issued a
$37,793,000 face value increase to a fixed price incentive firm Air
Force contract for advanced computer insertion for Joint Surveillance
Target Attack Radar System platform. Electronic Systems Division is
the contracting activity.
ITT GIVEN ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
ITT Corp. was given a $125.8 million Air Force contract for electronic
countermeasures equipment.
LITTON INDUSTRIES RECEIVED $17 MILLION CONTRACT FROM BOEING
Litton Industries Inc.'s Material Handling division announced they
received a $17 million contract from Boeing Co. to provide the aircraft
maker with an automated material-handling system. The system will be
installed at Boeing Commercial Airplane's final assembly facility for
production for Boeing 747 and 767 commercial jetliners. Litton
manufactures advanced electronic and defense systems, industrial-
automation systems and resource-exploration services.
LTV AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE GOT AERODYNAMIC SYSTEM ANALYSIS CONTRACT
LTV Corp.'s, LTV Aerospace and Defense Co., got a $12 million Air Force
contract for aerodynamic system analysis. The contract is to be
completed by June 1994. Aeronautical Systems Division is the
contracting activity.
MARTIN MARIETTA AND TEXAS INSTRUMENTS RECEIVED JOINT VENTURE CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. and Texas Instruments Inc., in a joint venture,
received an $80 million Army contract for full-scale development of an
advanced antitank weapon system.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $16.5 MILLION
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was awarded a $16.5 million Navy contract for
four used DC-9 aircraft for Naval Reserve airlift.
MORTON THIOKOL TO CONDUCT SOLID PROPULSION INTEGRATION FOR ALS
Morton Thiokol was given a $22.7 million contract by the Air Force
Astronautics Laboratory to conduct solid propulsion integration and
verification for the Advanced Launch System (ALS). Morton Thiokol will
evaluate solid rocket propulsion technology options, perform
engineering analyses and design, along with manufacturing and testing
demonstration solid rocket booster motors using ALS technology. Both
Hercules and Aerojet General competed for the overall contract and TRW
competed for a portion of it.
RAYTHEON ISSUED ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURE IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was issued a $50.2 million Air Force contract for
electronic countermeasure improvements.
ROCKWELL WINS CONTRACT CONCERNING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF B-1B
Rockwell International Corp.'s North American Aircraft Operations, won
a $17.5 million face value increase to a fixed price incentive firm Air
Force contract for operation and maintenance of the B-1B aircraft large
anechoic chamber. The contract is expected to be completed in
September 1990. Aeronautical Systems Division is the contracting
activity.
UTC AWARDED ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $49.6 MILLION
United Technologies Corp. was awarded a $49.6 million Army contract for
helicopter and engine modifications.
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
Westinghouse Electronic Corp. received a $107.9 million Air Force
contract for electronic countermeasures equipment.
RFP UPDATE:
June 19, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE DISPLAY PROCESSORS
NASA Lewis Research Center intends to procure, under terms and
conditions of contract No. GS00K89AFS5586, two display processors and
many assorted peripherals from Silicon Graphics, Inc. Suppliers of
identical or equal items may submit data to demonstrate their ability
to satisfy this requirement. All responsible sources may submit
written responses within 30 days from the date of this notice. All
responses received will be considered. No contract award will be made
on the basis of any responses to this notice. When making inquiries
concerning this requirement, please reference Data Development System
(166).
Contact: Ronald Alexander
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
(216) 433-2796
No relevant RFPs for June 20, 1989.
June 21, 1989
AMES RESEARCH PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST HEWLETT-PACKARD
NASA Ames Research Center placed a notification of intent to place a
delivery order against GSA Nonmandatory ADP Schedule Contract No.
GS00K88AGS5902, with Hewlett-Packard Co. Among the items to be
procured is a Stand-alone data acquisition and processing system in two
(2) phases. Phase I will consist of 31 items including an HP98579A-
Model 36 SPU, HP3852A Data Acquisition unit. Phase II will consist of
30 items including an HP3852A Extender Chassis. Suppliers of identical
or similar items that will perform the same end-user functions may
submit data to demonstrate their ability to satisfy this requirement.
Affirmative responses are defined as written responses with all data
enclosed that are required to demonstrate their ability to satisfy this
requirement. If no affirmative responses are received within 15
calendar days from the date of listing of this synopsis in the Commerce
Business Daily, the contract officer will proceed with this acquisition
to Hewlett-Packard Co. No contract award will be made on the basis of
any response to this notice, because the synopsis of intent to place an
order against a GSA Nonmandatory ADP Schedule Contract shall not be
considered a solicitation document.
Contact: Gene Moses
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 227-4
Moffett Field, CA 94035
(415) 694-6234
No relevant RFPs for June 22-23, 1989.
|
| 20.45 | Aerospace Industry News, ** SEE NATURAL LANGUAGE ** | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Jul 07 1989 11:17 | 589 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 007916
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 06-Jul-1989 07:10pm ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 06/26/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 26, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 19, 1989
GENERAL:
NEW RADAR TESTS SHOW SATURN'S MOON TITAN HAS BOTH DRY LAND AND OCEANS
FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE RACES CANCELED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
FAA ORDER STRICTER INSPECTIONS OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES BROUGHT ON PLANES
DEFENSE:
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES R&D SUBCOMMITTEE ADDED $200 MILLION FOR NASP
NUCLEAR TEST BOMB DROPPED AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE VOTED TO CUT $1.4 BILLION FROM B-2
EDWARD ROWNY NAMED SPECIAL ADVISOR TO BUSH AND BAKER ON ARMS CONTROL
ARMY TO REVIEW AAWWA TO DETERMINE MOVE TO DEVELOPMENT/PRODUCTION PHASE
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE VOTED TO RESTORE $1.2 BILLION
NAVY RESEARCHING AUTOMATED SPEECH UNDERSTANDING FOR BATTLE MANAGEMENT
NASA:
NASA TO USE EXISTING CAPABILITIES FOR SPACE STATION ASSEMBLY SEQUENCE
ATLAS CENTAUR LAUNCH VEHICLE ERECTED FOR NOVEMBER LAUNCH
SHUTTLE CARRYING NUCLEAR-FUELED POWER SOURCE STIRS CRITICISM
SPACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PURCHASE ACT OF 1989 BILL INTRODUCED
SENATE CONFIRMS TRULY AS NASA ADMINISTRATOR
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR SPACE STATION TO RESIGN JULY 15
INTERNATIONAL:
SECOND SOVIET NUCLEAR SUBMARINE HAS ACCIDENT OFF NORWAY
ASIASAT LAUNCH PLANS DISRUPTED BY U.S. EMBARGO AGAINST CHINA
JAPANESE EXPERIMENT MODULE REVIEW EXPECTED AFTER DIET APPROVAL
COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS REASON FOR LIMITED PHOBOS SPACECRAFT DESIGN
BUSINESS:
BOEING CONFIRMED IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE DOD
BOEING AND HUGHES TO RECEIVE DRAFT RFP FOR FIBER OPTC GUIDED MISSILE
HUGHES PAYS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT $570,000 TO SETTLE MISCHARGING CLAIMS
LORAL PURCHASES SCHLUMBERGER UNIT FOR ABOUT $190 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
MORTON THIOKOL SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO SPLIT THE COMPANY INTO TWO SECTIONS
CRIMINAL INDICTMENT AGAINST NORTHROP AMENDED BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE CHOSEN TO CONDUCT THREE-YEAR STUDY FOR NASA
CONTROL DATA WON AIRBOURNE COMPUTERS CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
GENERAL ELECTRIC GIVEN NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $256.3 MILLION
GRUMMAN ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH OVER $5 MILLION
IBM GIVEN $43.9 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
ITT AVIONICS DIVISION GIVEN ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED CONTRACTS WORTH $30.8 MILLION
NORTHROP RECEIVED AERIAL TARGETS CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
UTC GIVEN CONTRACT FOR HELICOPTER TRAINING SIMULATORS
WESTINGHOUSE GOT A CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL RADARS
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for June 26, 1989.
June 27, 1989
NASA TO ISSUE RFI FOR AGENCY-WIDE GICR SYSTEM
June 28, 19989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE COLOR GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS
No relevant RFPs for June 29, 1989.
June 30, 1989
GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE RACAL-MILGO'S COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
GOVERNMENT ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR MACINTOSH IIX GRAPHIC WORKSTATIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
NEW RADAR TESTS SHOW SATURN'S MOON TITAN HAS BOTH DRY LAND AND OCEANS
Titan, the moon of Saturn, has both dry land and oceans, according to
radar measurements conducted by three astronomers at the California
Institute of Technology and one at Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This makes Titan the only other known celestial body, other than Earth,
to have both ocean and land. The new studies prove that Titan is not
entirely covered with an ocean of ethane, as had been previously
thought. The moon is the second-largest moon in the solar system,
larger than the planets Mercury and Pluto and is known to have a
substantial atmosphere.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE RACES CANCELED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
Before the final event, the First International Submarine Races had to
be canceled due to stormy weather in Riviera Beach, FL, however the
U.S. Naval Academy entry won the overall performance award. The
Academy entered a teardrop-shaped submarine and was awarded $5,000 in
the human-powered submarines competition for best speed, innovation and
cost-effectiveness.
FAA ORDER STRICTER INSPECTIONS OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES BROUGHT ON PLANES
The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) has ordered all U.S. airlines
which fly to the Middle East and Europe to inspect electronic devices
brought on board commercial aircraft. The stricter inspection rules
will apply to radios, cassette players, laptop computers and the
passengers who bring these types of items on board. Transportation
Secretary Samuel Skinner said the new rule is a "workable alternative"
to banning such items. The rules are evidence of new concerns over
such items in light of the bombing of the Pan AM Flight 103 over
Lockerbie, Scotland, in which the bomb was hidden in a cassette player.
DEFENSE:
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES R&D SUBCOMMITTEE ADDED $200 MILLION FOR NASP
The House Armed Services research and development (R&D) subcommittee
added $200 million to the $100 million FY 1990 Defense Department
request for the National Aerospace Plane (NASP). The amendment,
sponsored by Rep. Dave McCurdy (D-OK), which restores the money and
specifies that the Air Force and NASA co-manage the program, cleared
the subcommittee by an 11-7 vote. The original FY 1990 budget request
for the NASP was $300 million and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney cut the
total to $100 million.
NUCLEAR TEST BOMB DROPPED AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE
A nuclear explosion over 12 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb
was dropped in Pahute Mesa, Nevada. The test, code named Amarillo,
registered 4.6 on the Richter scale and was deemed a success by the
Energy Department. Scientists said monitors indicated no leak of
radiation. The test had to be postponed twice due to erratic winds at
the Nevada Test Site. Scientists prefer to detonate the weapon in calm
weather or in steady winds so any radioactive gas that accidentally
escapes can be traced.
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE VOTED TO CUT $1.4 BILLION FROM B-2
The House Armed Services Committee voted to cut $1.4 billion from
development funds for the B-2 Stealth bomber and the Strategic Defense
Initiative (SDI). An unusual coalition of democrats and republicans
are also expected to cut at least an additional $900 million in the B-2
procurement funds requested by Defense Secretary Dick Cheney for FY
1990. Earlier, President Bush and congressional leaders agreed to
limit Pentagon spending to $295.6 billion, but the difficulty comes in
deciding how to divide those funds.
EDWARD ROWNY NAMED SPECIAL ADVISOR TO BUSH AND BAKER ON ARMS CONTROL
Edward L. Rowny has been named a special advisor to President Bush and
Secretary of State James Baker on arms control matters. Mr. Rowny
served as the U.S.'s special representative for arms control and
disarmament negotiations for the Reagan Administration.
ARMY TO REVIEW AAWWA TO DETERMINE MOVE TO DEVELOPMENT/PRODUCTION PHASE
The U.S. Army plans to review the airborne adverse weather weapons
system (AAWWS) to determine whether to move into the development/
production phase in August. The AAWWS was developed by Martin Marietta
and Westinghouse and consists of a mast-mounted radar and Hellfire
missiles with a new active seeker. Flight performance tests of the
fire-control radar mounted on a McDonnell Douglas AH-64 attack
helicopter are completed and field tests are ongoing on the radar's
integration with the AH-64's mission equipment package.
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE VOTED TO RESTORE $1.2 BILLION
In a vote that marked defeat for both Defense Secretary Dick Cheney and
Rep. Les Aspin (D-WI), the House Armed Services Committee voted to
restore $1.2 billion for two weapons systems and another $1.2 billion
for the National Guard and Reserves. The two revived weapons programs
are the Navy's F-14D jet fighter, built by Grumman and the V-22 Osprey
vertical takeoff aircraft for the Marine Corp., built by Bell
Helicopter and Boeing Vertol.
NAVY RESEARCHING AUTOMATED SPEECH UNDERSTANDING FOR BATTLE MANAGEMENT
The Navy awarded a two-year, $5.2 million, contract to BNN Laboratories
Inc. (Cambridge, MA) for research in automated speech understanding
directed toward making battle management automated systems accessible
to commanders. Experts in the field of automated speech recognition
have been able to achieve error rates of only 3% for a one-thousand
word vocabulary. The contract is a follow-on to previous work done by
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of its
strategic computing program. DARPA's goal is to develop real-time
operation on systems costing less than $20,000 and so must develop very
large-scale integrated circuits (VLSIC) in order to achieve that goal.
The Navy intends to apply this technology for various expert-based
weapons system functions including pilot cockpit assistance and battle
management.
NASA:
NASA TO USE EXISTING CAPABILITIES FOR SPACE STATION ASSEMBLY SEQUENCE
Associate administrator for the Space Station William Lenoir said that
NASA will develop a Space Station assembly sequence using existing
Space Station capabilities but will consider options using the Advanced
Solid Rocket Motor or Shuttle-C if they become available. Mr. Lenoir
added that he expects to consolidate the Space Shuttle and Space
Station offices within the next two months.
ATLAS CENTAUR LAUNCH VEHICLE ERECTED FOR NOVEMBER LAUNCH
The first stage of an Atlas Centaur launch vehicle has been erected by
General Dynamics technicians in preparation for the launch of a Fleet
Satellite Communications (FltSatCom) spacecraft in November. The
spacecraft will be the last expendable launch vehicle under NASA
responsibility and then the Air Force will be responsible for the
Atlas, along with the McDonnell Douglas Delta and Martin Marietta Titan
launchers. The FltSatCom launch will take place from Cape Canaveral,
Fl.
SHUTTLE CARRYING NUCLEAR-FUELED POWER SOURCE STIRS CRITICISM
The space shuttle is scheduled to carry the Galileo/Jupiter satellite
and its nuclear-fueled power source into orbit in October, marking the
first time in 12 years that the U.S. has launched a nuclear power
system. Though U.S. government officials believe the flight will not
endanger the public, NASA is preparing to deal with anti-nuclear
groups, some of which have already criticized the program. One group
in particular, The Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, has
published a brochure that refers to Galileo as a "bomb pointed at the
Earth." NASA denies this and claims the group is merely using scare
tactics and taking advantage of the public's fears of nuclear power.
SPACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PURCHASE ACT OF 1989 BILL INTRODUCED
Rep. Ron Packard (R-CA), along with seven co-sponsors, has written a
bill that would require NASA to buy space transportation services from
commercial launch firms in order to help U.S. companies compete abroad
by eliminating government regulations. Under the Space Transportation
Services Purchase Act of 1989, NASA and other government agencies would
have to buy all space transportation services commercially, except in
cases of national security and payloads designed to fly on the Space
Shuttle. Rep. Packard believes the bill would make U.S. launch firms
more competitive internationally. The bill was introduced in the House
on June 15.
SENATE CONFIRMS TRULY AS NASA ADMINISTRATOR
The Senate confirmed Richard H. Truly as NASA Administrator and James
R. Thompson Jr. as deputy administrator. The only opposition came from
Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-WI), calling Adm. Truly's confirmation "a
dangerous precedent" because the post is to be reserved for civilians.
Sen. Kohl added the he believes "it is important to maintain our
civilian agency as a civilian agency." Earlier, Congress approved a
waiver to allow Adm. Truly to become administrator. He will retire
from the Navy as a vice admiral on July 1.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR SPACE STATION TO RESIGN JULY 15
Deputy director for Space Station programs and operations E. Ray Tanner
announced he will resign from NASA as of July 15. James Sisson, deputy
program manager, has been named as his replacement.
INTERNATIONAL:
SECOND SOVIET NUCLEAR SUBMARINE HAS ACCIDENT OFF NORWAY
The second Soviet nuclear submarine since April had an accident off
Norway and had to be taken home. Soviet officials said no
radioactivity was released and there were no casualties. Norway,
however, complained that Moscow delayed reporting the accident and
plans air and water tests.
ASIASAT LAUNCH PLANS DISRUPTED BY U.S. EMBARGO AGAINST CHINA
Asiasat launch plans have been disrupted by President Bush's embargo on
weapons and high technology equipment to China. This prohibits
shipments of the Hughes Aircraft-built satellite for launch on the
Chinese Long March booster. Asiasat is scheduled to be launched in
April 1990. Technically, Asiasat has a launch position on a French
Ariane booster at about the same time, however a strict interpretation
of the U.S. embargo could prevent any deployment.
JAPANESE EXPERIMENT MODULE REVIEW EXPECTED AFTER DIET APPROVAL
An official from the National Space Development Agency of Japan
(NASDA), said that a preliminary requirements review of the Japanese
Experiment Module (JEM) will be conducted following Diet approval of an
intergovernmental agreement for long term Japanese participation with
the U.S. on the Space Station program. The JEM project, which is
expected to cost about $2 billion, would attach to the Space Station
and be used for technology development, life sciences and materials
processing experiments. The module is expected to be launched in June
1997.
COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS REASON FOR LIMITED PHOBOS SPACECRAFT DESIGN
A Soviet space official reported that it was a communication problem
between the Academy of Sciences and the Soviet aerospace industry that
caused the Phobos spacecraft design to have limited payload and data
transmission capabilities. The Soviets lost two Phobos spacecraft
during a mission to Mars, one was lost through human error and the
other to a technical malfunction. The Soviets are hoping for another
mission to Mars in 1994.
BUSINESSS:
BOEING CONFIRMED IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE DOD
Boeing Co. confirmed that the Defense Department (DoD) is investigating
them in connection with its accounting practices on certain research
and development work. A Boeing spokesperson said only that "the
investigation is ongoing, and we're cooperating." Pentagon officials
also declined to identify the specific projects and documents that are
being investigated.
BOEING AND HUGHES TO RECEIVE DRAFT RFP FOR FIBER OPTC GUIDED MISSILE
Boeing Military Airplane Co. and Hughes Aircraft Co. will receive a
draft request for proposal next month for advanced procurement of the
Fiber Optic Guided Missile (FOG-M), according Army Missile Command.
The draft RFP will be issued on or about July 14.
HUGHES PAYS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT $570,000 TO SETTLE MISCHARGING CLAIMS
General Motors Corp.'s Hughes Aircraft Co. unit, gave the Justice
Department $570,000 to settle claims that the company mischarged the
government for target simulators for the Army's M-1 tank. This, along
with previous payments Hughes has made to the government, brought the
total value of the settlement to $1.3 million. The Justice Department
said that in 1986, Hughes voluntarily disclosed the mischarging to the
Defense Department.
LORAL PURCHASES SCHLUMBERGER UNIT FOR ABOUT $190 MILLION
Loral Corp. and Schlumberger Ltd. have completed the transaction in
which Loral bought Schlumberger's Fairchild Weston Systems unit for
about $190 million. The Fairchild unit had 1988 venue of over $270 and
profit from operations of $22 million. Both companies are based in New
York, NY.
MARTIN MARIETTA ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Martin Marietta Corp. announced it intends to name A. Thomas Young
president and chief operating officer, succeeding Caleb Hurtt, who
plans to retire. Mr. Young currently heads Martin Marietta's
Electronics & Missiles Group, which had 1988 sales of $2.05 billion,
and is a senior vice president of the corporation. He was director of
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center before joining Martin Marietta in
1982. Mr. Hurtt will remain a director.
MORTON THIOKOL SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO SPLIT THE COMPANY INTO TWO SECTIONS
Morton Thiokol Inc. will split the company into two sections, and
according to analysts, this will result in a strong specialty chemicals
business and a weak aerospace company. Morton Thiokol's stockholders
had a special meeting and voted to approve the spin-off with almost 80%
of the votes in favor of the change. The plan includes the creation of
the new Morton International company, specializing in chemicals, salt
and airbags and the Thiokol Corp., which would act strictly as a solid
rocket propulsion system supplier.
CRIMINAL INDICTMENT AGAINST NORTHROP AMENDED BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
The criminal indictment against Northrop Corp. has been amended by the
Justice Department because the Department contends that the company
improperly tested and sold many more defective parts for air-launch
cruise missiles than originally alleged. The original indictment
asserted that Northrop had sold only 17 of the defective guidance
units, called flight data transmitters, however the new indictment
alleges that over 200 were sold. The indictment states that the
defective units were improperly tested and then shipped to the Seattle,
Washington-based Boeing Co., the missile's final assembler.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE CHOSEN TO CONDUCT THREE-YEAR STUDY FOR NASA
Boeing Aerospace and Electronics advanced civil space systems
organization has been chosen by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to
conduct a three-year, $7 million, study to define concepts for
developing space-based transportation vehicles that could deliver
people and payloads to other planetary surfaces, such as the Moon and
Mars. Subcontractors will include General Dynamics, Madison Research
and Camus Inc.
CONTROL DATA WON AIRBOURNE COMPUTERS CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
Control Data Corp., Government Systems Div., won a Navy delivery order
worth over $10 million for 92 AN/AYK-14(V) CP-1699A airbourne
computers. The work is scheduled to be completed by November 1990.
GENERAL ELECTRIC GIVEN NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $256.3 MILLION
General Electric Co. was given a $256.3 million Navy contract for anti-
submarine combat systems for surface ships.
GRUMMAN ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH OVER $5 MILLION
Grumman Aerospace Corp. was issued a $5,223,509 order against a firm-
fixed-price contract for 36 operational test program sets for F/A-18
aircraft. The work is scheduled to be completed in May 1991. Naval
Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.
IBM GIVEN $43.9 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
International Business Machines (IBM) Corp., Systems Integration Div.,
was given a $43.9 million face value increase to a not to exceed Air
Force contract for seven shipsets of hardware an effort applicable to
Combat Talon II. The contract work is expected to be completed in July
1992. Aeronautical Systems Div. is the contracting activity.
ITT AVIONICS DIVISION GIVEN ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
ITT Corp.'s ITT Avionics Division, is being given a $125,789,226 face
value increase to a fixed price incentive (firm target) Air Force
contract for prime mission equipment and spares for the AN/ALQ-172(V)
electronic countermeasure system used on various aircraft. Work is
expected to be completed April 1991. Warner Robins Air Logistics
Center is the contracting activity.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED CONTRACTS WORTH $30.8 MILLION
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was awarded $30.8 million in contracts for Air
Force F-15 test components and for Army helicopters rotor blades.
NORTHROP RECEIVED AERIAL TARGETS CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
Northrop Corp. received a $36.4 million Navy contract for aerial
targets.
UTC GIVEN CONTRACT FOR HELICOPTER TRAINING SIMULATORS
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was given a $78.8 million Navy contract
for helicopter training simulators.
WESTINGHOUSE GOT A CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL RADARS
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Aerospace Div., got a $79,005,000 face
value increase to a firm fixed price Air Force contract for FY 1990
long lead requirements for F-16 aircraft fire control radars. The
contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force and for Turkey and
Korea under the Foreign Military Sales program. Aeronautical Systems
Div. is the contracting activity.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for June 26, 1989.
June 27, 1989
NASA TO ISSUE RFI FOR AGENCY-WIDE GICR SYSTEM
NASA is interested in obtaining information from industry on the
potential Agency-wide procurement for graphics interface computing
resources (GICR). The agency intends to procure three levels of
workstations: executive workstations; administrative workstations; and
scientific/engineering workstations. These workstations shall be a
family of high performance, multi-purpose, stand-alone microcomputer
desk-top workstations interoperable with PC/MS-DOS, in addition to the
proposed workstation's native operating system. Interoperability is
defined as the ability to manipulate and exchange data files in
addition to providing the capability to operate applications designed
for PC/MS-DOS. The workstation platform will consist of desk-top
microcomputer workstations and peripherals integrated to form multi-
purpose workstations with emphasis on ease of use. This is a Request
for Information (RFI), only. NASA is interested in obtaining industry
comments on the GICR specifications. The anticipated release date for
the RFI is June 18, 1989. Interested parties shall submit written
requests for RFI no. RFI-D-09366/HWC. All requests shall be received
by 3:00 pm, local time, on June 18, 1989.
Contact: Soraya Correa
NASA Headquarters
Contracts and Grants Division
Washington, DC 20546
(202) 453-1820
June 28, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE COLOR GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS
NASA Lewis Research Center intends to procure, under the terms and
conditions of Contract GS00K-87AGS-5854, Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Personal Iris high performance color graphics workstations. Suppliers
of identical or equivalent items may submit data to demonstrate their
ability to satisfy this requirement. All responsible sources may
submit written responses with 15 calendar days. All responses received
will be considered. Inquiries concerning this requirement should
reference 361503.
Contact: Katherine Martin
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
M/S 500-309
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2753
No relevant RFPs for June 29, 1989.
June 30, 1989
GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE RACAL-MILGO'S COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
It is the Government's intent to acquire sole source from Racal-Milgo's
GSA Schedule (GS00K86AGS5310), a Central Processing Unit, Communication
Management System and many other assorted hardware peripherals. No
contract award will be made in response to this notice of intent to
acquire since this synopsis of intent to place an order against the
schedule contract cannot be considered an RFP offer. Written responses
will be evaluated only if they include complete pricing and technical
data to enable the Government to determine if a solicitation is
warranted. Responses must be received within 15 calendar days.
Contact: Ann Maples
U.S. Army Missile Command Directorate for
Procurement & Production
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-8316
GOVERNMENT ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR MACINTOSH IIX GRAPHIC WORKSTATIONS
The government has issued solicitation DAAH03-89-B-3059 for five
MacIntosh IIX graphic workstations including peripheral hardware
(monitors, keyboards, printers etc.) 49 each, and supporting software.
Delivery will be to Huntsville, AL. When responding, please reference
the above solicitation number.
Contact: A. Eiermann
U.S. Army Missile Command Directorate for
Procurement & Production
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-8276
|
| 20.46 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/03/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jul 12 1989 09:07 | 607 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 007968
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 12-Jul-1989 04:37am ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/03/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 3, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 3, 1989
GENERAL:
NRC TO CONDUCT PLANT-BY-PLANT INSPECTIONS OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
ATTENDANCE, EXHIBITS AND AIRCRAFT NUMBERS UP AT PARIS AIR SHOW
NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL RECOMMEND $254 MILLION FOR NASP PROGRAM
DEFENSE:
U.S. LEADS WORLD IN HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY
HASC VOTED TO GIVE TECHNOLOGY BASE FUNDING A 13% BOOST OVER REQUEST
VICE PRESIDENT QUAYLE CALLS SDI CUTS "SHORTSIGHTED" AND "HARMFUL"
AIR FORCE TO BEGIN TEST FLIGHTS OF MX MISSILES IN 1991
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHENEY CHOSE JOHN BETTI FOR ACQUISITION CHIEF
NASA:
FY 1990 NASA AUTHORIZATION BILL TO BE MARKED UP THE WEEK OF JULY 10
SOVIET JOURNALIST APOLOGIZES TO U.S. FOR SOVIET DECISION ON APOLLO
LEE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
INTERNATIONAL:
GEC AND PLESSEY RESUMED TALKS AND THEN QUIT
CANADIAN DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ORDERED THREE LOCKHEED P-3 TYPE PLANES
BRITISH/SOVIET SPACE MISSION PLANNED FOR 1991
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO SELL THEIR SHARES IN AIR CANADA
CHINA OPENS FIRST SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT UNIVERSITY
SOVIET TO SELL IRAQ SU-27 FLANKER INTERCEPTORS
INVESTIGATORS SAY SMALL BIRD CAUSED SOVIET MIG-29 TO CRASH
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS AND IAI SIGN AGREEMENT
LOCKHEED TO PAY OSHA $1.5 MILLION TO SETTLE PLANT SAFETY ALLEGATIONS
LOCKHEED ENGINEERING & SCIENCES TO BUILD ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LAB
LOGICON REPORTS INCOME FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31
MORTON THIOKOL TO BEGIN WORK ON ALS TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION
U.S. ATTORNEY FILES ADDITIONAL CHARGES AGAINST NORTHROP
ROCKWELL TO PAY $800,000 TO SETTLE CIVIL CLAIMS BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS' DSEG HOPES TO GROW FOREIGN SALES BY 20%
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEROJET GENERAL GIVEN MISSILE RESEARCH CONTRACT WORTH $21 MILLION
AT&T TECHNOLOGIES GOT NAVY CONTRACT FOR SIGNAL PROCESSORS
BEECH AIRCRAFT ISSUED ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $42 MILLION
HERCULES WON $23 MILLION IN NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
LOCKHEED ISSUED TRIDENT II MISSILE CONTRACT
LORAL GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $12 MILLION
LTV AEROSPACE WON MULTIPLE LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEMS AND PARTS CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED BALLISTIC MISSILE WORK CONTRACT FROM AIR FORCE
PHASE IV SYSTEMS GIVEN ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $14.9 MILLION
RAYTHEON AWARDED HAWK ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE CONTRACT
ROCKWELL RECEIVED $117.3 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS WON TARGETING SYSTEMS & AIRCRAFT COMPUTERS CONTRACTS
UTC AWARDED HELICOPTER WORK CONTRACT WORTH $24.9 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
July 3, 1989
U.S. ARMY TO ADD TO DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM
DEFENSE SUPPLY REQUIRES MACINTOSH II GRAPHIC COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS
No relevant RFPs for July 4-6, 1989.
July 7, 1989
ATA SYSTEM PROGRAM OFFICE TO ACQUIRE TEMPEST MACINTOSH MICROCOMPUTERS
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE ZENITH HIGH PERFORMANCE WORKSTATIONS
KSC RFP WENT TO HARRIS SPACE SYSTEMS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
NRC TO CONDUCT PLANT-BY-PLANT INSPECTIONS OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reversed its decision to order
24 nuclear power reactors to adopt extra precautions to keep protective
containment buildings intact in the event of a severe accident.
Earlier, the NRC recommended that the extra precautions be taken at 24
of the plants, or about one-quarter of the nation's nuclear power
stations. Instead, the staff will conduct plant-by-plant inspections
of the hard pipe vents in the containment buildings, the vents would
relieve severe pressure that would build up if the reactor core were
damaged. Should the containment fail, it could lead to the release of
dangerous amounts of radioactivity into the atmosphere.
ATTENDANCE, EXHIBITS AND AIRCRAFT NUMBERS UP AT PARIS AIR SHOW
Attendance was up at the Paris air show this year, with more visitors
from more countries, with greater representation of exhibitors and more
aircraft. In total, there were 407,799 attendees of the show from 127
countries, compared with 364,290 last year. There were a total of 210
aircraft displayed during the 11-day event. There were also nearly
1,600 exhibitors from 34 countries, over one hundred more exhibits than
last year with three additional countries. The show's flight director,
Claude Martin said that despite the Soviet MiG crash, he considered the
show a safe and successful event.
NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL RECOMMEND $254 MILLION FOR NASP PROGRAM
The National Space Council recommended that the National Aerospace
Plane (NASP) be funded at $254 million for FY 1990. The council does
not believe this is enough money and the lack of proper funding will
hinder U.S. hypersonic flight research, however they feel it "is better
than nothing." The council also suggested that attention be refocussed
on technology development and research.
DEFENSE:
U.S. LEADS WORLD IN HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY
According to National Aerospace plane program manager Robert
Barthelemy, the U.S. leads the world in hypersonic technology, but that
could change. Speaking at the dedication of an Aerojet TechSystems
hypersonic test facility in California, Mr. Barthelemy said "if you
measure what's going on in this country in regard to hypersonic
research and compare it to any other country in the world, we are
ahead, but we're not ahead by very much."
HASC VOTED TO GIVE TECHNOLOGY BASE FUNDING A 13% BOOST OVER REQUEST
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) voted to give technology base
funding, which as been declining steadily since the mid-1970s, a 13%
boost. The Pentagon's original request of $3.3 billion, got a $418
million increase. The money will go to research into high-definition
television, X-ray lithography, superconductor technology and submarine
and antisubmarine-warfare technology research programs.
VICE PRESIDENT QUAYLE CALLS SDI CUTS "SHORTSIGHTED AND HARMFUL"
Speaking before an American Defense Preparedness Assoc. conference in
Washington, Vice President Dan Quayle called the House Armed Service
Committee (HASC) action limiting Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
funding to $3.5 billion for FY 1990, "extremely shortsighted and
harmful". Mr. Quayle said he believes that SDI would deter breakdowns
in arms reduction agreements between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. He
went on to urge Congress to restore SDI's budget to the level of former
President Reagan's request of $5.6 billion.
AIR FORCE TO BEGIN TEST FLIGHTS OF MX MISSILES IN 1991
The Air Force intends to begin test flights of MX missiles launched
from rail cars in 1991. According to an Army list of activities
scheduled for its Kwajalein Atoll test range, four of five test flights
are planned from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. in order to test the
rail garrison MX basing mode.
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHENEY CHOSE JOHN BETTI FOR ACQUISITION CHIEF
Executive vice president of Ford Motor Co.'s Diversified Products
Operations (Dearborn, MI) John Betti was chosen be Defense Secretary
Dick Cheney to take the position of undersecretary of defense for
acquisition. Mr. Betti is a known advocate of Total Quality Management
and is considered a leading industry figure in business management.
Some industry sources worry the Mr. Betti does not have enough defense
experience, however two previous acquisition chiefs, Robert Costello
and Richard Godwin, had little background in the defense industry when
they accepted their posts. Robert Costello left the position in May
and it has been vacant ever since.
NASA:
FY 1990 NASA AUTHORIZATION BILL TO BE MARKED UP THE WEEK OF JULY 10
The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on space science
and applications hopes to mark up the FY 1990 NASA authorization bill
during the week of July 10. The subcommittee intended to mark up the
bill before Congress' July 4 break, but had to cancel the hearing at
the last minute.
SOVIET JOURNALIST APOLOGIZES TO U.S. FOR SOVIET DECISION ON APOLLO
A leading Soviet space journalist apologized to Americans for his
nation's decision 20 years ago to black out the Apollo moon landing and
show a musical program on Soviet television, instead. Yaroslav
Golovanov wrote that, "we were showing more disrespect for ourselves
than for the astronauts or the country that sent them." Mr. Golovanov
went on to describe NASA's Apollo landing and walk in his article.
LEE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
Thomas J. Lee was appointed director of Marshall Space Flight Center.
Mr. Lee succeeds James Thompson Jr., who was selected to be NASA deputy
administrator by President Bush. Mr. Lee has been deputy director at
Marshall since December 1980.
INTERNATIONAL:
GEC AND PLESSEY RESUMED TALKS AND THEN QUIT
General Electric Co. PLC (GEC) and Plessey Co., both of London,
temporarily resumed talks on settling their long-running takeover
battle and then Plessey promptly broke them off. Plessey had offered a
peace proposal in which they would sell their telecommunications-
equipment holding to GEC and its West German partner Siemens AD and in
return, GEC and Siemens would drop the take-over battle for all of the
Plessey Co. in a $2.63 billion hostile bid. However, the break in the
talks probably means that Siemens and GEC plan to continue with the
hostile takeover.
CANADIAN DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ORDERED THREE LOCKHEED P-3 TYPE PLANES
The Canadian defense department gave Lockheed Corp. a $217.6 million
contract for three Lockheed P-3 type planes and parts. A Canadian
official said the planes will be used for Arctic and maritime
surveillance.
BRITISH/SOVIET SPACE MISSION PLANNED FOR 1991
Juno, a British/Soviet space mission is planned for 1991 in which a
British astronaut will fly in space aboard a Soviet space mission and
perform scientific experiments on Mir space station. The Juno mission
is not backed by the British government, but is being financed by the
sale of sponsorship and merchandising packages, payload space for
scientific experiments and broadcasting rights. The British are
currently in the process of looking for two astronauts, one astronaut
and a backup candidate, to undergo 18 months of training.
Advertisements say: "Astronaut wanted, No experience necessary."
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO SELL THEIR SHARES IN AIR CANADA
According to a source within the underwriting group, the Canadian
government plans to sell its remaining share of Air Canada at 12
Canadian dollars ($10.04 U.S.) a share. The government currently owns
41.1 million shares. Though the government intends to sell all of
those shares, only 25% of them may go to foreign investors.
CHINA OPENS FIRST SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT UNIVERSITY
China's Harbin Polytechnical University opened the country's first
space science and technology department, according to news agency
Xinhua. The department focuses on space environment engineering and
astronavigation technology and has teaching and research division for
environment engineering, materials science and information engineering.
Students will be selected beginning August 1.
SOVIET TO SELL IRAQ SU-27 FLANKER INTERCEPTORS
The Soviet Union will sell Iraq Su-27 Flanker interceptors and though
the number has not been decided, Iraq has been promised "prompt
delivery" once the deal is final. This is the first sale of the plane
outside of the Soviet bloc.
INVESTIGATORS SAY SMALL BIRD CAUSED SOVIET MIG-29 TO CRASH
The commission investigating the crash of the Soviet MiG-29 jet fighter
at the Paris Air Show, concluded that a small bird was sucked into its
engine. Investigators found feathers sticking to the wrecked engine's
blades.
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS AND IAI SIGN AGREEMENT
General Dynamics Corp. (GD) announced that is has signed an agreement
with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in the first step of its planned
expansion into the business of building unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to GD, the agreement extends to the production of a range of
unmanned aerial vehicle parts, including sensors, platforms and ground
processing systems.
LOCKHEED TO PAY OSHA $1.5 MILLION TO SETTLE PLANT SAFETY ALLEGATIONS
Lockheed Corp. agreed to pay $1.5 million in fines to settle Labor
Department allegations that the company violated federal safety and
health standards in its Burbank, CA plant. It marks one of the largest
settlements between a corporation and the department's Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). An OSHA spokesperson said
that Lockheed's Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. will correct unsafe
or unhealthy work practices throughout its operations. Lockheed Corp.
agreed to the terms of the settlement without admitting guilt to the
alleged violations.
LOCKHEED ENGINEERING & SCIENCES TO BUILD ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LAB
Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Co., a unit of Lockheed Corp.,
announced plans to build and operate a $10 million analytical chemistry
laboratory for testing environmental samples. The facility, to be
built in Las Vegas, NV, will support efforts to solve environmental
problems. The company will operated the facility in support of its
contracts with the Environmental Protection Agency in Las Vegas and
provide consulting services to other government agencies. Construction
is to begin this fall and is expected to be completed in the late
spring of 1990.
LOGICON REPORTS INCOME FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31
Logicon Inc., which provides advanced technology systems and services
to support national security, civil and industrial needs, reported a
net income of $9.6 million on revenues of $232.4 million for the fiscal
year ending March 31. The previous year, the company had a net income
of $9.1 million on revenues of $218.9 million.
MORTON THIOKOL TO BEGIN WORK ON ALS TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION
Morton Thiokol's Space Division will begin work on the Advanced Launch
System (ALS) which will involve evaluation of solid rocket propulsion
technology options and testing the demonstration solid rocket booster
motors utilizing ALS technology. It is hoped that ALS will provide a
dependable launch vehicle while cutting the expense of lifting a
payload at a 10th of current costs. Morton Thiokol is doing the work
under contract with the Air Force Astronautics Laboratory at Edwards
Air Force Base, CA.
U.S. ATTORNEY FILES ADDITIONAL CHARGES AGAINST NORTHROP
Northrop Corp. was handed up a revised and expanded indictment by the
U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles. The revised filing adds 22 fraud counts
to a 167-count indictment in connection with the improper testing of
parts for the Navy's Harrier jet and for flight data transmitters
installed on cruise missiles. A spokesperson for Northrop said the
charges were "totally without foundation because all of the parts we
are charged with making improperly work as designed." The trial date
has been set to begin November 14 in U.S. District Court in Los
Angeles.
ROCKWELL TO PAY $800,000 TO SETTLE CIVIL CLAIMS BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Rockwell International Corp. will pay the government $800,000 to settle
civil claims that they submitted inaccurate cost data on Air Force
contracts. Earlier, Rockwell pleaded guilty to criminal contract fraud
charges stemming from the same matters and was fined $5.5 million. The
Justice Dept. claimed that the company misrepresented the actual costs
of a subcontract that Rockwell negotiated with a unit of International
Telephone & Telegraph Corp. to the Air Force.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS' DSEG HOPES TO GROW FOREIGN SALES BY 20%
Texas Instruments' Defense Systems and Electronics Group (DSEG) plans
to have foreign sales grow 20% within the next few years, according to
its vice president and director of DSEG's international operations.
The company believes this will happen because they are building an
international network, plants in 20 foreign locations, for in-country
operations, pursuing industrial alliances for market penetration and
using technology transfer programs. In 1988, foreign sales totaled
$300 million, 14% of the group's total sales.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEROJET GENERAL GIVEN MISSILE RESEARCH CONTRACT WORTH $21 MILLION
Aerojet General Corp. was given a contract for $21 million from the Air
Force for missile research.
AT&T TECHNOLOGIES GOT NAVY CONTRACT FOR SIGNAL PROCESSORS
AT&T Technologies Inc., a unit of American Telephone & Telegraph Co.,
got a $31.3 million contract from the Navy for signal processors.
BEECH AIRCRAFT ISSUED ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $42 MILLION
Beech Aircraft Corp., a unit of Raytheon Co., was issued a $42 million
Army contract for RC-12K aircraft.
HERCULES WON $23 MILLION IN NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
Hercules Inc. won $23 million in contracts for Navy Sparrow aircraft
missiles and Air Force missile research.
LOCKHEED ISSUED TRIDENT II MISSILE CONTRACT
Lockheed Corp. was issued a contract worth $17 million from the Navy
for Trident II missiles.
LORAL GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $12 MILLION
Loral Corp. was given an Air Force contract worth $12 million for
electronic countermeasures equipment.
LTV AEROSPACE WON MULTIPLE LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEMS AND PARTS CONTRACT
LTV Aerospace & Defense Co., a unit of LTV Corp., won a $176.2 million
Army contract for multiple launch rocket systems and parts.
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED BALLISTIC MISSILE WORK CONTRACT FROM AIR FORCE
Martin Marietta Corp. received a $34.1 million Air Force contract for
ballistic missile work.
PHASE IV SYSTEMS GIVEN ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $14.9 MILLION
Phase IV Systems Inc. was given a $14.9 million Army contract for radar
parts.
RAYTHEON AWARDED HAWK ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was awarded a $26.2 million Army contract for Hawk anti-
aircraft missiles.
ROCKWELL RECEIVED $117.3 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
Rockwell International Corp. received $117.3 million in contracts for
Air Force satellite receivers and Navy multiplex systems.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS WON TARGETING SYSTEMS & AIRCRAFT COMPUTERS CONTRACTS
Texas Instruments Inc. won $19.9 million in contracts for Navy aircraft
targeting systems and Air Force aircraft computers.
UTC AWARDED HELICOPTER WORK CONTRACT WORTH $24.9 MILLION
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was awarded a $24.9 million Army
contract for work on helicopters.
RFP UPDATE:
July 3, 1989
U.S. ARMY TO ADD TO DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM
The Defense Supply Service-Washington, on behalf of the U.S. Army
Decision Systems Management Agency, intends to modify contract No.
MDA903-85-C-0504 for additional ADP support services from General
Research Corp. (McLean, VA). The contract provides for development,
operation and maintenance of 10 modules and a management information
system that functions together to produce integrated forecasts of
strength projections, requirements, accessions, losses and promotion.
The increased effort includes additional operation and maintenance of
the reserve component integrated strength projection modules for the RC
Offer Decision Support System and expansion of the current objective
force modeling capability. No solicitation document exists and
requests for such documents will be considered invalid responses. Any
responses to this notice must discuss all items and capabilities
mentioned above and must include information demonstrating a bona fide
ability to meet this requirement. All responses must be in writing and
received within 30 days of date of this publication.
Contact: Marilyn L. Porter
Defense Supply Service- Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 695-7083
DEFENSE SUPPLY REQUIRES MACINTOSH II GRAPHIC COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS
The Defense Supply Service-Washington, in support of The Graphic Media
Division, U.S. Army Visual Information Agency, has a requirement for
MacIntosh II graphic computer workstations with software programs
manufactured by MacIntosh Inc. This synopsis is a notice of intent to
acquire, on GSA Schedule No. GS-LOK-AGS-6383, with Falcon Microsystems
(Landover, MD), this computer graphic network system equipment. No
solicitation document exists and a request for such will be considered
invalid. If no written response is received within 15 days after this
publication, the award will be made to Falcon Microsystems.
Contact: Morie Gunter
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 203010-5200
(202) 695-3801
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS
NASA Lewis Research Center issued solicitation RFQ3-350726 for 7
graphics workstations with internal disk storage compatible with an
existing Sun-based workstation network. The contract duration is for
one year with four one-year options. All responsible sources may
submit a proposal which shall be considered. Copies of the
solicitation may be obtained by calling the number below.
Contact: Jon Schultz
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
(216) 433-6616
No relevant RFPs for July 4-6, 1989.
July 7, 1989
ATA SYSTEM PROGRAM OFFICE TO ACQUIRE TEMPEST MACINTOSH MICROCOMPUTERS
The Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) System Program Office has a
requirement for equipment which will provide interoperability and
compatibility with existing baseline programs and equipment in the Navy
ATA program office, other military agencies, Defense Department level
offices and contractors that are involved with the ATA. Therefore, it
is contemplated that the acquisition would require nineteen (19)
Tempest MacIntosh microcomputer systems. The purpose of this synopsis
is to determine whether a competitive solicitation may be issued.
Interested contractors will be required to provide a capability
statement within fifteen days after publication of this notice.
Contractors must certify that the hardware proposed is listed and
tested with the current Information System Security Products and
Services Catalogue or provide a schedule as to when such hardware will
be listed and tested.
Contact: Nancy Stormer
Contract Division
Advanced Tactical Aircraft System Program Office
Systems Program Office
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OPH 45433-6503
(513) 255-2567
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center intends to enter into a contract with
Hewlett-Packard for the acquisition of an HP 9000/835 computer and
peripherals including delivery, installation and warranty. The
computers which this system will be integrated with are already
currently owned by Goddard Space Flight Center. The acquisition of the
Hewlett-Packard computer system will be accomplished through a lease to
ownership contract with Hewlett-Packard. Vendors who are able to
supply and furnish the required items are invited to submit a written
response, including a capability statement and/or product literature
and pricing data which demonstrates their capability to supply the
items. No contract award will be made on the basis of any response to
this notice.
Contract: Lynn Lewis
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-4962
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE ZENITH HIGH PERFORMANCE WORKSTATIONS
The Defense Supply Service-Washington intends to acquire, in support of
the Pentagon, the following items off of Zenith Data Systems current
GSA schedule: fifty (50) Zenith Z-386 Model 40 High Performance
Workstations. Qualified vendors may submit a substantive written
statement delineating their ability to meet the specific requirements.
No solicitation document exists, therefore, requests for such a
document shall be considered an invalid response. If no responses are
received within 15 days of publication, an order will be issued with
the Zenith GSA schedule for the state requirements. Please reference
requisition No. 8103/0680 when responding.
Contact: Salvatore Ales
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
KSC RFP WENT TO HARRIS SPACE SYSTEMS
RFP No. 10-6-005-8, issued by NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
for a common, real-time automated control, checkout & monitor system
which can be applied to multiply space programs went to Harris Space
Systems Co. (Rockledge, FL) for $299,710,000.
|
| 20.47 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/10/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jul 18 1989 11:51 | 472 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008027
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 18-Jul-1989 00:16am ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/10/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 10, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-----------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 10, 1989
GENERAL:
U.S. SATELLITES BANNED FROM BEING LAUNCHED ON SOVIET BOOSTERS
DEFENSE:
B-2 STEALTH BOMBER UNDERGOES TAXI TESTS IN PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
SDIO'S DELTA STAR SPACECRAFT "ALIVE AND WELL"
DSB REPORTS PENTAGON FAILS TO MAKE EFFORT TO USE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
SOVIETS LIKED NATO PROPOSAL TO REDUCE CONVENTIONAL FORCES IN EUROPE
FIRST SCHEDULED FLIGHT OF THE B-2 STEALTH BOMBER POSTPONED
FORMER CIVILIAN NAVAL EMPLOYEE ADMITS TO TAKING $475,000 IN BRIBES
NASA:
NASA EXPECTS NEW ROUND OF TOP LEVEL RESIGNATIONS THIS WEEK
NASA SIGNS MOU WITH WEST GERMANY
THIRD MOON OF NEPTUNE DETECTED BY VOYAGER 2 SPACECRAFT
NASA AND CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY TO CONDUCT EXPERIMENT TOGETHER
NASA TO MOVE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA TO THE LAUNCH PAD SOON
APOLLO II CREW GATHER AT ALABAMA SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER
INTERNATIONAL:
MBB PROFITS HIGH BECAUSE OF A GOOD YEAR FOR AIRBUS CONSORTIUM
AEROSPATIALE'S HELICOPTER DIVISION REPORTS STRONG SALES
SOVIETS TO REMOVE ALL SOVIET GOLF II SUBMARINES FROM BALTIC SEA
BUSINESS:
BOEING TO STOP PRODUCING AIRBORNE WARNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM AIRCRAFT
GRUMMAN EXPECTS TO BEGIN FLIGHT TESTS OF JOINT-STARS AIRCRAFT SOON
HARRIS NEGOTIATING TO DEVELOP PROTOTYPE EARTH STATION FOR ACTS
LEARJET'S AEROSPACE PRODUCTION BACKLOG OVER $110 MILLION
NORTHROP UNIT SUSPENDED FROM ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
FEDERAL AGENCY LIFTS SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION OF TELEDYNE ELECTRONICS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $151.5 MILLION
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $228.3 MILLION
IBM ISSUED $100.2 MILLION IN NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
ITT GIVEN COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT WORTH $20.4 MILLION
LORAL GOT ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
LTV'S MISSILE AND ELECTRONICS GROUP RECEIVED $942 MILLION CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR MARK 50 TORPEDO CONTRACT
UNISYS ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $13.7 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
July 10, 1989
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE SUN MICROSYSTEMS WORKSTATIONS
July 11, 1989
GODDARD TO ISSUE RFP FOR BETWEEN 20 AND 40 PERSONAL COMPUTERS
July 12, 1989
GOVERNMENT TO PURCHASE SEVEN WORKSTATIONS
No relevant RFPs for July 13-14, 1989.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
U.S. SATELLITES BANNED FROM BEING LAUNCHED ON SOVIET BOOSTERS
The Senate Commerce Committee voted to ban the export of U.S.
satellites to countries that would launch them from Soviet boosters.
Also, the Soviet Union has offered its expendable launch vehicle,
Proton, for launch of commercial communication satellites.
DEFENSE:
B-2 STEALTH BOMBER UNDERGOES TAXI TESTS IN PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
The B-2 stealth bomber taxied under its own power, cruising the runway
at the Air Force's Palmdale, CA plant at 100 m.p.h., in its first set
of ground tests leading to its maiden flight sometime in the next few
weeks. Gen. Richard Scofield, director of the B-2 System Program
Office, reported that the test had gone well and that before the first
flight, the B-2 will undergo more low-speed and high-speed taxi tests.
The B-2 is built by the Northrop Corp. and costs approximately $530
million.
SDIO'S DELTA STAR SPACECRAFT "ALIVE AND WELL"
A Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) spokesperson
reported that SDIO's Delta Star spacecraft, launched in March, is
"alive and well and doing what it's supposed to do." The Delta Star
mission involves photographing exhaust plumes of rockets on the ground
and in flight.
DSB REPORTS PENTAGON FAILS TO MAKE EFFORT TO USE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
The Defense Science Board (DSB) released a report stating that despite
"overwhelming verbal support," the Pentagon has not made a real effort
to use commercial products and needs to improve on this cost-saving
technique. The report, "Use of Commercial Components in Military
Equipment," was given to Defense Secretary Dick Cheney and suggests
many ways in which the Pentagon acquisition process come more in line
with civilian methods. The DSB also made clear the importance of
quality over low cost when making defense purchases.
SOVIETS LIKED NATO PROPOSAL TO REDUCE CONVENTIONAL FORCES IN EUROPE
In Vienna, the Soviet Union accepted the NATO proposal for the
reduction of conventional forces in Europe and said an accord could be
possible within six months. The plan calls for cuts in troops,
aircraft and tanks.
FIRST SCHEDULED FLIGHT OF THE B-2 STEALTH BOMBER POSTPONED
The first flight of the B-2 Stealth bomber had to be postponed when
cockpit gauges showed inadequate fuel pressure. The day before the
postponement, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to make
continued production of the B-2 contingent on successful flight tests.
Supposedly, however, the problem with the plane has already been fixed.
A spokesperson said that fibers needed to be removed from the fuel
system, and likened the process to removing lint from a dryer. Air
Force officials hope to fly the B-2 within the next couple of days.
FORMER CIVILIAN NAVAL EMPLOYEE ADMITS TO TAKING $475,000 IN BRIBES
Garland L. Tomlin Jr., a former civilian Navy employee admitted to
taking $475,000 in bribes from two major defense contractors in
exchange for confidential data on a Navy computer contract. He said
that he took $400,000 from Unisys Corp. and $75,000 from Honeywell
Corp. between 1982 and 1984 to provide the companies with detailed
inside information about a $162 million Navy computer maintenance
contract. The $475,000 taken by Mr. Tomlin is by far the largest
amount that investigators have proved to have been passed from military
contractors to a Pentagon official.
NASA:
NASA EXPECTS NEW ROUND OF TOP LEVEL RESIGNATIONS THIS WEEK
NASA expects a new round of top level resignations this week due to the
new post-government employment regulations that go into effect on July
16. Already, William Ballhaus Jr., director of Ames Research Center,
has resigned effective July 15, citing low pay and the post-employment
regulations. NASA officials fear many others who are old enough to
retire will join him this week.
NASA SIGNS MOU WITH WEST GERMANY
NASA Administrator Richard Truly and West Germany's federal minister
for research and technology Heinz Riesenhuber signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) that permits West German scientific payloads to fly
on the space shuttle. Under the agreement, NASA will provide
reimbursable launch services with individual launch service agreements
to be signed for each mission. The first flight is expected to be in
February 1992.
THIRD MOON OF NEPTUNE DETECTED BY VOYAGER 2 SPACECRAFT
Scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported that a third
Neptune moon has been detected in images relayed from the Voyager 2
spacecraft. The moon, temporarily designated as 1989N1, appears to be
from 125 to 400 miles in diameter and is about 73,000 miles from the
planet's center. The Voyager 2 is currently about 43 million miles
from Neptune and will make its closest pass on August 24. It was
launched in 1977 and flew past Jupiter in 1979, Saturn in 1981 and
Uranus in 1986.
NASA AND CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY TO CONDUCT EXPERIMENT TOGETHER
NASA and the Canadian Space Agency plan an experiment to measure
behavior of radio waves in space and properties of the ionosphere
during the demonstration flight of the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle
(OMV). The National Research Council of Canada developed the
experiment which involves a high frequency radio wave device called
Waves in Space Plasma (WISP-HF). It will measure the propagation of
radiowaves through the ionosphere within a few miles of the antenna and
with the OMV up to 60 miles from the orbiter. The demonstration flight
is scheduled aboard the Endeavour in October 1993.
NASA TO MOVE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA TO THE LAUNCH PAD SOON
Following a preliminary finding suggesting that a main engine test
failure will not affect the shuttle launch schedule, NASA officials
said they plan to move the space shuttle Columbia and its flight
hardware to the launch pad as soon as possible. A NASA investigating
board found that the damage, which took place at the end of a long-
duration test run at Stennis Space Center, was caused by a bearing
failure on a high-pressure oxidizer turbopump. After a shuttle is
brought to the launch pad, a minimum of 22 days of work are needed.
Assuming all goes well, this would mean the launch would take place
sometime in early August.
APOLLO II CREW GATHER AT ALABAMA SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER
The Apollo II crew gathered at the Alabama Space and Rocket Center for
the first of four celebrations to commemorate the lunar landing on July
20, 1969. The three men, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael
Collins, called for a challenging space program and new goals that will
set American's imaginations on fire. Director of the Space and Rocket
Center Ed Buckbee said he sees only one way for NASA to recapture this
spirit, "It's got to be a man on Mars Landing. I don't think a space
station is going to capture American imagination. It's got to be
something that puts man and machine against the hazards of space."
INTERNATIONAL:
MBB PROFITS HIGH BECAUSE OF A GOOD YEAR FOR AIRBUS CONSORTIUM
Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blowhm G.m.b.H. (MBB) the state-controlled West
German aerospace and defense group, said that their 1988 profits
enjoyed a boom thanks to a good year for the Airbus consortium. MBB
holds 37.9% interest of Airbus, which had earnings of 99.6 million
marks ($53.6 million) from 5.1 million marks that previous year. Group
sales went up 17% to 7.12 billion marks ($3.83 billion) from 6.10
billion marks. The turnaround is mostly due to increased military
aircraft sales.
AEROSPATIALE'S HELICOPTER DIVISION REPORTS STRONG SALES
France's Aerospatiale reported it booked sales for 280 new helicopters
in 1988 and that the order volume continued to be good during the first
six months of 1989. The current order backlog for Aerospatiale's
Helicopter Division represents 18 months of production.
SOVIETS TO REMOVE ALL SOVIET GOLF II SUBMARINES FROM BALTIC SEA
A Soviet naval commander said that all Soviet Golf II submarines which
carry nuclear weapons will be removed from the Baltic Sea by early
1990. He went on the say that the Soviet Union would disclose whether
its warships were carrying nuclear weapons if they were invited to a
Swedish port.
BUSINESS:
BOEING TO STOP PRODUCING AIRBORNE WARNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM AIRCRAFT
Boeing Co. announced it plans to stop production of its airborne
warning and control systems aircraft for an infinite period in 1991.
However, that will change if the company gets more customers for the
AWACS surveillance plane. The AWACS is a four-engine Boeing 707 with a
large radar dome on top and a probe protruding from its nose that is
used for in-flight refueling. Boeing has sold 68 AWACS planes to the
Air Force, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Saudi Arabia, the
U.K. and France. They are also negotiating with Australia, Italy,
Japan and South Korea as potential customers.
GRUMMAN EXPECTS TO BEGIN FLIGHT TESTS OF JOINT-STARS AIRCRAFT SOON
Grumman Corp. said they expect to begin flight tests of the second
Joint-STARS Boeing 707 testbed aircraft in September. It is hoped that
Joint STARS capabilities will be ready for demonstration to senior U.S.
Air Force and NATO leaders in Europe next summer.
HARRIS NEGOTIATING TO DEVELOP PROTOTYPE EARTH STATION FOR ACTS
Harris Corp. is negotiating a contract with NASA Lewis Research Center
to develop a prototype Earth station for use with the Advanced
Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS). The proposed station would
have capability for multichannel voice and data services at data rates
up to 1.544 megabits per second and will be designed so additional
units can be built cheaply for the ACTS experiment program. ACTS is
under development in preparation for launch by the Space Shuttle in May
1992 for a planned two-year mission.
LEARJET'S AEROSPACE PRODUCTION BACKLOG OVER $110 MILLION
Learjet Corp.'s aerospace production backlog has grown to over $110
million which includes subcontract work for the space shuttle and Air
Force C-21A transports. The company's current production backlog is
for over 25 jets and extends into mid-1990. Learjet expects to
increase aerospace sales by 25% this year.
NORTHROP UNIT SUSPENDED FROM ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
A Northrop Corp. unit has been suspended from doing business with the
federal government. The suspension comes just three months after a
grand jury indicted Northrop on charges of falsifying tests on weapons
systems. The company called the suspension "unnecessary" and said it
intends to begin immediate discussions with the Air Force to resolve
the matter. The news comes in the wake of the House Armed Forces
Committee (HASC) announcement to the Air Force that their plans for the
Northrop's B-2 stealth bomber must be cut back.
FEDERAL AGENCY LIFTS SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION OF TELEDYNE ELECTRONICS
The Defense Logistics Agency lifted a six-month suspension of a
Teledyne Inc. unit, Teledyne Electronics, from receiving new government
contracts, which were issued in the wake of indictments stemming from
the Pentagon procurement investigation, Operation Ill Wind. Last
March, the company agreed to plead guilty to three felony charges that
it conspired to defraud the government and filed false statements with
the Pentagon in connection with a contract to supply radar testing
equipment to the military. Teledyne then agreed to pay the government
$4.3 million in fines and penalties and further agreed to forgo $4
million profit it could have earned in future military contracts.
CONTACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $151.5 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. won a $151.5 million Air Force contract for
electronic and structural improvements to 361 F-16C-D aircraft.
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $228.3 MILLION
General Electric Co. received a $228.3 million Air Force contract for
five meteorological satellite spacecraft.
IBM ISSUED $100.2 MILLION IN NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) was issued $100.2 million
in contracts for Navy sonar equipment and Air Force satellite parts.
ITT GIVEN COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT WORTH $20.4 MILLION
ITT Corp. was given a $20.4 million communications equipment contract
from the Navy.
LORAL GOT ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
Loral Corp. got an $11.4 million Air Force contract for electronic
countermeasures equipment.
LTV'S MISSILE AND ELECTRONICS GROUP RECEIVED $942 MILLION CONTRACT
LTV's Missile and Electronics Group received a $942 million contract to
produce 235 Multiple Launch Rocket System launchers and 127,000 MLRS
rockets from Army Missile Command. The contract is expected to be
completed in May 1995. It includes options to add 29 launchers and
12,000 rockets for each year of the contract, beginning in FY 1990.
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR MARK 50 TORPEDO CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. was awarded a contract to produce control systems
for the Navy's Mark 50 anti-submarine torpedo.
UNISYS ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $13.7 MILLION
Unisys Corp. was issued a $13.7 million Navy contract for shipboard
radar equipment.
RFP UPDATE:
July 10, 1989
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE SUN MICROSYSTEMS WORKSTATIONS
Under solicitation 3860-0022, NASA Langley Research Center intends to
place a delivery order against a non-mandatory GSA Schedule contract
with Sun Microsystems Inc., reference document GS00K88AGS5897, for two
Sun 3/60 M-4 Monochrome workstations and assorted peripherals.
Responses should be submitted, in writing, within 15 calendar days of
this notice. When responding, please reference 1-075-3860.0002.
Contact: Gale Poulson
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2451
July 11, 1989
GODDARD TO ISSUE RFP FOR BETWEEN 20 AND 40 PERSONAL COMPUTERS
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center intends to purchase, under RFP 5-
22862/032, a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 80386 bases 25 MHz
personal computers. It should be noted that all equipment for this
requirement must be new and field-proven for a minimum of three months.
This system must also be compatible with NASA's existing mainframe
distributed processing system and cable television system including the
ATI EGA wonder board and DCA IRMA I board. Vendors who are interested
in submitting a proposal on this equipment are invited to send a
written request for the RFP with 15 days of publication of this notice.
Proposal due date will be established when the RFP is issued. No
telephone inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Lynn Ann Lewis
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-4962
July 12, 1989
GOVERNMENT TO PURCHASE SEVEN WORKSTATIONS
It is the Government's intent, under solicitation W80Q8H-9025-01NS, to
purchase seven Mac IIx HD-40 workstations and many other assorted
hardware peripherals from Falcon Microsystem's GSA schedule. No award
will be made solely on the basis of this notice since a synopsis of
intent to place an order against a GSA schedule contract can not be
considered a request for proposal/offers. Vendors who can furnish
equal equipment/services are invited to submit, in writing, a statement
as to what equipment/services would be offered and any other
information which would show a bonafide ability to meet the specific
requirement. Responses must be in writing and received in the office
within 15 calendar days after publication of this notice. If no
responses are received showing that a comparable source is available at
lower overall costs and with equal terms as referenced GSA contract,
the purchase will be made against the existing contract.
Contact: Bobbie Jenkins
U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Redstone Arsenal, AL 358989-5280
(205) 842-7441
No relevant RFPs for July 13-14, 1989.
|
| 20.48 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/17/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jul 25 1989 10:55 | 608 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008146
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 25-Jul-1989 00:12am ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/17/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 17, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 17, 1989
GENERAL:
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE $75 MILLION FOR RADIO TELESCOPE
SCIENTISTS DISCOVER ORGANIC MATERIAL IN MARS METEORITE
DEFENSE:
B-2 STEALTH BOMBER MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT
$60 MILLION "STAR WARS" EXPERIMENT DECLARED A SUCCESS
DEFENSE SECRETARY DICK CHENEY FED UP WITH REPORTS TO CONGRESS
SENATE ARMED SERVICES APPROVED FY 1990 MILITARY AUTHORIZATION
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHENEY URGES SOUTH KOREA TO BUY DIRECT FROM U.S.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS OBJECT TO STELLO TO HEAD NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM
MEMBERS OF DMB WARNED NOT TO SERVE ON DOD ADVISORY BOARD
CHENEY PROPOSES PLAN TO HELP ELIMINATE FRAUD IN PENTAGON PROCUREMENT
HASC CHAIRMAN LES ASPIN WANTS "COLD-TURKEY" FREEZE ON B-2 FUNDS
HAVER IS ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR INTELLIGENCE POLICY
CHENEY WILL NOT SUPPORT RELAXED RESTRICTIONS ON COMPUTER EXPORTS
NASA:
PRESIDENT CALLS FOR RENEWED NATIONAL INTEREST IN SPACE
HOUSE VOTED TO APPROVE $12.263 FOR FY 1990 FOR NASA
NASA AND DOD PICK THREE COMPANIES TO STUDY ROCKET ENGINES FOR ALS
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SENDS REPORT TO NASA ON FY 1990 BILL
INTERNATIONAL:
SIEMENS SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT WITH SOVIETS TO UPGRADE COMMUNICATIONS
ARIANESPACE NEGOTIATING WITH BRAZIL FOR TECHNOLOGY FOR ROCKET ENGINES
BRITISH AEROSPACE WANTS ASSURANCES IT CAN RECOVER MONEY FROM ASRAAM
EC CLEARS $1.18 BILLION TO BAIL OUT SHORT BROTHERS
BUSH EXPECTED TO VETO CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION ON FSX PROJECT
U.S. TO SELL ISRAEL FOUR BELL OH-58D AHIP HELICOPTERS
PENTAGON NOTIFIED CONGRESS IT INTENDS TO SELL PAKISTAN F-16A/B FIGHTERS
BUSINESS:
PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF AMROC DIED AT AGE 44
GENERAL ELECTRIC REPORTS SECOND-QUARTER GAINS
HUGHES TO ACQUIRE SBS 4,5, AND 6 COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS REPORTS LOSS OF $48 MILLION FOR SECOND QUARTER
NORTHROP CHALLENGING AIR FORCE SUSPENSION
ROCKWELL PUSHING B-1 TO THE PENTAGON
TEXTRON POSTED A 14% FALL IN SECOND-QUARTER PROFIT
UTC POSTS FLAT NET INCOME FOR SECOND-QUARTER
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING RECEIVED ELECTRONICS TEST FACILITIES CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
GENERAL DYNAMICS ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $27.5 MILLION
GENERAL ELECTRIC GIVEN TRIDENT MISSILE GUIDANCE-SYSTEM PARTS CONTRACT
HUGHES AIRCRAFT GOT MAVERICK MISSILES CONTRACT
LITTON INDUSTRIES AWARDED $20 MILLION CONTRACT FROM SOUTH KOREA
LTV RECEIVED ELECTRONIC WARFARE TRAINING IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN AN $11.2 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WAS CHOSEN TO LAUNCH THREE SATELLITES FOR NASA
RAYTHEON ISSUED $25.7 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
SPACE DATA CORP. RECEIVED DARPA RESEARCH CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE
:
July 17, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE REQUIRES CPU EQUIPMENT
No relevant RFPs for July 18, 1989.
July 19, 1989
NASA JSC TO PURCHASE MACINTOSH COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS
No relevant RFPs July 20, 1989.
July 21, 1989
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER TO PURCHASE WORKSTATIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE $75 MILLION FOR RADIO TELESCOPE
The Federal Government will provide $75 million to design and build a
radio telescope in West Virginia to replace the one that fell due to a
stress fracture on one of its legs. The original telescope was built
in 1963 and was the largest in the U.S. and one of the most powerful in
the world. The new dish will be about 100 meters in diameter, roughly
the same size as the original, and cost $800,000 to build. Work on the
project will be subject to final approval by the National Science
Board, the policy-making body of the National Science Foundation. The
telescope will allow astronomers to study deep space by analyzing radio
waves.
SCIENTISTS DISCOVER ORGANIC MATERIAL IN MARS METEORITE
The discovery of large amounts of organic material in a meteorite
believed to have come from the planet Mars, breathes new hope into the
possibility of life on Mars. The meteorite was discovered in
Antarctica in 1979 and is one of nine such rocks that are almost
universally accepted by scientists as having originated from Mars. The
meteorite contains high concentrations of organic materials, the basis
of all known life forms. The rock was analyzed by Ian Wright, a
geologist at Open University (England), and three other scientists;
they plan to do more tests and expect other scientists, upon
investigation, to back up their findings.
DEFENSE:
B-2 STEALTH BOMBER MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT
The B-2 Stealth bomber made its maiden flight from Edwards Air Force
Base, California. The B-2 flew for two hours over the Mojave Desert
and touched down, 30 minutes earlier than scheduled, on the same dry
lake bed used for space shuttle landings. An Air Force official called
the event a "historic day in aviation." Thomas Jones, chairman and
chief executive officer of Northrop Corp., the company that built the
B-2, said that "the fact that it was an uneventful first flight made
it...a success." Despite a successful first flight, the $530 million
bomber still faces fierce opposition from Congress.
$60 MILLION "STAR WARS" EXPERIMENT DECLARED A SUCCESS
A $60 million "star wars" experiment that tested how a neutral particle
beam accelerator would work in space was declared a success. Air Force
officials believe that test will aid in advancing plans for a space-
based missile shield, however congressional budget cuts raise questions
about the future. The Beam Experiment Aboard Rocket is considered the
first step in the Pentagon's research into the lasers, beam
accelerators and other futuristic weapons that would be designed to
shoot down nuclear missiles fired at the U.S. and its allies.
DEFENSE SECRETARY DICK CHENEY FED UP WITH REPORTS TO CONGRESS
Fed up by the fact that no one ever reads the many reports Congress
requires of the Pentagon each year, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said
he has "seriously considered" binding them with an insert "that says if
you call the following number you'll get an all-expense paid vacation
to the Bahamas."
SENATE ARMED SERVICES APPROVED FY 1990 MILITARY AUTHORIZATION
The Senate Armed Services Committee approved a FY 1990 military
authorization which did not cut all production money for the B-2
bomber, but cut $300 from the $2.7 billion request. The
Administration's full request was not honored for several programs
experiencing development and production problems. Those programs were
the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile, the Forward Area Air
Defense, SINCGARS radios and the Army Data Distribution System.
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHENEY URGES SOUTH KOREA TO BUY DIRECT FROM U.S.
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney asked South Korea to buy jet fighter
planes directly from the U.S., rather than make them in Korea under
license from an American producer. Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang
Hoon said that he wants the best deal and would decide before the end
of the summer.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS OBJECT TO STELLO TO HEAD NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM
The environmental group Greenpeace said that installing President
Bush's choice to head the government nuclear weapons program would be
like "putting the Joker in charge of Gotham City." Greenpeace and
other environmental groups have voiced concerns that Victor Stello Jr.
lacks commitment to improving safety at the nation's weapons
facilities.
MEMBERS OF DMB WARNED NOT TO SERVE ON DOD ADVISORY BOARD
Members of the Defense Manufacturing Board (DMB) who work for defense
contractors were told that serving on the Defense Department (DoD)
advisory board could disqualify their companies from all future
Pentagon business. DMB's executive secretary briefed members on the
new conflict of interest laws and the Federal Procurement Policy Act
Amendments of 1988. The new laws, in effect, state that if one is a
member of an advisory board, one is substantially involved in a
procurement action. The new laws are expected to effect members of the
Defense Science Board as well as DMB members.
CHENEY PROPOSES PLAN TO HELP ELIMINATE FRAUD IN PENTAGON PROCUREMENT
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney proposed a plan he believes will help
eliminate fraud and waste from Pentagon purchasing and save the
taxpayers about $30 billion by 1993. One of the central points of the
plan is giving the undersecretary of defense increased authority over
purchasing decisions by the individual services, thereby limiting the
number of individuals involved in the entire purchasing process.
HASC CHAIRMAN LES ASPIN WANTS "COLD-TURKEY" FREEZE ON B-2 FUNDS
Les Aspin chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), said
Congress need more information about the B-2 Stealth bomber before more
funding is provided. He called for a "cold-turkey" freeze on funds for
the B-2. In response, a Pentagon spokesman for Defense Secretary Dick
Cheny said the plan does not meet with Pentagon approval. The
spokesperson went on to say that delaying the program will only raise
the overall cost.
HAVER IS ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR INTELLIGENCE POLICY
Richard L. Haver was named to the newly created position of assistant
to the secretary of defense for intelligence policy. Mr. Haver
previously served as deputy director of naval intelligence. The new
position of will involve reviewing Pentagon intelligence, counter-
intelligence, security and covert action-related activities within the
Pentagon and to advise Secretary Dick Cheney on these matters.
CHENEY WILL NOT SUPPORT RELAXED RESTRICTIONS ON COMPUTER EXPORTS
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said he will not support Commerce
Secretary Robert Mosbacher's decision to relax restrictions on some
computer exports to East Bloc nations because it could give them a
military and technological advantage that they do not have at this
time. At an unscheduled news conference, Mr. Cheney said that he felt
that Mr. Mosbacher's decision will give East Bloc nations "significant
capabilities that they do not now posses." He also said that he was
not consulted or involved in the decision.
NASA:
PRESIDENT CALLS FOR RENEWED NATIONAL INTEREST IN SPACE
At a ceremony celebrating the 20th anniversary of the moon walk,
President Bush called for a renewed national interest in space
exploration, including a permanent base on the moon and a manned
mission to Mars. He said, "the time has come to look beyond brief
encounters. We must commit ourselves anew to a sustained program of
manned exploration of the solar system." The President charged Vice
President Dan Quayle's National Space Council with detailing a
timetable and cost estimates to carry out the proposals he outlined.
The feeling in Congress seemed to be general agreement with the
President, however there are many questions about where the money will
come from and what the real costs will be that still remained to be
answered.
HOUSE VOTED TO APPROVE $12.263 FOR FY 1990 FOR NASA
The House voted to approve a FY 1990 appropriations bill providing
$12.263 billion for NASA after accepting an amedment adding $20 million
taken from the space station for the National Aerospace Plane (NASP).
A voice vote was taken and approved the amendment of Rep. Robert Roe
(D-NJ) to add the $20 million to the $78 million the Appropriations
Committee provided for the NASP.
NASA AND DOD PICK THREE COMPANIES TO STUDY ROCKET ENGINES FOR ALS
NASA and the Department of Defense (DoD) have chosen three companies to
study liquid-propellant rocket engines for the Advanced Launch System
(ALS). The ALS will be designed to carry into space payloads for a
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and a space station. NASA's
Marshall Space Flight Center selected Aerojet General Corp., United
Technology Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney and Rockwell International's
Rocketdyne. Each of the contracts is worth $20 million.
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SENDS REPORT TO NASA ON FY 1990 BILL
The House Appropriations Committee told NASA in its report on the FY
1990 appropriations bill that the impact of the $395 million cut in the
space station program could be reduced by cutting the "overhead"
associated with it. The committee cut the space flight, control and
communications request by $400 million to $4.739 billion. Of this,
$385 million is from the $4.037 billion requested for space shuttle
with NASA given discretion to take it out of shuttle production or
operations. The committee added $35 million for continued development
of the extended duration orbiter, but a proposal to commercialize a
part of the orbiter may make these fund unnecessary. They also set
certain caps in which NASA may not exceed without approval of the
panel, these programs are: Gamma Ray Observer, $26.7 million; Galileo,
$17.4 million, AXAF, $44 million; Hubble Space Telescope, $67 million;
CRAF-Cassini, $30 million; Mars Observer, $100.5 million, and Upper
Atmospheric Research Satellite, $73.9 million.
INTERNATIONAL:
SIEMENS SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT WITH SOVIETS TO UPGRADE COMMUNICATIONS
Siemens AG (West Germany) announced that it signed a letter of intent
with the Soviet Union's Ministry of Communications to cooperate in
upgrading Soviet communications networks. The two are discussing a
joint venture in manufacturing and marketing switches for local and
long-distance telephone connections.
ARIANESPACE NEGOTIATING WITH BRAZIL FOR TECHNOLOGY FOR ROCKET ENGINES
Arianespace said it has begun negotiating with Brazil to sell them the
technology to produce large rocket engines. The announcement was met
with opposition based on the concern that the sale would give France an
unfair advantage in competition for launch business and would violate
the spirit of arms-control agreements. The offer comes as part of a
competition between Arianespace and McDonnell Douglas Corp. to launch
two communications satellites for the Brazilian government in the mid-
1990s.
BRITISH AEROSPACE WANTS ASSURANCES IT CAN RECOVER MONEY FROM ASRAAM
British Aerospace said they need assurance from the U.K. government
that it can recover company money spent on the Advanced Short Range
Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) program while the full-scale development
(FSD) decision is pending. The company, however, does not expect that
decision to be made until late this year.
EC CLEARS $1.18 BILLION TO BAIL OUT SHORT BROTHERS
The European Community Commission (EC) cleared British government aid
of $1.18 billion for Short Brothers PLC, a state-owned missile and
aircraft concern that has been doing poorly and is being sold to
Bombardier Inc. of Canada. The EC does not usually bail out companies,
however the commission said the aid plan for Short Brothers included a
total restructuring strategy for restoring the company's
competitiveness.
BUSH EXPECTED TO VETO CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION ON FSX PROJECT
President Bush is expected to veto a congressional resolution designed
to tighten and make legally binding the agreement by which the U.S. and
Japan will develop Japan's new FSX jet fighter. The project would
continue even if the president blocks the measure because Congress
failed to pass a resolution against the project within the allotted 30
days. The President will probably veto the resolution as he views it
as an intrusion on presidential authority to conduct foreign policy
because it has additional conditions on an agreement the president
negotiated with another government.
U.S. TO SELL ISRAEL FOUR BELL OH-58D AHIP HELICOPTERS
The U.S. plans to sell Israel four Bell OH-58D Army Helicopter
Improvement Program (AHIP) helicopters for $39 million. The Pentagon
said the delivery is expected in November 1989 with payback in the July
1990 through 1991 timeframe.
PENTAGON NOTIFIED CONGRESS IT INTENDS TO SELL PAKISTAN F-16A/B FIGHTERS
The Pentagon formally notified Congress of its intention to sell
Pakistan 60 General Dynamics F-16A/B fighters and support equipment
valued at $1.5 billion. The sale will automatically be approved in 30
days unless Congress votes to block it. Delivery of the aircraft is
not expected until the early 1990s.
BUSINESS:
PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF AMROC DIED AT AGE 44
President and co-founder of American Rocket Co. (AMROC) George Koopman
died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Mr. Koopman was
44 years old. AMROC said that the preparations for the company's first
space launch will continue as scheduled, with a launch date of August
14.
GENERAL ELECTRIC REPORTS SECOND-QUARTER GAINS
General Electric Co. reported that their net income rose 16% in second
quarter, aided by gains in its plastic, financial-service, medical-
system and aircraft engine businesses. Net income was $972 million,
compared with last year's second quarter net of $835 million. Revenue
went up 14% to $13.53 billion from $11.85 billion.
HUGHES TO ACQUIRE SBS 4,5, AND 6 COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES
Hughes Communications Inc., will acquire the SBS 4 and 5 communications
satellites, which it has been marketing since September, and also the
SBS 6, scheduled for launch in June 1990, through its purchase of IBM
subsidiary Satellite Transponder Leasing Corp. Under a separate
agreement with IBM, Hughes will provide launch support services for SBS
6 and will lease transponder capacity to IBM to serve its corporate
telecommunications needs.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS REPORTS LOSS OF $48 MILLION FOR SECOND QUARTER
McDonnell Douglas Corp. reported a $48 million loss for its second
quarter. The company said the major reasons for this was a $72 million
charge reflecting cost overruns on its C-17 cargo plane. Overall,
sales fell 3.6% to $3.48 billion from $3.61 billion a year before.
NORTHROP CHALLENGING AIR FORCE SUSPENSION
Northrop Corp. has challenged the Air Force's suspension of the
company's Precision Products Div., calling the charges "unwarranted and
exaggerated." Northrop asserts that in 98 Air Launched Cruise Missile
(ALCM) flight tests, there was not one failure attributed to the flight
data transmitter. The trial is set for November 14 in Los Angeles
federal court on charges that the company knowingly supplied bad parts
for the ALCM and Marine Corps AV-8B aircraft and falsely certified them
as meeting specifications. The Pentagon firmly stated that the
suspension would last until the trial.
ROCKWELL PUSHING B-1 TO THE PENTAGON
In the wake of the Northrop Corp.'s successful flight of the B-2
Stealth bomber, Rockwell International Corp. wants the Pentagon to buy
more of its B-1s. The last 100 B-1s rolled off the assembly line last
year and the Air Force currently has no plans to buy more. Rockwell
has made it known that they could provide the B-1 much cheaper than the
$530 million per plane price tag on the B-2. It is unlikely, however
that Congress or the Pentagon will take Rockwell up on the offer in
light of the many costly technical problems that have been associated
with the B-1.
TEXTRON POSTED A 14% FALL IN SECOND-QUARTER PROFIT
Textron Inc. posted a 14% fall in second-quarter profit to $59.3
million. The company blamed a $9.5 million loss related to an old
production agreement with the former government of Iran. Excluding the
loss, the aerospace products company had income of $68.8 million during
second quarter, compared with $68.9 million a year earlier. Revenue
was up 3.4% to $1.85 billion from $1.79 billion, which reflects
increases in the commercial-products and financial-services segments of
the company.
UTC POSTS FLAT NET INCOME FOR SECOND-QUARTER
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) posted a flat net income for second-
quarter, reflecting a year-earlier gain from the sale of its share in a
semiconductor venture. Net rose only slightly, to $197.3 million, from
$196.2 million from a year earlier. Revenue went up 18% to $5.27
billion from $4.46 billion. The Pratt & Whitney engine division had a
very strong quarter, however, with $4.4 billion in commercial engine
orders, including options, bringing total engine orders to more than
$8.5 billion for the first half of the fiscal year.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING RECEIVED ELECTRONICS TEST FACILITIES CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
Boeing Co. received a $10.1 million Navy contract for electronics test
facilities.
GENERAL DYNAMICS ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $27.5 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. was issued a $27.5 million Navy contract for
test equipment for Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missiles.
GENERAL ELECTRIC GIVEN TRIDENT MISSILE GUIDANCE-SYSTEM PARTS CONTRACT
General Electric Co. was given a $15.5 million Navy contract for
Trident missile guidance-system parts.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT GOT MAVERICK MISSILES CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., got a $33.7
million Air Force contract for Maverick missiles.
LITTON INDUSTRIES AWARDED $20 MILLION CONTRACT FROM SOUTH KOREA
Litton Industries Inc.'s Van Nuyes, CA unit Data Systems division was
awarded a $20 million contract from South Korea to design, develop and
produce naval tactical command and control systems for Korean naval
forces.
LTV RECEIVED ELECTRONIC WARFARE TRAINING IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT
LTV Aerospace and Defense Co.'s Sierra Research Division, received a
$17,567,100 face value increase to a firm fixed price Air Force
contract for improvements to electronic warfare training ranges. The
contract is scheduled to be completed in June 1994. Sacramento Air
Logistics Center is the contracting activity.
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN AN $11.2 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. was given an $11.2 million Air Force contract for
space-launch vehicle instruments.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WAS CHOSEN TO LAUNCH THREE SATELLITES FOR NASA
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was chosen by NASA to launch three scientific
satellites in 1992 and 1993. NASA did not disclose the value of the
contract.
RAYTHEON ISSUED $25.7 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was issued an Air Force contract worth $25.7 million for
Maverick missiles.
SPACE DATA CORP. RECEIVED DARPA RESEARCH CONTRACT
Space Data Corp. received a $10.9 million Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) contract for research in small launch vehicles.
RFP UPDATTE:
July 17, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE REQUIRES CPU EQUIPMENT
The Defense Supply Service-Washington has a requirement to purchase a
Central Processing Unit (CPU), IBM 3090-180E or equal, to replace the
Government owned Amdalh 5860 with 32 MB internal storage and 16
channels. The CPU will be acquired on a brand name or equal basis.
CPU is for the Defense Investigative Service, Information Systems
Center. RFP No. MDA903-89-R-0054 will be available on or about August
21, 1989. Written requests only, please.
Contact: Rhonda Propst
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 475-1657
No relevant RFPs for July 18, 1989.
July 19, 1989
NASA JSC TO PURCHASE MACINTOSH COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) proposes to place a contract for the
purchase of MacIntosh Computers and peripherals. Among the computers
needed are: 44 Mac SE (M5355), 5 Mac II (M5410), 33 Mac II (M5430), 53
Mac IIX (M5830), 1 Mac IIX (M5860), 2 Mac IICX (M5610), 46 Mac IICX
(M5680) and many other assorted hardware peripherals. This procurement
is base on all or none basis. The requirement is supported by a
justification for other than full and open competition for specific
make and model. All responsible sources may submit an offer and it
will be considered by the agency.
Contact: Larry Kenyon
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 482-4146
No relevant RFPs July 20, 1989.
July 21, 1989
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER TO PURCHASE WORKSTATIONS
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center intends to purchase from Silicon
Graphics Computer Systems, under terms and conditions of the 70 ADP GSA
Schedule Contract GS00K89AGS5586, workstations. For more information
please respond within 15 days. No solicitation exists. All
responsible sources will be considered.
Contact: Pamela White
NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Procurement Office
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
(205) 544-0337
|
| 20.49 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/24/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Aug 01 1989 10:43 | 597 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008263
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 01-Aug-1989 01:49am ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/24/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 24, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
-
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 24, 1989
GENERAL:
GAO ESTIMATES JOB LOSS DUE TO INTERMEDIATE NUCLEAR FORCES TREATY
AIA REPORTS THAT U.S. MAY CHANGE MOUS IN ANTICIPATION OF EC 1992
ENERGY DEPARTMENT HAS HALTED ALL COMMERCIAL SALES OF TRITIUM
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE SECRETARY RICE WILL TAKE A "SECOND LOOK" AT B-2 COSTS
SENATE VOTED TO BAR PURCHASES OF THE B-2 BOMBER UNTIL PROVEN EFFECTIVE
HOUSE VOTES TO SUSPEND PRODUCTION OF B-2 UNTIL ABILITIES ARE PROVEN
SENATE ADOPTS PERMANENT SANCTIONS AGAINST MILITARY EXPORTS TO CHINA
NASP MAY TEAM PRIME CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE PROJECT MOMENTUM
HOUSE VOTED TO FUND SDI AT $3.1 BILLION
NASA:
HYDRAZINE TANK ABOARD COLUMBIA WILL BE PRESSURIZED
NASA HAS PRODUCED NEW, HIGH-SPEED CIRCUIT SUPERCONDUCTORS
FORMER NASA GENERAL COUNSEL TO REJOIN THE AGENCY
NASA SELECTS TWENTY-THREE MICROGRAVITY EXPERIMENTS FOR THE SHUTTLE
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIET FIGHTERS FLYING OVER ALASKA WILL RECEIVE U.S. ESCORT
HOUSE APPROVED FOREIGN AID MONEY BILL RESERVING $3.38 BILLION IN FMS
GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATING WITH EGYPT ON TARGETING PODS SALE
ARIANESPACE BOOKED LAUNCH ORDERS FOR TWO HUGHES SATELLITES
JAPAN CONTROLS 70% OF CERAMICS MARKET
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE ANNOUNCES ORDER WORTH AS MUCH AS $1.32 BILLION
BUSINESS:
BOEING REPORTS STRONG SECOND QUARTER BUT IS WARY ABOUT THE YEAR
FAA PROPOSES TO FINE BOEING $200,000 FOR FAILING TO REPORT PROBLEMS
HONEYWELL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RESTRUCTURE THE COMPANY
HUGHES AEROSPACE, ORBITAL SCIENCES AND ARIANESPACE SIGN MOU
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS IS LEANING TOWARD DESIGN CHANGES OF DC-10
PRATT & WHITNEY SIGN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE JET ENGINES TO THAI AIRWAYS
UNISYS SUFFERS A 67% LOSS IN SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL ISSUED ARMY CONTRACT FOR MISSILE FUSES
GENERAL DYNAMICS WILL RECEIVE A $151.5 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON FIRST PRODUCTION CONTRACT FOR RAM MISSILE
GE'S ASTROSPACE AWARDED DEFENSE METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE CONTRACT
GRUMMAN RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT FOR C-2A AIRCRAFT
HONEYWELL GIVEN COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
IBM GOT $75.5 MILLION NAVAL SUBMARINE EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
LORAL WON NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
LTV RECEIVED $942 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT FOR MLRS AND ROCKETS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED $95 MILLION CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ISSUED $691.4 MILLION C-17 AIRCRAFT CONTRACT
RAYTHEON GIVEN $89.3 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND ARMY CONTRACTS
UNISYS WON AIR FORCE SOFTWARE CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
July 24, 1989
WRIGHT-PATTERSON ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR 73 IBM AT DESKTOP COMPUTERS
July 25, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE HEWLETT PACKARD WORKSTATION
No rrelevant RFPs for July 26, 1989.
July 27, 1989
AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND REQUIRES XEROX WORKSTATIONS
IKSC REQUIRES SUN MONOCHROME WORKSTATIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
GAO ESTIMATES JOB LOSS DUE TO INTERMEDIATE NUCLEAR FORCES TREATY
According to the General Accounting Office (GAO), cutting missiles in
Europe under the terms of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty will
also mean cutting jobs. The GAO estimates that by the end of FY 1989,
the 16,701 military and civilian positions associated with Ground
Launched Cruise Missiles and Pershing units will be cut to under
11,000. Within the next two years the GAO said that only 885 jobs will
remain, 868 of which will be at a Pershing site security battalion that
is being converted to a training unit in West Germany.
AIA REPORTS THAT U.S. MAY CHANGE MOUS IN ANTICIPATION OF EC 1992
According to an Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) report, the
European Community (EC) market in 1992 may alter the basic memorandum
of understanding (MOU) arrangements used to conduct U.S.-European
defense trade. AIA economist David Vadas writes in the AIA report that
maintaining separate MOUs with each country may not be prudent for the
U.S. or for the individual country. Mr. Vadas suggests that the U.S.
may have to sign a community-wide MOU. Other questions are raised in
the report such as who would be responsible for negotiating and
administering the MOUs.
ENERGY DEPARTMENT HALTED ALL COMMERCIAL SALES OF TRITIUM
The Energy Department has stopped all commercial sales of tritium, the
hydrogen gas crucial to the making of an H-bomb. Sales will not resume
until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) investigates what appears
to be a case of missing tritium. The case begins with the Oak Ridge
Laboratory (Tennessee), the only plant in the country that packages
tritium, which sells it to Self-Powered Lighting Inc., a New York firm
that is licensed to export the substance to Surelite Ltd., a British
subsidiary that uses the gas to make self-illuminating lights.
According to officials from the NRC, a "significant" discrepancy has
emerged between the amount of tritium shipped from Oak Ridge and the
amount received by Surelite. It is cause for concern among U.S.
officials when tritium is missing as there have been reports that
countries, most notably Pakistan, is trying to buy or steal the
substance.
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE SECRETARY RICE WILL TAKE A "SECOND LOOK" AT B-2 COSTS
Air Force Secretary Donald B. Rice said he will order a "second look"
at the B-2 Stealth bomber costs to see if there are ways to cut costs
that may have been overlooked. Mr. Rice gave his pledge to House Armed
Services Committee Chairman Les Aspin that he will do his best to cut
the B-2's costs.
SENATE VOTED TO BAR PURCHASES OF THE B-2 BOMBER UNTIL PROVEN EFFECTIVE
In a vote of 98-to-1, the Senate voted to bar purchases of the B-2
Stealth bomber next year unless the Pentagon demonstrates that the
bomber can perform as advertised. The Senate also asked the Pentagon
to consider the possibility of cutting the proposed fleet of 132
bombers by as much as half. The House must now consider three
proposals that involve new testing requirements, significant cuts in
the project's budget and reductions in the rate at which the bombers
will be produced.
HOUSE VOTES TO SUSPEND PRODUCTION OF B-2 UNTIL ABILITIES ARE PROVEN
The House voted to suspend production of the B-2 Stealth bomber until
the White House agrees to a revision of the $70 billion program,
including cutting its request for 132 planes and demonstrating the
bomber's technical capabilities. Members from both parties complained
that both basic information and detailed costs have been kept
classified for two long. In the end, the spending restrictions will
probably be much more stringent than in the Senate.
SENATE ADOPTS PERMANENT SANCTIONS AGAINST MILITARY EXPORTS TO CHINA
The Senate adopted permanent sanctions against export of U.S. military
technology to the People's Republic of China in response to the
Tiananmen Square massacre. The House has also adopted military
sanctions. The new sanctions prove that the Senate wants to go beyond
President Bush's temporary ban on exports. The military sanctions will
affect about $600 million in pending U.S. military exports.
NASP MAY TEAM PRIME CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE PROJECT MOMENTUM
The National Aerospace Plane's (NASP) program office may team prime
contractors and defer some subsystems for the flight test vehicle to
overcome budget cuts and schedule stretch outs. According to NASP
joint program director Robert Barthelemy, the prime contractors might
be pulled into teams of two airframe manufacturers or an airframe plus
an engine manufacturer. Mr. Barthelemy believes teaming will ensure
project momentum.
HOUSE VOTED TO FUND SDI AT $3.1 BILLION
The House voted to cut the FY 1990 Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
authorization by $700 million, granting $3.1 billion. After approving
the cut, the House endorsed amendments parceling out the $700 million
to conventional defense programs ($150 million), nuclear plant clean-up
program ($300 million) and military drug interdiction ($450 million).
According to Congressional sources, the SDI authorization was cut from
the original request of $4.879 billion, to set the stage for an SDI
appropriation of about $4 billion at the end of the entire legislative
process.
NASA:
HYDRAZINE TANK ABOARD COLUMBIA WILL BE PRESSURIZED
A NASA spokesperson said a hydrazine tank aboard Columbia will be
pressurized so that engineers can judge whether an isolation valve in
one of the orbiter's three auxiliary power units will have to be
replaced. The instruments indicated that the valve may be stuck in the
closed position. The tank will be pressurized to see if the instrument
reading was accurate. If it was, the valve in APU system B will have
to be repaired or replaced before the proposed August launch.
NASA HAS PRODUCED NEW, HIGH-SPEED CIRCUIT SUPERCONDUCTORS
Scientists at NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland said that they
have produced a high-speed circuit using high-temperature
superconductors that may dramatically reduce the size of communications
satellites and improve their performance. The circuits work at minus-
320 degrees Fahrenheit, and researchers can cool the device with liquid
nitrogen rather than liquid hilium, which costs more and is more
difficult to handle. NASA said these circuits could become part of
future generations of satellites that operate at ultrahigh frequencies,
called K-band. These frequencies would allow satellites to process
data at much faster rates and handle many more customers than
conventional satellites.
FORMER NASA GENERAL COUNSEL TO REJOIN THE AGENCY
Former NASA general counsel John E. O'Brien said he will rejoin the
agency as assistant deputy administrator to Richard Truly in order to
help organize plans to implement the goals set out by President Bush.
Mr. O'Brien, a lawyer, left NASA in July 1988 after having worked at
the Kennedy Space Center since 1962.
NASA SELECTS TWENTY-THREE MICROGRAVITY EXPERIMENTS FOR THE SHUTTLE
NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications has selected twenty-
three proposed Shuttle flight experiments in microgravity research and
applications. The experiments include Crystal Growth Furnace, Drop
Physics Module and Gravitational Role in Liquid Phase Sintering. The
missions are scheduled to begin in 1990.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIET FIGHTERS FLYING OVER ALASKA WILL RECEIVE U.S. ESCORT
Special treatment will be given to two Soviet MiG-29s and other Soviet
military aircraft as they cross over Alaska next month en route to
AirShow Canada outside of Vancouver, B.C. The Soviet fighters will be
routed away from sensitive areas and escorted by U.S. fighters while in
U.S. airspace. A Canadian escort will meet them at the border and take
them to the airshow. Pilot Anatoly Kvotchuer, who survived the crash
of a MiG-29 at the Paris Air Show in June, will be one of the pilots
making the trip.
HOUSE APPROVED FOREIGN AID MONEY BILL RESERVING $3.38 BILLION IN FMS
The House approved a foreign aid money bill earmarking $3.38 billion in
foreign military sales (FMS) funds for four countries. This leaves
about $1 billion to fund programs in 115 remaining nations. The
appropriations for Israel and Egypt were unchanged from the
Administration's requests with $1.8 billion in Israel FMS and $1.3
billion in Egyptian FMS funds. Pakistan will receive $230 million and
Jordan has $48 million set aside.
GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATING WITH EGYPT ON TARGETING PODS SALE
The U.S. government is in the final stages of negotiating the sale of
12 sets of Martin Marietta Pathfinder navigation pods and Sharpshooters
targeting pods to Egypt. The two systems are derivatives of Martin's
Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared System for Night
(LANTIRN). Should the sale go through, the pods would be used on
Egyptian F-16 aircraft.
ARIANESPACE BOOKED LAUNCH ORDERS FOR TWO HUGHES SATELLITES
Arianespace (France) has booked launch orders for two Hughes
Communications, Inc. satellites that are to be orbited by the same
Ariane 4 vehicle in June 1990. An Arianespace official said this will
be the first time a single Ariane has carried two commercial satellites
from the same customer. The two are the Hughes' Galaxy 6 and SBS-6 and
are the sixth and seventh payloads signed for the European launcher
this year. The launches bring the total Arianespace backlog to 35
satellites with an order book value of 14.7 billion French francs or
about $2.3 billion.
JAPAN CONTROLS 70% OF CEREMICS MARKET
According to the "Science and Technology Report and Outlook" report,
Japan now controls 70% of the market for advanced ceremics and has the
potential to completely dominate all markets in the near future.
Ceremics and other advanced materials have many civilian and military
applications and are considered one of the important new technologies
for the 1990s. The Office of Science and Technology is the science
advisory group to the White House.
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE ANNOUNCES ORDER WORTH AS MUCH AS $1.32 BILLION
Airbus Industrie (France) announced it received firm orders for 28 of
its A-321 commercial jets from the Italian airline Alitalia and the
Spanish airline Iberia. The orders are worth as much as $1.32 billion.
Airbus is a consortium of Aerospatiale (France), Messerschmitt-Boelkow-
Blohm G.m.b.H. (West Germany), British Aerospace and Construcciones
Aeronauticas S.A. (Spain).
BUSINESS:
BOEING REPORTS STRONG SECOND QUARTER BUT IS WARY ABOUT THE YEAR
Boeing Co. reported a 20% higher second quarter net income on stronger
revenues. The company's profit rose to $196 million, from $160 million
a year earlier. Sales grew 7.3% to $5.1 billion from $4.7 billion
during last year's second quarter. There is concern, however that the
company will only break even in the defense and space business because
many of the key Pentagon programs that Boeing is involved with, such as
the B-2 Stealth bomber, the space station and the V-22 tilt-rotor
transport, are all currently being debated by Congress.
FAA PROPOSES TO FINE BOEING $200,000 FOR FAILING TO REPORT PROBLEMS
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a $200,000 civil
fine against Boeing Co.'s Boeing Commercial Airplanes unit for
allegedly failing to report wiring problems in some of its jetliners.
The FAA named two cases, one involving Royal Brunel Airlines and
another with Delta Air Lines, in which Boeing failed to report the
miswiring in an acceptable time frame.
HONEYWELL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RESTRUCTURE THE COMPANY
Honeywell Inc. announced plans to restructure the company in order to
make it less vulnerable to takeovers by making it more profitable. One
part of the plan includes reducing the company's dependence on weapons
sales, which is a $1.4 billion business. The company did not say
exactly how they plan to do this, but experts believe Honeywell will
dispose of the majority of its Defense and Marine Systems group.
Honeywell also plans to cut the work force, buy back stock and sell
most of its Japanese joint venture, Yamatake-Honeywell Co., valued at
about $2 billion. The company's chairman and chief executive officer
James Reneir said that the moves were not made in response to any
specific takeover threat.
HUGHES AEROSPACE, ORBITAL SCIENCES AND ARIANESPACE SIGN MOU
Hughes Aerospace Co., Orbital Sciences Corp. and Arianespace (France)
signed a preliminary agreement to jointly market the Pegasus air-
launched space booster in Europe. Pegasus launches small satellites,
and once launched from a carrier aircraft, is powered by three solid-
fuel rocket motors that propels it into orbit. Under the memorandum of
understanding (MOU), Arianespace will sell Pegasus services in Europe.
The U.S. and commercial customers have already purchased Pegasus launch
services.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS IS LEANING TOWARD DESIGN CHANGES OF DC-10
Following the second DC-10 crash in eight days, McDonnell Douglas Corp.
announced it is leaning toward making design changes for the plane.
However, the company defended the safety record of the DC-10 and said
that until the Sioux City crash, the DC-10 fleet had flown eight
million flight hours without a fatal accident, longer than any other
type of major airliner.
PRATT & WHITNEY SIGN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE JET ENGINES TO THAI AIRWAYS
Pratt & Whitney Co., a unit of the United Technologies Corp., signed an
agreement to provide jet engines to Thai Airways International, which
is expected to intensify competition among jet-engine makers in the
Asian market. The deal is estimated to be worth about $65 million.
UNISYS SUFFERS A 67% LOSS IN SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS
Unisys Corp. posted a 67% loss in second quarter earnings. Net fell to
$53.6 million, down from $162.3 million a year earlier. Revenue went
up 7.6% to $2.57 billion from $2.39 last year. A company spokesperson
said that the company has become very cautious in relation to both its
commercial computers and defense businesses.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL ISSUED ARMY CONTRACT FOR MISSILE FUSES
Allied-Signal Inc. was issued a $25 million Army contract for missile
fuses.
GENERAL DYNAMICS WILL RECEIVE A $151.5 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
General Dynamics Corp. will receive a $151.5 million face value
increase to a firm fixed price contract for changes to 361 U.S. Air
Force F-16C/D aircraft including Low Altitude Navigation Targeting
Infrared for Night integration and improvements to avionics and
structure. Aeronautical Systems Div. is the contracting activity.
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON FIRST PRODUCTION CONTRACT FOR RAM MISSILE
General Dynamics' Valley Systems Div. won the first production contract
for the joint U.S.- West German Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) from the
U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command. The contract is worth $85.6 million,
and covers FY 1989 production. A companion contract is expected for
the West German RAM consortium RAMSYS. General Dynamics and RAMSYS
will compete for shares of future production buys.
GE'S ASTROSPACE AWARDED DEFENSE METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE CONTRACT
General Electric Co., Astrospace Div., was awarded a $228,227,076 fixed
price incentive, award fee and performance incentive contract for
multiyear production of five Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
spacecraft. Space Systems Div. is the contracting activity for the Air
Force.
GRUMMAN RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT FOR C-2A AIRCRAFT
Grumman Corp. received a Navy contract, worth $18 million, for C-2A
aircraft.
HONEYWELL GIVEN COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
Honeywell Inc. was given a $14.3 million Army contract for
communications terminals.
IBM GOT $75.5 MILLION NAVAL SUBMARINE EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) got a $75.5 million firm-
fixed-price Navy contract for materials for AN/BQQ-5 and AN/BQQ-6 sonar
equipment for submarines. The work is expected to be completed in
December 1992.
LORAL WON NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
Loral Corp. won contracts from the Navy for the fifth production buy of
Mk. 30 mobile target systems for anti-submarine warfare training and
from the Air Force for additional production of receiver processors for
the ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures program. Under the Naval Sea
Systems Command's $23.5 million contract, Loral will deliver 10 Mk. 30
systems with spares. For the $12 million Air Force contract, Loral
will deliver 36 ALQ-131 receiver processors between October 1990 and
February 1991.
LTV RECEIVED $942 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT FOR MLRS AND ROCKETS
LTV Missiles and Electronics Group received a $942 million Army
contract to continue production of the service's premiere frontline
rocket launcher. The contract calls for delivery of 235 Multiple
Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) and 127,000 rockets over a five-year
period. The contract is scheduled to be completed by May 1995. The
contract also includes options for 29 additional launchers and 12,000
missiles each year, beginning in 1990.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED $95 MILLION CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
McDonnell Douglas Corp. received a $95 million increment of funds to an
advance acquisition contract for long lead materials to manufacture and
produce the Navy's FY 1990 requirement of 52 F/A-18C and 20 F/A-18D
aircraft. The work is expected to be completed in September 1992.
Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ISSUED $691.4 MILLION C-17 AIRCRAFT CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was issued a $691.4 million Air Force contract
for four C-17 aircraft.
RAYTHEON GIVEN $89.3 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND ARMY CONTRACTS
Raytheon Co. was given $89.3 million in contracts: an Air Force job
for improvements to the ballistic-missile early-warning site at
Fylingdales, England and a Army contract for improvements to the
Patriot anti-tactical missile.
UNISYS WON AIR FORCE SOFTWARE CONTRACT
Unisys Corp. won a $10.3 million Air Force contract for software.
RFP UPDATE:
July 24, 1989
WRIGHT-PATTERSON ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR 73 IBM AT DESKTOP COMPUTERS
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, issued solicitation F33600-89-R-
0322, for 73 IBM AT. Intel 80286 desktop computers. All responsible
sources may submit a bid, proposal or quote which shall be considered.
No telephone inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: B. Kain
Wright-Patterson Contract Center
Building 1
Area C
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-5320
(513) 257-4872
July 25, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE HEWLETT PACKARD WORKSTATION
The Defense Supply Service-Washington, on behalf of the U.S. Army
Command & Control Support Agency, intends to acquire from the Hewlett
Packard GSA Schedule, Hewlett Packard Turbo SRX workstation with option
ABA, AAQ, 003 and 516 and other assorted peripherals. Qualified
vendors may submit a substantive written statement delineating their
ability to meet the specific stated requirements. If no response is
received within 15 days of publication of this notice, an order will be
issued with the Hewlett Packard. When responding please reference
9058/0081. No telephone inquires will be accepted.
Contact: Gregory Nowak
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
No relevant RFPs for July 26, 1989.
July 27, 1989
AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND REQUIRES XEROX WORKSTATIONS
Under solicitation F49642-89-RQ993, the Air Force Systems Command
(AFSC) requires upgrades to existing Xerox 8010 workstation to support
AFSC Headquarters section to Andrews Air Force Base, MD. Thirteen new
Xerox Professional Computer Systems will be needed. Appropriate system
operating software must accompany this order in that this equipment is
the only equipment that will process and display all the data
originated on the Xerox 8010 workstation and Xerox Network File Server
presently in place. This notice is for supplies for which the
Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under
authority of FAR 6.302. Those interested are invited to identify their
capability to respond to the requirement or to submit proposals. All
proposals must be received within 15 days after the date of publication
of this synopsis. Information received will normally be considered
solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive
procurement. If no notices are received within 15 calendar days after
the date of publication in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) of this
notice, the Government will negotiate a sole source contract with Xerox
Corp.
Contact: James Ferncex
Technical Director
11 Contract Squadron/CNA
Andrews Air Force Base, DC 20331-5200
(301) 981-2393
KSC REQUIRES SUN MONOCHROME WORKSTATIONS
The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), requires two Sun Monochrome
workstations and other assorted peripherals. Requests to participate
are due 15 days from the publication date of this synopsis. No
telephone inquires will be accepted.
Contact: Cathy Skibbe
MDSSC- Kennedy Space Center
Box 21233
Mail Code F878
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32815
|
| 20.50 | derospace Industry News, Week of 07/31/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 09 1989 20:00 | 637 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008375
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 09-Aug-1989 03:52pm ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/31/89
***************************************************************************
* *
* Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or *
* Douglas Shaw @CFO. *
* *
***************************************************************************
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 31, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Note from Jeff Sands
The U.S. Management Team has approved the implementation of a
U.S. Imaging Sales Office to focus on the realization of
incremental FY90 and FY91 certs and revenue through the
successful capturing of the imaging opportunities we are
discovering in our accounts.
A number of activities are now ramping in Engineering, Product
Marketing, Sales Support, Professional Services, and CSS that now
provide us with the means to be aggressive in responding to these
opportunitites.
To that end, we are currently sizing the opportunities in a
number of industries including Aerospace. We would like to
understand for which of your Aerospace accounts and projects
within these accounts could you use imaging-related sales and
technical assistance to help qualify, respond, and close business
this fiscal year.
Please identify the size of the opportunity and the location of
the site as well as the company and project name. In turn, we
will use this information to provide sales assistance both
in-field and headquarters based to leverage your efforts this
year.
Please send the requested information to Kerry Bensman @UPO via
All-In-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 31, 1989
GENERAL:
HOUSE ASKS FOR INVESTIGATION ON PROBLEMS CAUSED BY NUCLEAR REACTORS
ENERGY DEPARTMENT WANTS $19.5 BILLION FOR WEAPONS PLANTS CLEAN-UP
DEFENSE:
BUSH VETOS CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION ON FSX JET FIGHTER
U.S. ARMS SALES TO THE THIRD WORLD INCREASED 66% FROM 1987 TO 1988
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS DEFENSE SUBCOMMITTEE CUT MILSTAR SATELLITE PROGRAM
SENATE APPROVES FUNDS FOR MX AND MIDGETMAN MISSILES
TRIDENT 2 MISSILE HAD FIRST SUCCESSFUL UNDERWATER TEST
SENATE ADOPTED $305 BILLION DEFENSE MEASURE FOR FY 1990
DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR TRADE SECURITY POLICY
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT REPORTS MILITARY ORDERS UP 0.3% IN JUNE
HOUSE APPROVES $286.5 BILLION FOR PENTAGON
AIR FORCE INVESTIGATING ENGINEERING OFFICER
ARMY GROUNDED 245 CH-47D MEDIUM LIFT HELICOPTERS
NASA:
NASA PICKED MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO NEGOTIATE FOR LAUNCH VEHICLE SERVICES
NASA AND GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE MAY USE SATELLITES TO VIEW PIPELINES
VOYAGER 2 SPACECRAFT DISCOVERS NEPTUNE MOONS
COLUMBIA TO BE LAUNCHED ON AUGUST 8
REP. NELSON CALLS FOR FUNDING FOR FIFTH SPACE SHUTTLE BY 1996
INTERNATIONAL:
BRITISH TELECOM OFFERED $355 MILLION FOR MCDONNELL DOUGLAS UNIT
SIEMENS AND GEC EXPECTED TO RESUME TAKE-OVER BID FOR PLESSEY
SOVIET SPACE OFFICIAL SAYS MANNED MISSION TO MIR SPACE STATION PLANNED
ISRAEL TO BUY SUBMARINES FROM GERMANY
TWO SOVIET FIGHTERS LAND IN ALASKA
BUSINESS:
BOEING DID $4 BILLION WORTH OF WORK ON THE B-2 BOMBER
GENERAL DYNAMICS APPOINTED NEW VICE PRESIDENT
INVESTOR HAROLD SIMMONS HAS 9.46% OF LOCKHEED COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
LORAL FACES LAWSUITS BROUGHT BY BANNER INDUSTRIES
MARTIN MARIETTA GRANTED LAUNCH APPLICATION FOR TITAN II BOOSTER
SPLIT MORTON THIOKOL REPORTS SEPARATE FY 1988 RESULTS
SENATE VOTES TO INCREASE NORTHROP'S FINANCIAL LIABILITY OF B-2
PRATT & WHITNEY TEST SCRAMJET SYSTEM FOR NASP PROGRAM
RAYTHEON ANNOUNCED DENNIS PICARD IS NEW PRESIDENT
TELEDYNE ASKED PRESIDENT TO RESIGN IN WAKE OF FEDERAL PROBE
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEROJET AWARDED ARMY EXPLOSIVES CONTRACT
AIL SYSTEMS GIVEN B-1B AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED $93.5 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND ARMY CONTRACTS
GRUMMAN GOT $104,375,000 CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
HONEYWELL ISSUED ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $85.7 MILLION
CONSORTIUM TO DEVELOP HOMING DEVICES FOR MULTIPLE-LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEM
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED HARPOON MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT
RAYTHEON ISSUED CONTRACT FOR MULTIMODE SEEKER MISSILE GUIDANCE SYSTEM
ROCKWELL GOT HELLFIRE MISSILE CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $13.5 MILLION
UNISYS RECEIVED AERIAL TARGETS CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
RFP UPDATE:
July 31, 1989
AFCC TO ACQUIRE UNISYS COMPUTER SYSTEM
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR NEUROCOMPUTER WORKSTATION
August 1, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE MACINTOSH WORKSTATIONS
No relevant RFPs for August 2-4, 1989.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
HOUSE ASKS FOR INVESTIGATION ON PROBLEMS CAUSED BY NUCLEAR REACTORS
The House asked the Bush Administration to investigate and report on
problems caused by nuclear reactors orbiting the Earth. Radiation from
these reactors interferes with scientific satellites that measure gamma
rays and the interference is growing worse as more powerful reactors
are placed in space. The legislation was an amendment to the Defense
Authorization bill for FY 1990.
ENERGY DEPARTMENT WANTS $19.5 BILLION FOR WEAPONS PLANTS CLEAN-UP
The Energy Department presented a five-year program costing $19.5
billion to clean-up the environmental and health problems at atomic
weapons plants. Energy Secretary James D. Watkins said that this will
only be the initial clean-up and predicts that the entire restoration
plan will take about 30 years and cost billions more. The department
proposed to spent $2.4 billion of the $19.5 billion in FY 1990.
DEFENSE:
BUSH VETOS CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION ON FSX JET FIGHTER
President Bush vetoed a congressional resolution that added conditions
to an agreement with Japan on joint production of the FSX jet fighter.
The President's message said that the conditions violated the
separation of powers by injecting Congress into an area that is
exclusively the president's; negotiating on behalf of the U.S. with
foreign government. Opponents of the conditions agreed upon previously
by the Administration and the Japanese government can not find enough
votes to override the veto. President Bush's veto was expected.
U.S. ARMS SALES TO THE THIRD WORLD INCREASED 66% FROM 1987 TO 1988
U.S. arms sales to third world countries increased 66% in 1988 from
1987 and nearly matched Soviet sales. America has traditionally lagged
behind the Soviets in third world arms sales. U.S. arms sales to the
third world totaled $9.2 billion and Soviet arms sales in 1988 were
$9.9 billion. The U.S. and Soviets together accounted for almost two-
thirds of all arms sales to developing countries. According to the
Congressional Research Service, the jump in American sales is
attributable to major "new orders from traditional buyers and an
agreement with Kuwait for the purchase of 40 F-18 aircraft and various
missiles for an estimated $1.9 billion."
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS DEFENSE SUBCOMMITTEE CUT MILSTAR SATELLITE PROGRAM
According to congressional sources, the House Appropriations defense
subcommittee cut the Milstar satellite program by $632 million for FY
1990 and recommended that the classified jam-resistant communications
network be terminated after three satellites are launched. Defense
Secretary Dick Cheney told defense subcommittee chairman John Murtha
(D-PA) that limiting the number of satellites to three would "severely
impact strategic and tactical communications capabilities of the United
States well into the future."
SENATE APPROVES FUNDS FOR MX AND MIDGETMAN MISSILES
The Senate approved funds for the mobile MX and Midgetman nuclear-
tipped missiles, thus endorsing President Bush's arms control strategy
of simultaneously developing two new, intercontinental ballistic-
missile systems. By a 62-38 vote, the Senate granted the
Administration's $1.1 billion request for the mobile MX and $100
million to proceed with designs for a smaller Midgetman.
TRIDENT 2 MISSILE HAD FIRST SUCCESSFUL UNDERWATER TEST
The Trident 2 missile was launched from a Navy nuclear submarine, on
its first successful underwater test. The 44 foot long missile was
launched from submerged submarine Tennessee, it then propelled a dummy
warhead far down the Atlantic tracking range. The first test date was
rescheduled when a group from Greenpeace USA that oppose nuclear
weapons at sea halted the test by sailing ships into the launch
security zone. A spokesperson for Greenpeace said they did not
interrupt the second test because the group felt they had made their
point with the first demonstration.
SENATE ADOPTED $305 BILLION DEFENSE MEASURE FOR FY 1990
As the Senate worked out its FY 1990 defense budget, it adopted a $305
billion defense measure that endorses President Bush's proposals for
new strategic weapons but rejects parts of his spending plan for
conventional arms. The measure supports development of the B-2 Stealth
bomber, a proposed space-based anti-missile system and a pair of mobile
nuclear missile systems.
DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR TRADE SECURITY POLICY
Bill Rudman has been named as deputy undersecretary of defense for
trade security policy. Mr. Rudman currently is the Boston-based
regional director of internal affairs for the Customs Service and
previously served as the director of Operations Exodus, the U.S. effort
to stop the illegal flow of U.S. technology to the Soviet bloc. In his
new position, he will be responsible for the Defense Department's
review of export license applications.
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT REPORTS MILITARY ORDERS UP 0.3% IN JUNE
The Commerce Department said that military orders for "big ticket"
durable goods went up 0.3% in June. The rise is followed by a 4.4%
decline in May, the worst in ten months. Military orders, in general,
are volatile from month to month; June orders were up 15.8% to $8.8
billion after falling 11.4% in May and 18.3% down April.
HOUSE APPROVES $286.5 BILLION FOR PENTAGON
The House approved nearly $286.5 billion for Pentagon spending for FY
1990. The gist of the Pentagon bill emphasizes buying up weapons
already in production and easing investments in new systems.
Conferences to iron out differences between the Senate and House bills
will begin in September.
AIR FORCE INVESTIGATING ENGINEERING OFFICER
Air Force officials said they are investigating an engineering officer
for allegedly selling military secrets to the East bloc while
installing electronic security equipment in West Germany.
ARMY GROUNDED 245 CH-47D MEDIUM LIFT HELICOPTERS
The Army grounded approximately 245 of its CH-47D medium lift
helicopters so that an oil cooling fan problem can be corrected. All
but 20 of the Army's CH-47D helicopters were affected by the grounding.
The decision to ground was made following an incident in which an 82nd
Airborne Division CH-47D experienced failure of the oil cooling fan
just below the rear rotor as the helicopter landed. The 20 that were
not grounded are equipped with a new combining transmission oil cooler
fan.
NASA:
NASA PICKED MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO NEGOTIATE FOR LAUNCH VEHICLE SERVICES
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has picked McDonnell Douglas for
negotiations leading to a fixed-price contract for medium class,
commercial, expendable launch vehicle services. The contract is
expected to be awarded on October 1 and provide services for missions
that will be part of the International Solar Terrestrial Program (ISTP)
and include GEOTAIL, WIND and POLAR missions.
NASA AND GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE MAY USE SATELLITES TO VIEW PIPELINES
NASA and the U.S. Gas Research Institute are looking into ways of using
satellites to detect leaks in gas pipelines and to aid in mapping
pipeline corridors and rights-of-way. Satellite data is much more
accurate and superior in resolution than photographs taken from
airplanes.
VOYAGER 2 SPACECRAFT DISCOVERS NEPTUNE MOONS
The Voyager 2 spacecraft has sent back images of three previously
unknown moons circling Neptune. Scientists from the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory announced the finding, which brings the total to six new
moons found by the Voyager 2. The three moons have temporarily been
named 1989 N2, 1989 N3 and 1989 N4.
COLUMBIA TO BE LAUNCHED ON AUGUST 8
NASA announced that the space shuttle Columbia is ready and scheduled
to be launched on August 8. This launch marks the first flight in
nearly four years for the Columbia. For security reasons, the Pentagon
will not allow NASA to disclose the exact launch time, but lift-off is
expected between 7:30 am and 11:30 am EST. Although the payload is
classified, it is believed to be a Pentagon reconnaissance satellite.
Five astronauts will make up the crew of the Columbia.
REP. NELSON CALLS FOR FUNDING FOR FIFTH SPACE SHUTTLE BY 1996
Rep. Bill Nelson (D-FL), chairman of the House Science, Space and
Technology subcommittee on space science and applications, told
Congress that it should consider funding for a fifth orbiter is NASA is
to be able to fly 14 or more Shuttle missions a year and use them to
build the Space Station. The Endeavor, which will replace the
Challenger, will bring the fleet count to four when it makes its first
flight which is scheduled for February 1992. Rep. Nelson believes that
production for the fifth orbiter should begin no later than FY 1991 so
that it can be completed by 1996. The cost of a new space shuttle is
estimated at $1.2 billion.
INTERNATIONAL:
BRITISH TELECOM OFFERED $355 MILLION FOR MCDONNELL DOUGLAS UNIT
British Telecommunications PLC, Britain's main phone company, offered
to buy McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s electronic data-communications
business for $355 million. If approved, the transaction would
intensify competition between British Telecom and American Telephone &
Telegraph (AT&T) Co. McDonnell Douglas would sell its Tymnet division
as part of the company's new strategy to concentrate on aerospace. The
Tymnet unit has an annual pretax profit of about $25 million on sales
of $250 million.
SIEMENS AND GEC EXPECTED TO RESUME TAKE-OVER BID FOR PLESSEY
Siemens AG, West Germany, and Britain's General Electric Co. (GEC) PLC
are expected to revive their long-stalled takeover bid for British
rival Plessey Co. The negotiations had been stalled while the two
bidders waited for the U.K.'s Ministry of Defense to approve the take-
over. The Ministry of Defense approved the action, but stipulated that
Plessey's military secrets and defense contract be safeguarded should
the deal go through.
SOVIET SPACE OFFICIAL SAYS MANNED MISSION TO MIR SPACE STATION PLANNED
According to the deputy director of the cosmonaut training center,
Alexei Leonov, the Soviet Union will launch a manned Soyuz-TM to the
Mir space station on August 30. Mr. Leonov spoke in Washington at a
"Futureview" conference to promote the Association of Space Explorers.
Mr. Leonov also said that an additional two Mir modules are scheduled
to be launched late this year or in early 1990.
ISRAEL TO BUY SUBMARINES FROM GERMANY
Israel has decided to buy two Dolphin class submarines from a shipyard
in the Federal Republic of Germany. Israel will use $180 million in
U.S. foreign military sales funds to help finance the $300 million
submarines purchase.
TWO SOVIET FIGHTERS LAND IN ALASKA
Two MiG-29 Soviet fighters stopped at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska,
en route to the Abbotsford International Air Show in Vancouver, British
Columbia. This was the first time that Soviet fighters have landed in
North America. They were escorted by U.S. planes to the Canadian
border.
BUSINESS:
BOEING DID $4 BILLION WORTH OF WORK ON THE B-2 BOMBER
Boeing Co. revealed that they performed $4 billion worth of work on the
B-2 Stealth bomber. Boeing said they built key structural parts for
the plane, including the aft and outboard sections of the flying wing,
the fuel system, the weapons delivery system and the landing gear. The
company received word from Air Force officials that this information
had been declassified and that they could announce their contribution
to the B-2.
GENERAL DYNAMICS APPOINTED NEW VICE PRESIDENT
General Dynamics Corp. appointed Joseph A. Frankovsky, a business
consultant, to the newly created position of vice president, total
quality management, for the defense and aerospace company.
INVESTOR HAROLD SIMMONS HAS 9.46% OF LOCKHEED COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
Dallas investor Harold Simmons' share in Lockheed Corp. grew to 9.46%
of the common shares outstanding. Mr. Simmons reported to the
Securities and Exchange Commission that he and companies he controls,
including Valhi Inc., NL Industries Inc. and NL Chemicals Inc. hold
6,007,200 Lockheed common shares. Lockheed said they had no comment on
the filing.
LORAL FACES LAWSUITS BROUGHT BY BANNER INDUSTRIES
Loral Corp., maker of radar-warning gear for jet fighters, is the
target of lawsuits brought by Banner Industries Inc. over the sale of
two divisions to Loral chairman Bernard L. Schwartz. The suits allege
a conflict of interest on the part of Loral and its outside directors
in selling the divisions to Mr. Schwartz. Banner, the only other
bidder, seeks $100 million in damages, a decree nullifying the sale and
a rerun of the bidding.
MARTIN MARIETTA GRANTED LAUNCH APPLICATION FOR TITAN II BOOSTER
Martin Marietta Commercial Titan Inc. was granted an application by the
Transportation Department's Office of Commercial Space Transportation
to launch a Titan III booster from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, FL.
The booster will carry the British Skynet 4A military satellite and the
JCSAT 2 satellite, owned by Japan Communications Satellite Co. This
will be the first commercial launch by Martin Marietta Commercial
Titan.
SPLIT MORTON THIOKOL REPORTS SEPARATE FY 1988 RESULTS
Separate financial results reported by Morton International and Thiokol
Corp. for FY 1988 showed unequal results. Had the separation not
occurred, Morton Thiokol Corp. would have posted 21% lower earnings of
$114.7 million on 11% higher sales of $2.56 billion. However, the
spin-off created a strong specialty chemicals business, Morton
International, and a weak aerospace company, Thiokol Corp. Morton
turned in 14% lower earnings of $97 million on 13% higher sales of $1.4
billion for FY 1989. Thiokol fell 46% to just $17.7 million on 9%
higher sales of $1.06 billion.
SENATE VOTES TO INCREASE NORTHROP'S FINANCIAL LIABILITY OF B-2
The Senate voted to increase Northrop Corp.'s financial liability to
repair technical or manufacturing problems that may occur in the B-2
Stealth bomber. The Senate decision reflects the concerns by many law-
makers that the B-2 may not perform as was originally promised. Among
other things, the amendment could require Northrop to give up all of
its profit on the next five Stealth bombers if repairs are needed for
contractor-caused defects.
PRATT & WHITNEY TEST SCRAMJET SYSTEM FOR NASP PROGRAM
Pratt & Whitney reported that a full-size scramjet system for the
National Aerospace Plane (NASP) was tested to conditions encountered at
six times the speed of sound. A Pratt & Whitney engineer said that the
direct-connect combustor and internal nozzle were the main things that
were tested on the engine. The company's vice president of space
propulsion Joe Zimonis said that the data from the test proves that the
propulsion system will meet the goals of the NASP program.
RAYTHEON ANNOUNCED DENNIS PICARD IS NEW PRESIDENT
Raytheon Co. announced that Dennis Picard will become the new president
of the company, replacing R.G. Shelley who will retire after holding
the job for three years. Mr. Picard was elected to the board of
directors in January. He served as the general manager of the Missile
Systems Div. for six years.
TELEDYNE ASKED PRESIDENT TO RESIGN IN WAKE OF FEDERAL PROBE
Teledyne Inc. asked the president of their Teledyne Systems division,
Harry Halamandaris, to resign in the wake of a federal probe at the
division. Although the investigation is not related to "Operation Ill
Wind", the company disclosed that agents of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation Service (FBI) and the Defense Criminal Investigative
Service searched the division offices in May. A spokesperson for
Teledyne said that Mr. Halamandaris was named an assistant to the
company's executive vice president so that "he will be able to assist
in the company's internal investigation.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEROJET AWARDED ARMY EXPLOSIVES CONTRACT
Aerojet Corp. was awarded an Army contract for explosives worth $17.1
million.
AIL SYSTEMS GIVEN B-1B AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS CONTRACT
AIL Systems Inc. was given a $45 million Air Force contract for B-1B
aircraft electronics.
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED $93.5 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND ARMY CONTRACTS
General Dynamics Corp. received $93.5 million in contracts for F-16
aircraft support equipment for the Air Force and munitions for the
Army.
GRUMMAN GOT $104,375,000 CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
Grumman Aerospace Corp. got a $104,375,000 increment of funds to an
advance acquisition contract to increase the limitation of government
liability for the FY 1989 production of six E-2C Hawkeye airborne
tactical control aircraft. Naval Air Systems Command is the
contracting activity.
HONEYWELL ISSUED ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $85.7 MILLION
Honeywell Inc. was issued an $85.7 million Army contract for tank
ammunition.
CONSORTIUM TO DEVELOP HOMING DEVICES FOR MULTIPLE-LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEM
A four company consortium from four different countries was awarded a
$479 million Pentagon contract for development of homing devices for a
multiple-launch rocket system. Martin Marietta Corp. of Bethesda, MD,
Diehl GMB & Co. of West Germany, Thomson CSF of France and Thorn EMI
Electronics Ltd. of Great Britain were the four chosen companies. The
multiple-launch system is designed to replace standard artillery shells
with rockets that have longer range and greater accuracy. Parts of
Western Europe have already deployed the system.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED HARPOON MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. received a $13.4 million Navy contract for
Harpoon missile support.
RAYTHEON ISSUED CONTRACT FOR MULTIMODE SEEKER MISSILE GUIDANCE SYSTEM
Raytheon Co., Missile Systems Division, was issued a $43 million
modification to a cost plus incentive fee contract for the evaluation,
development, test and demonstration of the Multimode Seeker Missile
Guidance System which will enhance Patriot Anti-Tactical Missile (ATM)
capability. U.S. Army Missile Command is the contracting activity.
ROCKWELL GOT HELLFIRE MISSILE CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
Rockwell International Corp. got a $59.3 million Army contract for
Hellfire missiles.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $13.5 MILLION
Texas Instruments Inc. was awarded a not to exceed ceiling priced $13.5
million firm fixed price Navy contract order for various quantities of
51 different line items (components) for the AN/APS-137 radar systems
of S-3B aircraft. The contract is scheduled to be completed in
September 1992. Navy Aviation Supply Office is the contract activity.
UNISYS RECEIVED AERIAL TARGETS CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
Unisys Corp. received a $17.4 million Air Force contract for aerial
targets.
RFP UPDATE:
July 31, 1989
AFCC TO ACQUIRE UNISYS COMPUTER SYSTEM
Under solicitation F19630-89R-0006, the Air Force Computer Acquisition
Center (AFCC), plans to acquire a specific make and model of Unisys
hardware, system software and necessary maintenance, training and
software support. The requested computer system is a Unisys 2200/611
with upgrade to a 2200/622, a 1200 LPM printer and other assorted
peripherals. Sources interested in the project should respond in
writing within 15 days of the publication of this notice. The RFP is
expected to be released on or about August 21, 1989 with proposals due
30 days later. The RFP will provide additional details on the
acquisition.
Contact: Paul Gardner
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
PKD
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8638
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR NEUROCOMPUTER WORKSTATION
NASA Lewis Research Center issued solicitation 3-349178, for a
neurocomputer workstation, PC/AT compatible host computer and other
assorted peripherals. Copies of the solicitation may be obtained by
calling the number below. All responsible sources may submit a
proposal which will be considered by the agency.
Contact: Gloria Rhyner
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Mail Stop 500-309
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-6616
August 1, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE MACINTOSH WORKSTATIONS
NASA Lewis Research Center intends to procure, under terms and
conditions of contract GS00K89AGS6383, four (4) Falcon Microsystems'
MacIntosh IIx 160/4 and many other assorted peripherals. Suppliers of
identical or equivalent items may submit data to demonstrate their
ability to satisfy this requirement. All responsible sources may
submit written responses within 15 days from the date of this notice.
All responses received will be considered. No contract award will be
made on the basis of any response to this notice. Solicitation
documents are not available. Inquiries concerning this requirement
should reference 316685/422039.
Contact: Heidi Shaw
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Mail Stop 500-309
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2131
No relevant RFPs for August 2-4, 1989.
|
| 20.51 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 08/07/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Aug 17 1989 20:04 | 547 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008452
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 17-Aug-1989 06:17pm ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@HERON@MRGATE@VALMTS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 08/07/89
***************************************************************************
* *
* Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or *
* Douglas Shaw @CFO. *
* *
***************************************************************************
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 7, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 7, 1989
GENERAL:
VOYAGER 2 DATA SUGGESTS NEPTUNE MOON TRITON WAS ONCE A PLANET
AIA REPORTS BACKLOG OF UNFILLED ORDERS FOR COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTS UP
VOYAGER 2 DISCOVERS RINGS ORBITING NEPTUNE
DEFENSE:
BUSH NOMINATED MICHAEL P.W. STONE AS ARMY SECRETARY
PENTAGON MAY PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PIONEER REMOTELY PILOTED VEHICLES
NAVY ACCEPTS FIRST TWO E-6A TACAMO STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AIRCRAFT
AIR FORCE SECRETARY PRAISED FUNDING FOR EARLY STAGE PROGRAMS REQUEST
POWELL SELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
SASC TELLS PENTAGON NOT TO FOCUS NEW MISSIONS TOO NARROWLY
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO. ASSIGNS LEMKE AS HEAD OF T-45TS TRAINING SYSTEM
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE REVIVES SR-71 RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM
NASA:
SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED INTO ORBIT
FIRST FLIGHT OF PEGASUS LAUNCH VEHICLE DELAYED
COLUMBIA LANDS, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED MISSION
MORE SPACE STATION CONTRACTS TO BE AWARDED TO MINORITY-OWNED FIRMS
NASA SELECTS SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS TO BE PERFORMED ON SPACE STATION
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIET COSMONAUT CLAIMS SOVIETS WERE INTENDING TO GO TO THE MOON
SOVIET SCIENTISTS PREPARING FOR THREE UNMANNED MARS MISSIONS
U.S./EGYPT COPRODUCTION OF M1A1 TANK AND F-16 FIGHTER ON SCHEDULE
GRUMMAN CORP. FORMS JOINT VENTURE WITH SINGAPORE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
JAPANESE SOURCE CODES CAUSE FURTHER DELAYS IN FSX CODEVELOPMENT
ARIANESPACE LAUNCHES TV-SAT 2 AND HIPPARCOS SATELLITES
MODIFICATION TO LOCKHEED L-1011-500 TRANSPORTS UNDERWAY
BROOKLANDS AEROSPACE RECEIVES ORDERS FOR OPTICA SCOUT AIRCRAFT
BUSINESS:
VIRGINIA'S CIT AND OSC TO LAUNCH DATASAT SATELLITE ON PEGASUS BOOSTER
UTC TAKES NORDEN SYSTEMS OFF THE MARKET AFTER 16 MONTHS
FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES SUIT AGAINST NORTHROP FOR FALSIFYING MX TESTS
LTV'S PROFITS DROP 75% IN SECOND QUARTER
MOODY'S DOWNGRADES HONEYWELL DEBT
CONTRACT AWARDS:
C3 ISSUED $115.5 MILLION DESKTOP TACTICAL COMPUTERS CONTRACT
FORD AWARDED $71 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
LOGICON GIVEN CONTRACT TO DEVELOP COMPUTERIZED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
SPACE DATA CORP. GIVEN $10.9 MILLION DARPA CONTRACT
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AWARDED $188.7 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No Relevant RFPs for August 7, 1989
August 8, 1989
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER ISSUES CONTRACT FOR IBM 3880 UPGRADES
No relevant RFPs for August 9, 1989
August 10, 1989
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER TO PLACE A CONTRACT FOR COLOR WORKSTATIONS
August 11, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICES INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE MADIMS/FAD INTEGRATION
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
VOYAGER 2 DATA SUGGESTS NEPTUNE MOON TRITON WAS ONCE A PLANET
As the Voyager 2 moves closer to Neptune, scientists at the California
Institute of Technology point to evidence that the planet's largest
moon, Triton, was once a planet itself. The Voyager 2 data suggest
that Triton formed as an independent body orbiting the Sun and that it
was captured by Neptune's gravity after colliding with one of Neptune's
moons. The scientists believe this happened during the early period of
the solar system when Triton was molten.
AIA REPORTS BACKLOG OF UNFILLED ORDERS FOR COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTS UP
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) reported that the backlog of
unfilled orders for U.S. commercial transports reached $64.7 billion at
the end of first quarter 1989. This represents an 8% increase over
last year's first quarter. Also, orders jumped 80%, with manufacturers
booking firm orders for 193 aircraft valued at $9.5 billion. Transport
shipments rose to 94 aircraft with a value of $3.3 billion.
VOYAGER 2 DISCOVERS RINGS ORBITING NEPTUNE
NASA officials reported that the Voyager 2 spacecraft discovered two
partial rings surrounding the planet Neptune. The "partial arcs" are
described as being much different than the rings orbiting Saturn and
Uranus.
DEFENSE::
BUSH NOMINATED MICHAEL P.W. STONE AS ARMY SECRETARY
President Bush nominated Michael P.W. Stone to be secretary of the
Army. Mr. Stone was the Army's assistant secretary for financial
management for two years before being named its under secretary last
year. If approved, Mr. Stone would succeed John O. Marsh, Jr.
PENTAGON MAY PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PIONEER REMOTELY PILOTED VEHICLES
Defense Department officials may purchase additional Pioneer remotely
piloted vehicles to fill the gap until delivery of the new joint-
service short-range RPVs begins in the mid-1990s. The Pioneer is
developed by Maxlat of Israel and produced in the U.S. by AAI Corp.
Nine Pioneer systems, each consisting of eight vehicles, have already
been procured for the Navy and Marine Corps with a price tag of $7
million.
NAVY ACCEPTS FIRST TWO E-6A TACAMO STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AIRCRAFT
The Navy accepted its first two E-6A TACAMO strategic communications
aircraft at Boeing Aerospace and Electronics Div.'s plant. The
remaining sixteen planes are scheduled to be delivered by June 1991.
AIR FORCE SECRETARY PRAISED FUNDING FOR EARLY STAGE PROGRAMS REQUEST
Air Force Secretary Donald Rice praised the defense acquisition
management review's request for more government funding for programs in
the early stages of development. Mr. Rice said that he feels that the
new hypervelocity missile and the X-30 National Aerospace Plane are two
programs in particular that should benefit from the new policy.
POWELL SELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
President Bush selected Army General Colin L. Powell as the first
African-American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the youngest
nominee for the highest ranking military post in the nation. Some
Pentagon generals reportedly feel that Powell, 52, was too low in
seniority and lacked the operational experience for this position.
However, many defense and foreign policy elite on Capital Hill praise
Bush's nomination and regard Powell as very professional and
exceedingly knowledgeable. The four star general, if confirmed by the
Senate, will become Bush's principal advisor on all military matters.
SASC TELLS PENTAGON NOT TO FOCUS NEW MISSIONS TOO NARROWLY
According to the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), new space
missions planned by the Pentagon are not likely to receive
congressional funding if they are too focused. In its report on the FY
1990 defense authorization bill, SASC explained that "such new missions
as space-based broad area surveillance are unlikely to receive funding
priority if they are tailored too narrowly to a specialized U.S.
military mission."
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO. ASSIGNS LEMKE AS HEAD OF T-45TS TRAINING SYSTEM
Larry Lemke was named Vice President of Douglas Aircraft Co. and
assigned deputy manager of the company's T-45TS Goshawk training system
program project for the Navy. The T-45 is estimated to be worth $4.8
billion over the life of the program. A Douglas spokesman explained
that Lemke's assignment was part of an overall plan to reorient the
company's management structure to comply with the DoD's Total Quality
Management Initiative as the T-45 program heads for production.
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE REVIVES SR-71 RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM
The House Appropriations Committee breathed new life into the SR-71
reconnaissance program by directing that the mission be transferred to
the Air National Guard. The Air Force has continuously tried to retire
the Blackbirds, but the committee's decision will add $200 million to
accomplish program restructuring and pay for personnel. The increase
in funds is to be offset by a $100 million reduction in the active Air
Force budget.
NASA:
SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED INTO ORBIT
The space shuttle Columbia was successfully launched into orbit from
Cape Canaveral, FL for a five-day Air Force mission. During the
flight, the astronauts successfully placed a $1 billion reconnaissance
satellite in orbit on a path over the Soviet Union to take detailed
photographs of military targets. Columbia is the agency's oldest space
shuttle.
FIRST FLIGHT OF PEGASUS LAUNCH VEHICLE DELAYED
The first flight of the Pegasus launch vehicle planned for August 22,
1989 has been delayed until October 1989. On its first flight, the
launch vehicle is scheduled to carry payloads from the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency and NASA into low earth orbit.
COLUMBIA LANDS, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED MISSION
The Space Shuttle Columbia landed in the Mojave Desert, successfully
completing a five-day military mission. Three previous missions
dedicated to military purposes lasted three or four days each.
Although the mission was kept a secret, space analysts say that the
astronauts deployed a 10-ton spy satellite a few hours after takeoff
from Cape Canaveral and for the rest of the week observed troop
movements and conducted experiments for the program to build an anti-
satellite protective system. Officials at Edwards Air Force Base
reported that the shuttle sustained little damage to its protective
ceramic tiles.
MORE SPACE STATION CONTRACTS TO BE AWARDED TO MINORITY-OWNED FIRMS
A House of Representative Appropriations Committee report criticized
NASA for awarding less than 1% of the space station contracts to firms
owned by women and only 3% to those owned by minorities in 1987. The
committee wants the agency to reserve at least 10% of its space
contracts for those sectors.
NASA SELECTS SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS TO BE PERFORMED ON SPACE STATION
The NASA Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) has selected
14 scientific experiments to be flown during the space station
structural assembly and outfitting stage. These experiments will be
the first experiments performed on the station and will require little
development and will operate with only modest level of power and crew
attention. Since many of the experiments will be mounted on specific
assemblies, they will be dependent on the structural progress of the
station. The first experiments are expected to fly in 1996.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIET COSMONAUT CLAIMS SOVIETS WERE INTENDING TO GO TO THE MOON
Soviet news agency Tass reported that a new book about Soviet cosmonaut
Valery Bykovsky, titled "Cosmonaut No. 5", says that Mr. Bykovsky had
been scheduled to beat the U.S. to the moon but a top rocket designer's
sudden death stopped the operation. The book contradicts Moscow's
denials that it ever intended to send a man to the moon.
SOVIET SCIENTISTS PREPARING FOR THREE UNMANNED MARS MISSIONS
A Soviet scientist reported that the Soviet Union is planning three
unmanned missions to Mars beginning in 1994 and ending around the turn
of the century with a sample return mission. While final government
approval of the Mars 1994 mission is not expected until later this
year, scientists are beginning to develop the necessary technology to
support such a mission. The country has not yet released the specifics
of the missions, but Alexander Zakharov, chief scientist of the Space
Research Institute (IKI), explained the Soviet Union hopes the organize
an international engineering team for discussion and review of
spacecraft design and service systems for Mars 1994.
U.S./EGYPT COPRODUCTION OF M1A1 TANK AND F-16 FIGHTER ON SCHEDULE
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney and Egyptian defense minister Yusuf Abu
Talib said during a press conference that coproduction of the M1A1 tank
and F-16 fighter is "on schedule" in Egypt. Mr. Talib said that all
the design work is completed and coproduction is underway.
GRUMMAN CORP. FORMS JOINT VENTURE WITH SINGAPORE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Grumman Corp. (Besthpage, Long Island), reported that its Grumman Data
Systems unit and Singapore Computer Systems Private Ltd. (Singapore)
had formed a joint venture company, SCS-Grumman Computer, to market
computer systems integration in the Pacific Rim.
JAPANESE SOURCE CODES CAUSE FURTHER DELAYS IN FSX CODEVELOPMENT
Administration officials announced that a Japanese decision to develop
its own source codes for the FSX flight control system could delay the
U.S.-Japan codevelopment program as much as three years. Neither
General Dynamics nor the Administration attached a dollar figure to the
delay, but one industry analyst calculated that a one year delay in a
new aircraft program typically adds about 5%-10% to the total program
cost. Later this month, when a Japanese delegation meets with General
Dynamics executives in Texas, a detailed schedule on FSX development
with new milestones and goals is to be released.
ARIANESPACE LAUNCHES TV-SAT 2 AND HIPPARCOS SATELLITES
Arianespace announced that it successfully launched the West German
direct broadcast satellite TV-Sat 2 and the European Space Agency (ESA)
Hipparcos satellite from Kourou, French Guiana aboard an Ariane 44LP
booster. TV-Sat 2 will provide five direct television broadcast
channels to West Germany and Hipparcos will map the positions of stars.
MODIFICATION TO LOCKHEED L-1011-500 TRANSPORTS UNDERWAY
Work began at Marshall in Cambridge, England to install two underwing
refueling pods on the first Lockheed L-1011-500 transport for the
British Royal Air Force (RAF). Three aircraft were purchased by the
RAF from Pan American Airways. Currently, two are in operation and the
other is being used for spare parts to keep the others in flight
service.
BROOKLANDS AEROSPACE RECEIVES ORDERS FOR OPTICA SCOUT AIRCRAFT
Brooklands Aerospace Group Ltd. of Great Britain received six orders
and 126 options for Optica Scout and Scoutmaster aircraft from Kansas
City Aviation Center, Inc. (Optica's sales and marketing representative
in the U.S.). The Scoutmaster, the advanced version of the basic Scout
aircraft, is capable of carrying a variety of electronic surveillance
and special mission equipment. The orders, including parts and
equipment, are totaled at $22 million. Deliveries are expected to
begin in September.
BUSINESS:
VIRGINIA'S CIT AND OSC TO LAUNCH DATASAT SATELLITE ON PEGASUS BOOSTER
Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and Orbital Sciences
Corp. (OSC) signed an agreement to launch a 35-pound, low-Earth-
orbiting data collection satellite, named DataSat, on OSC's first
flight of the Pegasus air launch booster. The satellite will be used
by Virginia universities and industry to study space. According to the
agreement, CIT will pay $250,000 for construction of the satellite and
OSC will build a ground control station and help fund satellite
experiments at Virginia universities.
UTC TAKES NORDEN SYSTEMS OFF THE MARKET AFTER 16 MONTHS
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) announced it has taken its Norden
Systems division off the market after an unsuccessful 16-month effort
to sell it. Norden Systems, which makes radar systems, has not had a
profitable year since 1986 and UTC has reported nearly $300 million in
loss provisions or charges attributable to Norden; analysts are
predicting another $120 million loss this year. The problems with the
unit stem from its fixed-price development work on the Air Force's
Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) program
and an Israeli aircraft system that has incurred large cost overruns.
UTC failed to disclose the asking price of Norden, but estimates ranged
from $150 million to $300 million.
FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES SUIT AGAINST NORTHROP FOR FALSIFYING MX TESTS
A Federal Judge in California dismissed a $3 million civil suit brought
by the government against Northrop Corp. for allegedly failing to
report test data on the MX missile. The performance of the missile's
test guidance system has been under heavy congressional scrutiny since
1987, when the government filed its suit. The government suit alleged
that the defense contractor knowingly used defective parts when a heat
exchanger and another part of the MX guidance system were damaged
during a test. The government suit has been dismissed with prejudice,
meaning that it cannot be reopened.
LTV'S PROFITS DROP 75% IN SECOND QUARTER
LTV Corp. reported a 75% decline in its second quarter profits compared
to a year ago. The corporation posted quarterly net income of $30.3
million, or 21 cents a share, compared with $123.9 million, or $1.02 a
share, in the second quarter of 1988. LTV said that the drop in
profits resulted from a $30 million charge from its decision to halt
construction of a flexible composite facility in Grand Prairie, TX and
a $50 million provision for cost increases in several aircraft
programs.
MOODY'S DOWNGRADES HONEYWELL DEBT
Moody's Investors Services downgraded its rating of Honeywell's long-
term debt, claiming that the company's recent announcement of its
intended restructuring will restrict its financial flexibility.
Moody's explained that Honeywell will use the money from the sale of
weapon systems to fund a major stock buyback program.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
C3 ISSUED $115.5 MILLION DESKTOP TACTICAL COMPUTERS CONTRACT
C3, Inc. was issued a $115.5 million contract by the U.S. Navy for
ruggedized Desktop Tactical Computers (DTC). The Navy plans to buy the
graphics workstations over a three-year period after an initial
purchase of 78 units for about $4 million. The DTCs will be shipped to
the Navy's Underwater Systems Center, Electronic Systems Engineering
Center, Air Development Center, Oceanographic Office and the Ocean
Systems Center. The computers are based on Sun Microsystems Inc.'s
series 4/110 SPARC central processing unit.
FORD AWARDED $71 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Ford Aerospace was awarded a $71 million contract to modernize the
command and control systems of Strategic Air Command's strategic
missile launch control centers for the Air Force Systems Command's
Ballistic Systems Division. The contract includes developing the
weapon system control element, weapon system computer replacement and
Launch Control Center integration with modernization of strategic
missile sites throughout the country. Work is scheduled to be
completed in September 1993.
LOGICON GIVEN CONTRACT TO DEVELOP COMPUTERIZED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Logicon, Inc. received a $1.97 million contract to develop a
computerized maintenance management system for the Bell/Boeing V-22
Osprey. The new system will use flight data and other measurements to
determine the maintenance requirements of the V-22 after each flight.
Under the contract, Logicon will also analyze and verify the complex V-
22 flight software and work with the Naval Avionics Center to define
procedures for maintaining the software.
SPACE DATA CORP. GIVEN $10.9 MILLION DARPA CONTRACT
Space Data Corp. was given a $10.9 million contract to develop and
demonstrate a standard, small launch vehicle, known as Lightsat for the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Lockheed, LTV,
Space Services Inc. and TRW also did design studies for DARPA's
Lightsat program. The work is expected to be finished by February
1992.
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AWARDED $188.7 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
United Technologies Corp. received a $188.7 million Navy contract for
18 Seahawk helicopters.
RFP UPDATE:
No Relevant RFPs for August 7, 1989
August 8, 1989
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER ISSUES CONTRACT FOR IBM 3880 UPGRADES
NASA Johnson Space Center intends to purchase under solicitation
9BG4113955P one IBM 3880 upgrade plus a controller unit and associated
hardware or equal. Suppliers of identical or equivalent items may
identify their interests and capability to meet the desired
requirements of the contract. Sources who can furnish the required
equipment are requested to submit an offer and it will be considered by
the below agency. Delivery of the equipment is expected to be made 30
days after the contract has been awarded. A copy of this solicitation
can be obtained from the below address.
Contact: Lawrence A. Kenyon
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG41/Data Systems and Aircraft Operations
Procurement Branch
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4146
No relevant RFPs for August 9, 1989
August 10, 1989
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER TO PLACE A CONTRACT FOR COLOR WORKSTATIONS
Under solicitation 9BG4113954P, NASA Johnson Space Center proposes to
place a contract for two Tektronix Based 3-D Wire Frame Networked Color
Design Workstations and assorted peripherals from McDonnell Douglas
Manufacturing and Engineering System Co. Interested groups may
identify their interest and capability to meet the requirements of the
contract. Sources who can furnish the required equipment are requested
to submit a written substantive statement clearly stating the ability
to fill this requirement. A copy of this solicitation can be requested
in writing from the below address. It is anticipated that this RFP
will be issued within 30 days of this publication.
Contact: Lawrence A. Kenyon
NASA Johnson Space Center
Data Systems and Aircraft Operations
Procurement Office
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4146
August 11, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICES INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE MADIMS/FAD INTEGRATION
On behalf of the U.S. Air Force Integration Support Agency, the Defense
Supply Service-Washington intends to negotiate contract modification
MDA903-86-C-0305 with PD Research Inc. to provide a within-scope level
of effort increase for integration of the Manpower and Documentation
Information Management System and the Force Accounting System under the
terms and conditions of an existing contract. No solicitation and
requests for documents will be considered invalid responses. All
responses must be in writing and received within 30 days of the date of
this publication.
Contact: Marilyn L. Porter
Defense Supply Service - Washington
Room 1D245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5200
(202) 695-7083
|
| 20.52 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 08/14/89 0 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Aug 22 1989 21:30 | 546 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008496
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 22-Aug-1989 04:02pm ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 08/14/89 0
******************************************************************************
* *
* Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or *
* Douglas Shaw @CFO. *
* *
******************************************************************************
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 14, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 14, 1989
GENERAL:
RECENT DATA REVEALS FREQUENT JET ENGINE FLAWS
COMSAT DEVELOPING LIGHTWEIGHT NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERY
DEFENSE:
AMRAAM FAILS CRITICAL OPERATIONAL TEST
TRIDENT II MISSILE EXPLODES AFTER LAUNCH
TEST FLIGHT OF B-2 BOMBER ABORTED
ARMY GROUNDS CH-47 FLEET
BETTI SWORN IN AS NEW UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION
SECOND V-22 TEST AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
NAVY RECEIVES FIRST HH-60H HELICOPTER
FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS RECOMMEND CHARGES AGAINST NORTHROP
MILITARY SATELLITE LAUNCHED ABOARD DELTA 2 ROCKET
NASA:
NASA REPORTS MINOR DAMAGE TO SHUTTLE
NASA REPORTS SHUTTLE TO BE USED TO RESCUE FALLING SATELLITE
INTERNATIONAL:
BAE INVITES U.S. AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO BID ON ASRAAM
SOVIETS SCALE BACK SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM
SOVIETS PLAN RETURN TO MIR SPACE STATION
SOVIETS ANNOUNCE CANCELLATION OF MISSILE TESTS NEAR HAWAII
AIR FORCE TO SCRAP PROPOSAL TO DEPLOY BOMBERS IN ENGLAND
BOOST ENGINE ATTACHED TO HIPPARCOS SATELLITE FAILS
GENERAL ELECTRIC AND SIEMENS OFFER FORMAL DOCUMENT FOR PLESSY
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES REPORTS FIRST QUARTER GAINS
BUSINESS:
RICE AIRCRAFT CHIEF ADMITS TO SELLING REFINISHED PLANE PARTS AS NEW
BOEING CO. FOCUS OF MILITARY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
BOEING OVERCHARGED AIR FORCE ON COMPUTER PROJECTS
AMETEK PURCHASES GE AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTATION OPERATION
NORTHWEST AIRLINES CONFIRMS ORDER AGREEMENT WITH AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVES ORDER FOR JET ENGINES FROM AIR INTER
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL MOTORS CORP. RECEIVES FIVE-YEAR NASA CONTRACT
LOCKHEED GIVEN CONTRACT TO PRODUCE TRIDENT II MISSILES
LORAL SYSTEMS CO. AWARDED $7.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
SPERRY CORP. RECEIVES CONTRACT FOR AERIAL TARGET AIR VEHICLES
COMPUTER SYSTEMS CORP. ISSUED $14 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA CORP. AWARDED CONTRACT TO UPGRADE SPACEBORNE COMPUTER
LOGICON INC. GIVEN CONTRACT FOR PEACEKEEPER OPERATIONAL PROGRAM
NASA AWARDS LOCKHEED RESEARCH CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No Relevant RFPs for August 14, 1989
August 15, 1989
NASA TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER FOR SPARC STATION
August 16, 1989
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER TO ISSUE CONTRACT FOR MEMORY BOARDS
No Relevant RFPs for August 17, 1989
August 18, 1989
AMES RESEARCH CENTER INTENDS TO PURCHASE SIMULATION COMPUTER
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
RECENT DATA REVEALS FREQUENT JET ENGINE FLAWS
Reports in the Federal Aviation Administration records reveal at least
288 instances of engine trouble on wide body jets in the past six
years, with 16 in which parts fell off the engine in a manner similar
to that which caused the United Airlines disaster in Iowa last month.
The FAA numbers were determined from the agency's service-difficulty
reports for General Electric CF6 and Pratt & Whitney JT9 engines
inspected since 1983.
COMSAT DEVELOPING LIGHTWEIGHT NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERY
Communications Satellite Corp. (Comsat) and the Advanced Battery
Business Unit of Johnson Controls Inc. have teamed to develop a
prototype lightweight nickel-hydrogen battery designed to provide more
power and longer life. According to Stephen Day, Comsat's VP in charge
of the new venture, the battery offers great promise for geosynchronous
and low Earth orbit satellite application.
DEFENSE:
AMRAAM FAILS CRITICAL OPERATIONAL TEST
Four Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles fired from a F-15
fighter failed to hit four target drones in an August 2, 1989 test of
the AMRAAM operational capabilities. The test was considered a crucial
step in the program's troubled development and is likely to cause
congressionally-mandated delays in production for the second year in a
row. The Air Force hopes to conduct another test in early September
which could restore confidence in the AMRAAM before the Defense
Acquisition Board reviews the program's status in mid-September.
TRIDENT II MISSILE EXPLODES AFTER LAUNCH
A Trident II missile exploded after it was launched from the nuclear-
powered submarine Tennessee off the Florida coast. It was the second
such failure in three undersea test firings. The Navy reported that
the explosion caused no injuries or damage to the submarine or to the
flotilla of ships monitoring the test. The cause of the malfunction
has not yet been determined, but Navy officials speculate that a
problem with the propulsion nozzle that steers the missile caused the
failure. In a statement following the test, the Navy said that it did
not expect the failure to delay deployment of the missile in December.
Lockheed Corporation is the prime contractor for the missile.
TEST FLIGHT OF B-2 BOMBER ABORTED
The second test flight of the controversial B-2 Stealth Bomber was
aborted when a problem was found in the aircraft's auxiliary power
system. An Air Force official explained that an indicator light in the
cockpit signaled a low oil pressure condition in one of the four
auxiliary drives which power the plane's hydraulic system. The Stealth
program is under political pressure because of concerns about its cost
and whether it can fulfill its radar eluding mission.
ARMY GROUNDS CH-47 FLEET
The Army grounded the CH-47 fleet of medium lift helicopters when a
cooling fan assembly procured to fix earlier problems in the aircraft
failed. The grounding occurred after a replacement assembly failed at
Campbell, KY as a CH-47 prepared for takeoff. An Army spokesperson
explained that the action would keep 253 CH-47Ds on the ground
indefinitely until the problem with the cooling fan assembly can be
remedied. The failed assembly will undergo inspections at Boeing
Helicopters laboratories in Philadelphia, PA.
BETTI SWORN IN AS NEW UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION
John Betti, former Executive VP of Ford Motor Company, was sworn in as
the new Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. The Pentagon
reported that Betti will oversee matters relating to acquisition
including research and development, production, and industrial and
logistics support issues.
SECOND V-22 TEST AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
The second of six planned V-22 Tilt-rotor Osprey test aircraft
successfully made its first flight, hovering about 30 feet above the
ground in the helicopter mode. The Naval Air Systems Command has
ordered six test aircraft at $1.8 billion from Bell Helicopter Textron
and Boeing Helicopters.
NAVY RECEIVES FIRST HH-60H HELICOPTER
According to the Sikorsky Aircraft unit of United Technologies Corp.,
the Navy received the first of 18 HH-60H rescue helicopters for the
Helicopter Combat Support (HCS) fleet at Point Mugu Naval Air Station,
CA. The HH-60H, a derivative of the Navy Seahawk and Army Black Hawk,
is designed to rescue troops located in hostile territories under all
types of weather conditions.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS RECOMMEND CHARGES AGAINST NORTHROP
Federal investigators recommended that criminal charges be brought
against Northrop's Electronics Systems Division for allegedly
overcharging the Air Force more than $10 million for guidance systems
on the MX missile. The investigation centered around the charge that
Northrop inflated bills on the MX guidance system by as much as $17
million in the mid-1980s by improperly shifting costs between
development and production contracts. Senior Justice Department
officials have not ruled whether or not to proceed with the charges,
but the issue is expected to come to head in the near future.
MILITARY SATELLITE LAUNCHED ABOARD DELTA 2 ROCKET
A $65 million Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite was
launched from Cape Canaveral, FL aboard an unmanned Delta 2 rocket
after four delays in 10 days. The satellite will be used by the
military to track enemy movement.
NASA:
NASA REPORTS MINOR DAMAGE TO SHUTTLE
NASA technicians found only minor tile damage to the Space Shuttle
Columbia after a five-day military mission last week. Although Air
Force Secretary Donald Rice reported that Columbia successfully placed
a military spy satellite in orbit, questions still exist regarding the
validity of this statement. Observers monitoring the shuttle's flight
said that an object deployed by the aircraft was not large enough to be
a photo reconnaissance or a radar imaging satellite.
NASA REPORTS SHUTTLE TO BE USED TO RESCUE FALLING SATELLITE
NASA reported that an 11-ton scientific satellite is falling to earth
faster than expected and that the space shuttle is being processed to
come to its rescue before it crashes to earth in December 1989. The
agency is putting two shuttles on launch pads for simultaneous
processing in case one spacecraft is delayed. NASA may ask the
Department of Defense to postpone a scheduled military mission later
this year so the rescue could be moved up to November 1989. Scientists
explain that the ramifications of the rescue mission go far beyond just
saving this one ailing satellite, in that it could prove the shuttle's
ability to save and maintain spacecraft, rather than just carrying them
into orbit.
INTERNATIONAL:
BAE INVITES U.S. AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO BID ON ASRAAM
British Aerospace Dynamics has invited U.S. and European countries to
bid on the seeker portion of the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air
Missile (ASRAAM) because of West Germany's decision to pull out of the
program. Because of disagreements over configuration and UK funding
problems, full-scale development of the program has been delayed nearly
a year. West Germany's withdrawal prompted BAe officials to solicit
outside interest to ensure the program's survival.
SOVIETS SCALE BACK SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM
During a tour of a top-secret site used for assembling space vehicles
in Central Asia, senior Soviet officials told an American congressional
delegation that the country has significantly scaled back its space
shuttle program and has deferred a manned shuttle mission until 1992.
Many observers speculate that the reason for the delay is that Moscow's
plans to develop a space shuttle have been criticized by leaders within
the government. Ronald Z. Sagdeyev, head of the Soviet Institute for
Space Research, has publicly argued that the country has no compelling
need for a space shuttle because its expendable rockets provide
adequate launching capability. In any event, Soviet officials
acknowledged that the next flight would take place in 1991 when an
unmanned shuttle is sent into space to dock with the Soviet space
station Mir.
SOVIETS PLAN RETURN TO MIR SPACE STATION
Two astronauts will return to the mothballed Mir Space Station to test
a new "space motorcycle" and shower and install a docking device for
the Soviet space shuttle. The astronauts are scheduled to take off
September 6, 1989, thus resuming the Soviet manned space program which
has been delayed due to financial restrictions.
SOVIETS ANNOUNCE CANCELLATION OF MISSILE TESTS NEAR HAWAII
The State Department reported that the Soviet Union, after conducting a
test of an intercontinental missile near Hawaii last week, has
apparently decided against any more such tests in the region.
AIR FORCE TO SCRAP PROPOSAL TO DEPLOY BOMBERS IN ENGLAND
The Air Force reported that it is dropping its plan to equip bases in
Britain with F-111G bombers in order to save money. Originally, the
idea was being considered as a way to increase England's nuclear
defenses once cruise missiles are withdrawn from the country under the
1987 U.S.-Soviet missile reduction treaty.
BOOST ENGINE ATTACHED TO HIPPARCOS SATELLITE FAILS
The European Space Agency (ESA) reported that a boost motor attached to
the Hipparcos satellite launched last week failed to fire, leaving the
satellite in a geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite was
launched on August 8, 1989 with TV-Sat 2 aboard an Ariene 4 rocket from
French Guiana. Engineers in England are currently working to determine
the cause of the boost motor failure.
GENERAL ELECTRIC AND SIEMENS OFFER FORMAL DOCUMENT FOR PLESSY
General Electric Co. of Britain and Siemens AG of West Germany formally
issued documents for the acquisition of Plessey Co. In the documents,
GEC and Siemens explained that European electronics companies have to
merge in order to more effectively compete against Japanese and
American rivals.
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES REPORTS FIRST QUARTER GAINS
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines reported that net income for the first quarter
nearly doubled to 230.1 million guilders ($105.1 million). Much of the
gain was attributed to the sale of a subsidiary.
BUSINESS:
RICE AIRCRAFT CHIEF ADMITS TO SELLING REFINISHED PLANE PARTS AS NEW
Bruce J. Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Rice Aircraft, admitted to
refinishing surplus airplane parts and selling them as new to
customers. Federal investigators reported that the company sold old
aerospace fasteners (high-tech nuts and bolts used to hold planes
together) as new to a number of airplane builders, including the
Israeli government, Airbus Industrie, Boeing Co., Grumman Corp., and a
number of others. Court reports show that many of fasteners were used
on military aircraft such as the F-111, F-14 and B-1B. Mr. Rice faces
up to five years in prison and $1.5 million in fines.
BOEING CO. FOCUS OF MILITARY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Boeing Co. is the focus of a federal investigation into the possible
connection between the company and one of its former employees indicted
earlier this week on charges of improperly obtaining some of the
military's most sensitive budget and planning documents. Richard
Fowler, a former mid-level Boeing marketing representative, was accused
by a Virginia grand jury of illegally viewing classified memos by high
ranking military officers on program budget information. Gaining
access to such information could provide a competitive edge to any
company involved in supplying tactical weapons to the government. The
prosecution in the case reported that Mr. Fowler accessed documents
pertaining to the Strategic Defense Initiative. If found guilty of
using the information to win competitively awarded contacts, Boeing
could face serious penalties.
BOEING OVERCHARGED AIR FORCE ON COMPUTER PROJECTS
According to the General Accounting Office (GAO), Boeing Computer
Services improperly overcharged the Air Force approximately $5.9
million on various computer projects between 1983 and 1987. Boeing
asserts that the funds were used for enhancing the unit's internal
production processes. However, the GAO concluded that the funds were
actually used for research and product development which should not
been charged to the Air Force and should be recovered. Such a ruling
may have broader implications on military computer contracts by
altering the way companies report manufacturing and engineering costs.
AMETEK PURCHASES GE AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTATION OPERATION
Ametek Inc. purchased General Electric Co.'s aircraft instrumentation
operation for $110 million in cash. The new entity will be called
Ametek Aerospace Products, Inc. and will be located in Wilmington, MA.
NORTHWEST AIRLINES CONFIRMS ORDER AGREEMENT WITH AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
Northwest Airlines confirmed an order agreement with Airbus Industrie
for as many as 30 A-330 and A-340 aircraft valued at approximately $2.7
billion. Northwest said it would buy 20 A-340 long-range airliners and
six A-330 medium-range jets with four options to purchase either A-330
or A-340 aircraft.
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVES ORDER FOR JET ENGINES FROM AIR INTER
General Electric Co. (GE) reported that it received a $200 million
order for jet engines from the Air Inter French domestic airline. The
engines, built by CFM International, a company jointly owned by Snecma
of France and GE, will power airlines produced by Airbus Industrie.
Air Inter placed seven firm orders and eight optional orders with GE.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL MOTORS CORP. RECEIVES FIVE-YEAR NASA CONTRACT
General Motor Corp.'s subsidiary, Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS),
received a five-year NASA contract to install secretarial workstations
at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. The exact terms of the
contract were not released, but the NASA contract called for EDS to
provide as many as 2,500 Apple MacIntosh II workstations including
printers and support services.
LOCKHEED GIVEN CONTRACT TO PRODUCE TRIDENT II MISSILES
Lockheed Corp. was given a $36.9 million Navy contract for the
development and production of Trident II missiles.
LORAL SYSTEMS CO. AWARDED $7.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Loral Systems Co. was awarded a $7.5 million Navy contract for the
development of a Simulated Area Weapons Effects-Radio Frequency (SAWE-
RF) system plus the associated technical data and contractor logistic
support. Work is expected to be completed at the end of the fiscal
year. The Naval Training Systems Center is overseeing the activity.
SPERRY CORP. RECEIVES CONTRACT FOR AERIAL TARGET AIR VEHICLES
Sperry Corp. received a $17.4 million contract for 48 GF-106 full-scale
aerial target air vehicles.
COMPUTER SYSTEMS CORP. ISSUED $14 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Computer Systems Corp.'s Network Systems Div. was issued a $14 million
Navy contract to design, manufacture, install, and demonstrate a
telemetry processing system which will be used for testing and
evaluating missiles and aircraft.
MARTIN MARIETTA CORP. AWARDED CONTRACT TO UPGRADE SPACEBORNE COMPUTER
Under the contracting activity of the Naval Research Laboratory, Martin
Marietta was awarded a $5.6 million contract to upgrade a spaceborne
computer using central processing units in a distributed architecture.
LOGICON INC. GIVEN CONTRACT FOR PEACEKEEPER OPERATIONAL PROGRAM
Logicon Inc.'s Strategic and Information Systems Div. was given a $9.4
million contract for the Peacekeeper Rail Garrison Operation Ground
program and operational flight program. The contract is to be
completed in September 1992.
NASA AWARDS LOCKHEED RESEARCH CONTRACT
Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Co. of Houston selected for a $178
million NASA research contract. The company will provide NASA with
flight systems research, structures and materials research, space
science, aeronautics research, research computer software and hardware
development and safety.
RFP UPDATEE:
No Relevant RFPs for August 14, 1989
August 15, 1989
NASA TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER FOR SPARC STATION
NASA Langley Research Center intends to place a delivery order against
a Non-mandatory GSA schedule contract for Sun Microsystems' color
SPARCstation-1 (4/60FC-8) and assorted peripherals. Vendors who can
furnish the required equipment or its equivalent are invited to submit
a substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fill this
requirement. Responses should be submitted in writing within 15 days
of this notice; oral communications are not accepted. The government
reserve the right to award in the aggregate or split award.
Contact: Gale Poulson
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23655-5225
(804) 864-2451
August 16, 1989
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER TO ISSUE CONTRACT FOR MEMORY BOARDS
Under solicitation number 9BG4113959Q, NASA Johnson Space Center
intends to issue a contract for the acquisition of the following
supplies and/or services: one INTEL MB11 16 MHz CPU board with 4MB on
board DRAM, one INTEL MB11 20 MHz 386 CPU board with 4MB on board DRAM,
and one INTEL 2MB multi bus II DRAM memory board with parity. Vendors
able to supply the above equipment are invited to submit a written
substantive statement clearly starting the ability to meet the
requirements. The government intends to solicit and negotiate with
only one responsible source for the acquisition of the equipment. It
is anticipated that the Request for Quote (RFQ) will be released within
fifteen days after the release of this notice.
Contact: Vann R. Jones
NASA Johnson Research Center
BG41/Data Systems and Aircraft Operations Branch
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-8217
No Relevant RFPs for August 17, 1989
August 18, 1989
AMES RESEARCH CENTER INTENDS TO PURCHASE SIMULATION COMPUTER
NASA Ames Research Center is looking for sources to provide a high
performance general purpose digital computer system which will be used
to support real-time simulation in the Flight Simulation Laboratory at
its Moffett Field, CA facility. The computer systems will consist of a
real-time computer and a development computer as major components of
the complete simulation system. The government is still developing the
actual requirements for the computer; consequently, it is issuing a
Request for Information (RFI) to solicit information from the cognizant
marketplace. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall
be considered by the agency. Responses should be submitted to the
agency by September 29, 1989.
Contact: Gene Moses
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 27-4
Moffett Field, CA 94035-5000
(415) 694-6234
|
| 20.53 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 08/21/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Aug 31 1989 18:51 | 552 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008584
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 31-Aug-1989 04:14pm ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 08/21/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 21, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
--------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 21, 1989
GENERAL:
NEW RECORD SET FOR LONGEST NON-STOP COMMERCIAL FLIGHT
NEW ENGLAND SPACE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE ESTABLISHED
DEFENSE:
EXPLOSION ON USS IOWA CAUSED BY LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE
ARMY'S AIR DEFENSE MODERNIZATION PLAN EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED SOON
B-2 TEST FLIGHT CUT SHORT BY LOW OIL-PRESSURE READING
AIR FORCE LAUNCHED THIRD GPS BLOCK II SATELLITE
GAO FINDS COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE DELAYING AIR FORCE DSM EFFORT
NAVY TO GIVE UNCLASSIFIED TECHNOLOGY TO U.S. PRIVATE SECTOR
NASA:
VOYAGER 2 RELAYS MANY NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT NEPTUNE
FIRST PEGASUS BOOSTER UNVEILED AT NASA'S DRYDEN FACILITY
FIRST COMMERCIAL ROCKET LAUNCHED SINCE CHALLENGER ACCIDENT
INTERNATIONAL:
THOMSON-CSF CLOSE TO ACQUIRING N.V. PHILIPS
JAPAN'S NATIONAL SPACE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY LAUNCHED H-2 BOOSTER
CANADA'S SPAR AEROSPACE REPORTED SIX MONTH LOSS OF $5.8 MILLION
FOKKER BEGINS WORK ON CONTROL ASSEMBLIES FOR THE STINGER MISSILE
BAE NAMES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
AEROSPATIALE AND THOMSON-CSF DIVISIONS TO MERGE
BUSINESS:
FORMER BOEING EMPLOYEE INDICTED ON 39 FELONY COUNTS
BOEING AND LOCKHEED JOIN TO COMPETE FOR CERV DESIGN STUDY
E-SYSTEMS PURCHASED ERA FOR ABOUT $23 MILLION
GENERAL DYNAMICS PETITIONED COURT TO DISMISS NORDEN SYSTEMS SUIT
GE ASTRO-SPACE AND MARCONI WILL TEAM TO BID ON INMARSAT 2 SATELLITE
UNISYS TO CUT AS MUCH AT 8% OF ITS WORKFORCE
CONTRACT AWARDS:
APPLE COMPUTER WINS PIECE OF AIR FORCE CONTRACT
BOEING RECEIVES CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINE MODIFICATION KITS
CAE INDUSTRIES AWARDED NASA CONTRACT
GE GIVEN $298.4 MILLION CONTRACT
GE AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT FOR JET ENGINES
GRUMMAN GIVEN E-2C TACTICAL CONTRACT AIRCRAFT CONTRACT
HERCULES WON MIDGETMAN MISSILE PARTS CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA UNIT RECEIVED $1.8 BILLION NASA CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ISSUED $72 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
PRATT & WHITNEY RECEIVE ORDER FROM NORTHWEST AIRLINES
ROCKWELL GOT AIR FORCE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
ROCKWELL DIVISION ISSUED NAVSTAR POSITIONING SYSTEM TERMINALS CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
August 21, 1989
TRADOC TO PURCHASE TRANSCEIVERS AND WORKSTATIONS
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE MASS DATA STORAGE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
No relevant RFPs for August 22-24, 1989.
August 25, 1989
NASA KSC TO PURCHASE UPGRADES TO WORKSTATIONS
TRADOC TO PURCHASE LAPTOPS AND PERSONAL COMPUTERS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
NEW RECORD SET FOR LONGEST NON-STOP COMMERCIAL FLIGHT
A new record was set for the longest non-stop flight by a commercial
aircraft by a Qantas Airlines Boeing 747-400, which flew from London,
England to Sydney, Australia. The 18,001 km or 11,186 mile flight took
20 hours and 9 minutes and carried 23 people, including crew, and had
an average cruise speed of 920 km or 572 miles an hour. The previous
record was set in 1976 by South African Airways, when it flew from
Seattle, WA to Capetown, South Africa.
NEW ENGLAND SPACE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE ESTABLISHED
The New England Space Business Roundtable will hold its first luncheon
at the Burlington Marriott on September 14. The roundtable is a non-
profit association whose purpose is to provide a network for business
professionals involved or interested in the space program and its
business prospects. Those interested in joining the roundtable or
attending the luncheon should request information from: The New
England Space Business Roundtable, 79 Milk Street, Suite 1008, Boston,
MA 02109.
DEFENSE:
EXPLOSION ON USS IOWA CAUSED BY LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE
A Pentagon investigation concluded that the explosion on the USS Iowa
which killed 47 sailors was caused by failure of the battleship's crew
to follow maintenance procedures designed to prevent such an explosion
from happening. A Navy spokesman declined to confirm or deny the
allegations, but former Iowa crew members explained that many of the
sailors responsible for the maintenance of the No. 2 turret were not
fully qualified to do their assigned jobs. Defense Secretary Dick
Cheney is expected to review the findings when he returns from his
vacation at the end of August.
ARMY'S AIR DEFENSE MODERNIZATION PLAN EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED SOON
Army leaders are expected to approve the U.S. Army's Air Defense
Modernization Plan early next month. The plan avoids the development
of new anti-aircraft weapons, however there are at least three
futuristic weapons mentioned. According to the plan, one of the new
weapons is an Army Counter-Air Weapons System (TACAWS) to replace the
Stinger missile when it is fired from rocket launchers and helicopters.
Another is the fourth version of the Hawk low-to-medium range missiles.
The third, called Armadillo, is an unmanned drone that is designed to
protect U.S. ground-based radars from enemy anti-radiation missiles.
B-2 TEST FLIGHT CUT SHORT BY LOW OIL-PRESSURE READING
The Air Force conducted a second test flight on the B-2 Stealth bomber,
however the flight was cut short by a low oil-pressure reading. A
spokesperson for the Air Force that was at the Edwards Air Force Base,
CA site, said there are only "minor concerns" about the indicator
reading.
AIR FORCE LAUNCHED THIRD GPS BLOCK II SATELLITE
The Air Force launched its third Global Positioning System (GPS) Block
II satellite, moving toward complete deployment of the Navstar GPS in
1993. The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral using a version
of the McDonnell Douglas Delta II expendable launch vehicle, the Delta
6925. Signals broadcast from the satellites will be used by aircraft,
ships, submarines and missiles to measure their exact location anywhere
in the world.
GAO FINDS COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE DELAYING AIR FORCE DSM EFFORT
The General Accounting Office (GAO) said that the U.S. Air Force's new
satellite control system is over budget and five years behind schedule
because of computer hardware and software problems. The effort to
modernize the Air Force's Satellite Control Network started in 1981 and
was scheduled to be completed by 1988. The Data System Modernization
(DSM) program is designed to enhance command and control support for
launch and in-orbit operations of defense communications, navigation,
surveillance and weather satellites.
NAVY TO GIVE UNCLASSIFIED TECHNOLOGY TO U.S. PRIVATE SECTOR
The Navy announced it will give unclassified technology to U.S.
industry, academia and local governments. The Navy plans to offer
information on over 70 research, development, test and evaluation
activities over a broad spectrum of technology at its first technology
transfer forum, called the Navy Domestic TransFair. The forum will be
held August 29-31 in Kansas City, MO.
NASA:
VOYAGER 2 RELAYS MANY NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT NEPTUNE
As the Voyager 2 has moved past Neptune, it has relayed many new
discoveries. The spacecraft has discovered that the planet has a very
unusual weather pattern, for one. Scientists at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in California monitoring the spacecraft said there are
strong winds and a hurricane-like feature, called the Great Dark Spot,
which exist on the planet's surface. The Spot is about the size of
Earth and has winds in excess of 220 m.p.h. (miles per hour). The
Voyager 2 has also found at least one complete ring of debris orbiting
the planet Neptune. Photographs also reveal the existence of a second
arc which could be a complete ring as well. In another discovery, it
seems that explosive volcanic eruptions of liquid nitrogen are taking
place on Neptune's moon, Triton. This would be only the second
instance of volcanism found beyond Earth. The Voyager 2 made its
closest approach to Neptune on August 24.
FIRST PEGASUS BOOSTER UNVEILED AT NASA'S DRYDEN FACILITY
The first Pegasus aircraft-launched space booster was unveiled at
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.
The booster combines wings and a rocket motor and will be used to
launch small satellites into orbit. The first planned launch will put
a small satellite built by the Defense Advanced Projects Research
Agency (DARPA) into low altitude orbit. The Pegasus booster was built
by Hercules Aerospace Co. and its partner Orbital Sciences Corp.
FIRST COMMERCIAL ROCKET LAUNCHED SINCE CHALLENGER ACCIDENT
For the first time since the 1986 Challenger accident, a commercial
rocket was launched into space from Cape Canaveral, FL, carrying a
British communications satellite. A McDonnell Douglas Delta booster
was used for the launch. Following the Challenger explosion, President
Reagan ordered NASA to stop launching commercial payloads.
INTERNATIONAL:
THOMSON-CSF CLOSE TO ACQUIRING N.V. PHILIPS
France's Thomson-CSF, 56% of which is held by state-owned Thomson S.A.,
is close to acquiring N.V. Philips's assets, a defense-electronics
concern. Details of the possible transaction were not disclosed, but
the deal has been approved by both the French and Dutch governments.
The move comes at a time when the entire European defense-electronics
industry is consolidating.
JAPAN'S NATIONAL SPACE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY LAUNCHED H-2 BOOSTER
According to news agency Kyodo, Japan's National Space Development
Agency launched a third quarter-scale H-2 booster to test air
resistance and vibration. This launch was one of three that will be
used to test design concepts for the H-2 which the agency hopes will be
capable of launching two-ton payloads to geostationary orbit sometime
in the late 1990s. The booster was launched from Tanegashima Space
Center, Japan.
CANADA'S SPAR AEROSPACE REPORTED SIX MONTH LOSS OF $5.8 MILLION
Spar Aerospace Ltd., Canada, reported a six month net loss of $5.8
million and announced it will reduce its workforce. The company, which
supplied the space shuttle with its robotic "Canadarm", did not
announce which areas of its aerospace, aviation, communications and
defense units would be affected by the layoffs. Canada currently plans
to reduce its defense budget over the next five years by $2.74 billion,
which has added to Spar's losses and cutback decisions.
FOKKER BEGINS WORK ON CONTROL ASSEMBLIES FOR THE STINGER MISSILE
Fokker Special Products, Hoogeveen, the Netherlands, will begin work on
a contract to produce 12,500 control assemblies for the Stinger anti-
aircraft missile. The contract, worth 100 million guilder, or $46
million, is part of a European consortium effort to produce the Stinger
missiles under license from General Dynamics. The work is expected to
continue through the year 2000, with the first deliveries to Dornier
scheduled for 1991.
BAE NAMES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
British Aerospace (BAe) named R.H. Evans to become chief executive when
Sir Raymond Lygo retires at the end of this year. Mr. Evans is
currently chairman of the company's military aircraft division and has
been with BAe for 20 years.
AEROSPATIALE AND THOMSON-CSF DIVISIONS TO MERGE
Aerospatiale's Crouzet, SFENA and EAS will merge with Thomson-CSF's
General Avionics Div. to create a new avionics company called Sextant
Avionique. Aerospatiale is Europe's leading aircraft manufacturer,
likewise Thomson-CSF is Europe's biggest defense electronics
manufacturer. According to the officials of Sextant Avionique, the
company will hire 9,200 employees and projects $917 million in annual
revenue.
BUSINESS:
FORMER BOEING EMPLOYEE INDICTED ON 39 FELONY COUNTS
A federal grand jury in Alexandria, VA, indicted former senior
marketing analyst for Boeing Co., Richard Fowler, on 39 felony counts
for his alleged participation in a conspiracy to illegally obtain
Defense Department and National Security Council documents between 1979
and 1985. The indictment charges that Mr. Fowler obtained and
circulated secret documents within Boeing and gave them to employees of
other defense contractors.
BOEING AND LOCKHEED JOIN TO COMPETE FOR CERV DESIGN STUDY
Boeing Aerospace & Electronics Co. and Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.
(LMSC) signed an agreement to join efforts to compete for the
development of the Crew Emergency Return Vehicle (CERV) for the Space
Station Freedom. Rockwell International and McDonnell Douglas have
formed another team to compete for the contract which is expected to be
issued no earlier than Oct. 2. Under terms of the Boeing-Lockheed
contract, LMSC will be the prime contractor and be responsible for the
majority of CERV's subsystems and airframe assembly. Boeing will be
responsible for the vehicle's pressure container and pressure hull.
E-SYSTEMS PURCHASED ERA FOR ABOUT $23 MILLION
E-Systems announced the purchase of Engineering Research Associates
(ERA) for approximately $23 million. ERA is a high frequency
surveillance systems, automated training and related computers systems
company. ERA, which has 200 employees and a backlog of about $60
million, will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of E-Systems.
GENERAL DYNAMICS PETITIONED COURT TO DISMISS NORDEN SYSTEMS SUIT
General Dynamics Corp. (GD) petitioned a Connecticut court to throw out
a suit filed by Norden Systems Inc. in connection with a canceled air-
borne radar contract. In its petition, GD cited the fact that the Navy
has refused to release any information in connection with its highly
classified program, known as the A-12, which is developing a next-
generation attack aircraft. Norden filed a suit last spring charging
GD of wrongfully terminating its contract to design and develop a
multimode radar.
GE ASTRO-SPACE AND MARCONI WILL TEAM TO BID ON INMARSAT 2 SATELLITE
GE Astro-Space Div., East Windsor, NJ, and Marconi Space Systems,
Portsmouth, England, announced they will team to bid for the Inmarsat 3
satellite, the next-generation satellite system to be launched by the
International Maritime Satellite Organization by the mid-1990s.
According to the two companies, GE Astro-Space will serve as prime
contractor for the Inmarsat 3 competition, with responsibility for the
integration and testing of the communications payload for the
satellites. Marconi will then provide the transponders and antennas
for the spacecraft payload. An award is expected in August 1990, with
the first delivery scheduled for 1994.
UNISYS TO CUT AS MUCH AT 8% OF ITS WORKFORCE
Unisys Corp., announced it is forced to lay off as much as 8% of its
workforce and reduce manufacturing overhead worldwide because of the
drastic cuts in defense and computer businesses. According to Unisys
chairman and chief executive officer W. Michael Blumenthal, the moves
are designed to reduce the company's costs by at least $400 million by
year end 1990.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
APPLE COMPUTER WINS PIECE OF AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Apple Computer officials announced that their company won part of a
contract to provide the Air Force with a least 10,000 personal
computers. Specifics of the share of the $164 million Honeywell
contract were not released. Analysts, however, estimate that Apple
could receive as much as $50 million over the life of the five-year
contract.
BOEING RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINE MODIFICATION KITS
Boeing Co. received a $185.1 million Air Force contract to provide the
department with 50 KC-135 engine modification kits.
CAE INDUSTRIES AWARDED NASA CONTRACT
CAE Industries, Ltd.'s Link Flight Simulation unit received a six-year
$327.5 million NASA contract to provide training facilities. Under
terms of the contract, CAE will improve space-shuttle mission training
facilities at Johnson Space Center and develop training systems for the
proposed space station. The contract represents a boost to CAE which
lost three large U.S. military simulation contracts to competitors
earlier this year.
GE GIVEN $298.4 MILLION CONTRACT
General Electric Co. (GE) was awarded a $298.4 million Air Force
contract to provide jet engines for the Advanced Tactical Fighter
program.
GE AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT FOR JET ENGINES
General Electric Co. (GE) was awarded a Navy contract to be the sole
supplier of jet engines for F/A-18 fighter aircraft through 1996. The
Navy's decision to chose GE as the sole supplier means that the
corporation will keep its Lynn, MA facility operating at full capacity,
or producing engines at the rate of two dozen per month. The contract
could mean more than $2 billion in sales for GE if the Navy exercises
all of its purchase options.
GRUMMAN GIVEN E-2C TACTICAL CONTRACT AIRCRAFT CONTRACT
Grumman Corp. was given a $42.3 million Navy contract for six E-2C
tactical control aircraft.
HERCULES WON MIDGETMAN MISSILE PARTS CONTRACT
Hercules Inc. won a $14.5 million Air Force contract for Midgetman
missile parts.
MARTIN MARIETTA UNIT RECEIVED $1.8 BILLION NASA CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp.'s Manned Space Systems unit received a $1.8
billion NASA contract to produce 60 additional space shuttle external
tanks. The contract is the second part of a procurement program that
began with a $500 million award to Martin Marietta in June 1988. The
non-reusable tanks carry liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen oxidizer
used to propel the orbiter during liftoff and ascent.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ISSUED $72 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was issued a $72 million Navy contract for 24
T-45 jet trainers.
PRATT & WHITNEY RECEIVE ORDER FROM NORTHWEST AIRLINES
Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. received a
$162 million order for jet engines from Northwest Airlines. The order
calls for 12 PW-4000 engines plus spares. The engines will power six
Airbus Industrie A-330 aircraft that Northwest purchased from the
European aerospace concern.
ROCKWELL GOT AIR FORCE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. got a $45.6 million Air Force contract for
communications equipment.
ROCKWELL DIVISION ISSUED NAVSTAR POSITIONING SYSTEM TERMINAL CONTRACT
Rockwell's Collins Government Avionics Div. was issued a $66.4 million
contract option for the supply of 1457 Navstar Global Positioning
System terminals. Each terminal will be designed to use the signals
broadcast by orbiting Navstar satellites to determine location within
16 meters and speed within 0.1 meter per second. They will be used by
infantry, vehicles, helicopters and jet aircraft. The contract also
includes 632 single channel terminals for ground vehicles and infantry,
125 two-channel terminals for the Army's UH-60 helicopters and 700
five-channel systems for the Air Force's F-16s, B-52s and the Navy's F/
1-18s and A-6s.
RFP UPDATE:
August 21, 1989
TRADOC TO PURCHASE TRANSCEIVERS AND WORKSTATIONS
The TRADOC Contract Activity Center placed a notice of intent to
purchase, from the Xerox's current GSA Schedule, five (5) Trancover
transceivers, five (5) workstations and other assorted hardware and
software peripherals. Responses must state that the vendor is not
currently on the consolidated list of debarred or suspended
contractors, or otherwise ineligible to receive government contracts.
Written responses, including GSA contract number, if applicable, must
be received by this office within 15 calendar days after the
publication of this notice. No telephone responses will be honored.
Contact: Clara Patterson
TRADOC Contract Activity
ATTN: ATCA
Ft. Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4005
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE MASS DATA STORAGE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center intends to issue RFP 5-29577/041, to
acquire a Mass Data Storage and Delivery System (Terabyte). This
contract will consist of two phases, the first phase is the fixed price
portion including hardware and software and related support for the
basic year. The second phase of this contract will be a fixed price
indefinite quantity portion which will include estimates and maximum
quantities of such equipment as direct access storage equipment and
processors. The RFP is anticipated to be released in August, 1989,
with delivery of the initial system scheduled for May 1990. The Mass
Data Storage and Delivery System is required to be installed at Goddard
Space Flight Center. All responsible sources may submit a proposal
which shall be considered by the agency. No telephone requests will be
accepted.
Contact: Janet Weisenfeld
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-3596
No relevant RFPs for August 22-24, 1989.
August 25, 1989
NASA KSC TO PURCHASE UPGRADES TO WORKSTATIONS
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) intends to purchase for
installation, eight (8) 380 Mbyte disk drive upgrades for Silicon
Graphics Personal IRIS Workstations for eight (8) upgraded Silicon
Graphics Computer System Person IRIS Workstations. Receipt of requests
to participate are due fifteen (15) days from the publication date of
this notice.
Contact: Catherine Dalton
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co.
P.O. Box 21233
Mail Code F878
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
TRADOC TO PURCHASE LAPTOPS AND PERSONAL COMPUTERS
The TRADOC Contracting Activity Center has placed a notice of intent to
purchase five Xenix 386 upgrades, 15 Zenith 184 lapheld and 19 Zenith
248 desktop personal computers with associated peripherals and
software. Responses must state that the vendor is not currently on the
Consolidated List of Debarred, or Suspended Contractors, or otherwise
ineligible to receive government contracts. All responses must be
received, in writing, within 15 calendar days after receipt of this
notice. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Joseph Farrell
TRADOC Contracting Activity
ATTN: ATCA
Ft. Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4007
|
| 20.54 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 09/04/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Sep 12 1989 20:08 | 602 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008713
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 12-Sep-1989 05:23pm ETE
From: SHAW
SHAW@MARKER@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 09/04/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of September 4, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
----------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4, 1989
GENERAL:
FOUNDER OF FORD'S AERONUTRONIC DIVISION ERNST H. KRAUSE DIES
ENERGY DEPT. WANTS TO STOP SPENDING MONEY ON NUCLEAR REACTOR RESEARCH
DEFENSE:
UAV JOINT PROJECT OFFICE EXPECTED TO CHOSE TWO TEAMS BY MID-SEPTEMBER
AIR FORCE TO POSTPONE BSTS SDI PROGRAM FOR ONE YEAR
U.S. TO SEND AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS TO COLUMBIA
GAO FINDS REFINANCED FMS LOANS COULD COST THE U.S. $1.8 BILLION
STUDY FINDS 46% OF KEY JOBS SILL OPEN AT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
NAVY HELICOPTER CRASHED OFF CALIFORNIA COAST
PEACE ACTIVISTS PROTEST SUBMARINE TO CARRY TRIDENT 2 MISSILE
AIR FORCE CONDUCTS FIFTH TEST ON TACIT RAINBOW DEFENSE MISSILE
NASA:
NASA LEGALLY BOUND TO OTHER NATIONS SHOULD LDEF CAUSE DAMAGE
COALITION MAY SEEK INJUNCTION AGAINST NASA TO DELAY GALILEO LAUNCH
NASA AND INTELSAT SIGN AGREEMENT OVER USE OF TWO SATELLITES
NASA SELECTS SEVENTEEN UNIVERSITIES AND CONSORTIA FOR GRANT PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS WANT NASA TO LIVE UP TO AGREEMENTS SPACE STATION
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS LAUNCHED TWO COSMONAUTS INTO SPACE, HEADING TO SPACE STATION
JAPAN TURNS DOWN SOVIET'S OFFER OF ELV TECHNOLOGY
BRITISH AEROSPACE AND GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE SIGN $85 MILLION CONTRACT
JAPANESE LAUNCH GMS-4 WEATHER SATELLITE
BUSINESS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL AEROSPACE CONSOLIDATED SEVEN BUSINESS GROUPS INTO FOUR
FORD AEROSPACE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES TO JSC
GENERAL DYNAMICS CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCES NEW DIVISION BEING FORMED
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AND LEADING SYSTEMS TO TEAM FOR SHORT RANGE UAV PROGRAM
LOCKHEED'S F-117A AIRCRAFT NEARLY DOUBLES MAINTAINABILITY IN 1988
CONCERNS AMONG NORTHROP'S MANAGEMENT OVER WORKER MORALE
PRATT & WHITNEY BEGAN CHECKOUT TESTS ON SSME ALTERNATE TURBOPUMPS
ROCKWELL JOINED TEAM TO COMPETE FOR NASA CERV STUDY CONTRACT
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACTS FOR $39.4 MILLION
COMPUTER SCIENCES AND IBM SIGN $134 MILLION SOFTWARE PROGRAM CONTRACT
EG&G ISSUED CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT CHEMICAL WEAPONS-DESTRUCTION FACILITY
FORD AEROSPACE CHOSEN FOR NASA CONTRACT VALUED AT $469 MILLION
GENERAL ELECTRIC GIVEN $147.9 MILLION IN ARMY CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT
GRUMMAN WON $44.6 MILLION IN NAVY CONTRACTS
GTE RECEIVED CONTRACTS TOTALING $66.6 MILLION
HONEYWELL ISSUED $115 MILLION IN ARMY CONTRACTS
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED $1.8 BILLION NASA CONTRACT FOR EXTERNAL TANKS
SIKORSKY WON CONTRACT FROM ROYAL SAUDI AVIATION COMMAND FOR TRAINING
TRW GIVEN $64.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT TO DEVELOP SPACE-BASED LASER
UNISYS AWARDED COMPUTER SYSTEMS CONTRACT BY THE AIR FORCE
WESTINGHOUSE GIVEN $50 MILLION CONTRACT FOR NUCLEAR REACTOR DEVELOPMENT
RFP UPDATE:
Due to the holiday, there were no RFPs on September 4, 1989.
September 5, 1989
GOVERNMENT ISSUED RFP FOR FAST DATA FINDER PROCESSING DEVICE
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PURCHASE DESIGN WORKSTATION EQUIPMENT
September 6, 1989
NASA GSFC TO ACQUIRE REPLACEMENT FOR HONEYWELL COMPUTER SYSTEM
NASA KSC TO PROCURE HONEYWELL EQUIPMENT OVER FIVE YEAR PERIOD
No relevant RFPs for September 8, 1989.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
FOUNDER OF FORD'S AERONUTRONIC DIVISION ERNST H. KRAUSE DIES
Ernst H. Krause, founder of what became Ford's Aeronutronic Div. and
former director of Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC), died at age 76
in Newport Beach, CA. Mr. Krause left LMSC to start Systems Research
Corp., which then became part of Ford Aerospace. He retired from Ford
Aerospace in 1978 as senior vice president of development.
ENERGY DEPT. WANTS TO STOP SPENDING MONEY ON NUCLEAR REACTOR RESEARCH
The Energy Department said they want to stop spending money on the
Government's program to develop a nuclear reactor, called the SP-100,
for use in outer space. The SP-100 could be used to power weapons for
the proposed space-based missile shield or for manned space stations on
the Moon or Mars. Currently, the Energy Department pays $56 million to
support the reactor's development, NASA pays $10 million and the
Pentagon contributes $10 million. Should NASA put more money toward
development, it would imply it will be used for astronauts, however if
funding comes from the Pentagon, it would mean a desire to power an
advanced class of anti-missile arms in orbit about the Earth exists.
The Energy Department is short on funds due to pressure to clean up and
modernize the nation's nuclear weapons plants.
DEFENSE:
UAV JOINT PROJECT OFFICE EXPECTED TO CHOSE TWO TEAMS BY MID-SEPTEMBER
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Joint Project Office plans to make a
decision in the Short Range UAV program, for which four team are
competing, by mid-September. Two of the teams will be chosen to
continue 18 months of testing and evaluation and then one will be
selected as prime contractor. Industry observers say that the
competitors are teams of Developmental Sciences and McDonnell Douglas,
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and TRW, Leading Systems and Hughes
Aircraft (see BUSINESS section), and Pacific Aerospace Inc. and
International Business Machines (IBM).
AIR FORCE TO POSTPONE BSTS SDI PROGRAM FOR ONE YEAR
The Air Force said that it will postpone its Boost Surveillance and
Tracking (BSTS) Satellite Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program
for one year in an effort to reduce risks. Both Grumman Aerospace and
Lockheed Corp. were awarded $25 million contracts to study BSTS Phase
III risk-reduction for one year. Last month, the Senate Armed Services
Committee suggested that the Air Force have a more comprehensive plan
to transfer the ballistic missile early warning duties of its Defense
Support Program to its replacement, the BSTS.
U.S. TO SEND AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS TO COLUMBIA
The Pentagon announced that Columbia will be sent 10 fixed-wing
aircraft, and an undetermined number of helicopters, small vehicles and
weaponry to aid in the fight against drug traffickers. Two C-130B and
eight OA-37 aircraft will be sent, along with five UH-1 helicopters.
There are no current plans to send more aircraft this fiscal year,
however more helicopters may be sent. The equipment is being provided
under an emergency aid package promised by President Bush.
GAO FINDS REFINANCED FMS LOANS COULD COST THE U.S. $1.8 BILLION
The General Accounting Office (GAO) said that refinanced Foreign
Military Sales (FMS) loans could cost the U.S. as much as $1.8 billion
in foregone principal and interest payments through FY 1990. The GAO
said that since September 1988, $14.8 billion in outstanding FMS loans
were eligible for refinancing under legislation adopted with the FY
1988 continuing resolution. The Defense Security Assistance Agency
(DSAA) estimates that eligible nations would prepay $9.7 billion of
that total, which would be $1.8 billion less than the government would
receive if the loans were not refinanced.
STUDY FINDS 46% OF KEY JOBS SILL OPEN AT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
The House Democratic Study Group found that 46% of the key jobs at the
Defense Dept. have not yet been filled by the Bush Administration.
Major acquisition posts and assistant secretary positions in command,
control, communications and intelligence; research and engineering; and
production and logistics are empty. Once filled, the new officials
will have missed much of the planning process for President Bush's
second year budget and legislative initiatives.
NAVY HELICOPTER CRASHED OFF CALIFORNIA COAST
A Navy helicopter crashed off the California coast. Three of the six
men aboard were pulled from the Pacific ocean, while three are missing.
The cause of the crash of the UN-1N "Huey" helicopter is under
investigation.
PEACE ACTIVISTS PROTEST SUBMARINE TO CARRY TRIDENT 2 MISSILE
A group of protesters organized by Greenpeace fired mock missiles from
the water and marched on land in New London, CT. to protest the
commissioning the Navy's second submarine to carry Trident 2 ballistic
missiles. Others attempted to attach "Nuclear Free Seas" flags to the
submarine. Six people were arrested when they attempted to board the
USS Pennsylvania during the ceremony at the Naval Underwater Systems
Center. The group has demonstrated against the Trident 2 missile
before.
AIR FORCE CONDUCTS FIFTH TEST ON TACIT RAINBOW DEFENSE MISSILE
Air Force Aeronautical Systems Div. (ASD) reported that the Tacit
Rainbow defense suppression missile completed another test flight at
the Naval Weapons Center Test Range, China Lake, CA. ASD reported that
the missile, launched from an A-6E aircraft on a multiple ejection
rack, "transitioned to stable flight and initiated engine start" and
"the mission profile was executed autonomously with missile impact in
the target area." This was the fifth of a planned series of 25 tests
designed to evaluate the air-launched weapon.
NASA:
NASA LEGALLY BOUND TO OTHER NATIONS SHOULD LDEF CAUSE DAMAGE
NASA's Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), an 11-ton satellite, is
due to enter the Earth's atmosphere no later than January 1990. Should
the satellite cause damage to other countries, the U.S., under the 1973
Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space
Objects, would be liable. However, the treaty does not apply to
citizens of the nation that launched the satellite. Therefore, federal
law requires that claimants show the injury was due to negligence of
the launching state. NASA's deputy general counsel Gary Tesch said
that the agency will honor its legal obligations, but that it probably
will not be necessary as there is a mission to retrieve the LDEF set
for December.
COALITION MAY SEEK INJUNCTION AGAINST NASA TO DELAY GALILEO LAUNCH
The Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice said they are considering
seeking an injunction to delay the October launch of the Jupiter probe
Galileo aboard the space shuttle. The coalition claims that neither
NASA or the Energy Department have done enough to reduce the risks of
radiation that could be released from power generators aboard the
spacecraft. NASA currently plans to launch the Galileo with two
radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which contain
radioactive material.
NASA AND INTELSAT SIGN AGREEMENT OVER USE OF TWO SATELLITES
NASA signed an agreement with Intelsat under which Intelsat will lease
C-band capacity on two Tracking and Data Relay System satellites for
international telecommunications. The two satellites are part of
NASA's network for tracking and communication with the space shuttle
and other spacecraft in low Earth orbit. Under the terms of the
agreement, Intelsat will pay NASA $51 million to use the 24 36 Mhz
transponders for six years. NASA will provide station-keeping control
and perform operational tracking.
NASA SELECTS SEVENTEEN UNIVERSITIES AND CONSORTIA FOR GRANT PROGRAM
NASA has selected seventeen universities and consortia to receive
grants and fellowships for space-related research as part of its new
National Space Grant College and Fellowship program. NASA
Administrator Richard Truly said the program "will help maintain
America's leadership in aerospace research, training and education."
The recipients were selected based on aerospace activities and plans to
strengthen the national educational base for science, math and
technology. They will each receive as much as $775,000 over the next
five years and will be expected to match that figure with non-federal
funds.
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS WANT NASA TO LIVE UP TO AGREEMENTS SPACE STATION
NASA received a joint statement from the European Space Agency, Japan
and Canada, that said they expect NASA to live up to its agreements
with them before cutting funds for the space station. The three
international partners met with NASA officials as part of the first
Space Station Cooperation Review of the intergovernmental agreements
signed a year ago. Meanwhile, space station officials are meeting with
industry to discuss downscaling the program. Proposals include
reducing crew size to four from eight, cutting provisions for attached
payloads and reducing power to 38 kilowatts (Kw) from 75 Kw.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS LAUNCHED TWO COSMONAUTS INTO SPACE, HEADING TO SPACE STATION
The Soviet Union launched a spacecraft with two cosmonauts aboard for a
six-month mission to the Mir space station. Upon arrival at Mir, the
cosmonauts plan to do construction projects and some scientific
experiments. The Mir space station is currently vacant.
JAPAN TURNS DOWN SOVIET'S OFFER OF ELV TECHNOLOGY
Japan turned down the Soviet Union's offer of use their space
technology and commercial expendable launch vehicles (ELV). Japan is
already developing their own ELV and felt that the Soviet offer might
conflict with the COCOM, the international committee that regulates
high technology trade with Communist countries.
BRITISH AEROSPACE AND GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE SIGN $85 MILLION CONTRACT
British Aerospace (Commercial Aircraft) Ltd. and Gulfstream Aerospace
Technologies, a unit of Chrysler Corp., have signed an $85 million
agreement for British Aerospace to design, tool and manufacture the
wings for the British Aerospace PLC unit's new 29-seat Jetstream 41
aircraft. According to Gulfstream, 200 wing sets are included in the
first contract, which will be delivered over a 10 year period. The
first wing set is scheduled to be delivered in June 1990.
JAPANESE LAUNCH GMS-4 WEATHER SATELLITE
The Japanese launched a Hughes Aircraft's Space and Communications
Group-built GMS-4 weather satellite from the Tangegashima Space Center.
The satellite will undergo on-orbit tests before replacing the GMS-3.
The launch was originally scheduled for August 1, but had to be
postponed due to weather and booster problems.
BUSINESS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL AEROSPACE CONSOLIDATED SEVEN BUSINESS GROUPS INTO FOUR
Allied-Signal Aerospace Co. has consolidated its seven business groups
into four. The AiResearch and avionics groups were unchanged, however
the services group now has responsibility for the former Bendix Engine
Controls Div. and Bendix Wheels and Brakes Div. A new engine group
consists of the former Garrett Auxiliary Power Div. and the Garrett
Engine Div.
FORD AEROSPACE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES TO JSC
Under a negotiated contract due to be issued in November, Ford
Aerospace will provide technical and engineering services for mission
services in the Mission Support Directorate at Johnson Space Center
(JSC). Ford will design and develop mission systems in support of the
National Space Transportation Systems program, space station, other
future programs and define, design, develop, acquire, test, integrate
and support other mission systems including the Shuttle Mission Control
center upgrade and the Space Station Control Center. Subcontractors
include Unisys Federal Information Systems, IBM Corp. and Booz-Allen
and Hamilton Inc.
GENERAL DYNAMICS CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCES NEW DIVISION BEING FORMED
General Dynamics Corp.'s Chairman and Chief Executive Stanley Pace said
that the company plans for form a Flight Training Systems Div. that
will be devoted to seeking contracts for military aircrew training,
with emphasis on the Air Force Tanker Transport Training System (TTTS)
competition. Mr. Pace said that the TTTS competition is probably the
most important of the three planned trainer acquisitions under the Air
Force's newly revised Trainer Master Plan, and the division is being
formed with that in mind.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AND LEADING SYSTEMS TO TEAM FOR SHORT RANGE UAV PROGRAM
Hughes Aircraft Co. and Leading Systems Inc. announced they will team
for the Short Range Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program and to pursue other
UAV programs. A spokesperson for Leading Systems said the two decided
to team for the Short Range UAV, in particular, but felt that the
agreement should stretch to other UAVs, in general. Developmental
Sciences and McDonnell Douglas, Israel Aircraft Industries and TRW, and
Pacific Aerospace Inc. and International Business Machines (IBM) are
the three other teams competing for the Short Range UAV.
LOCKHEED'S F-117A AIRCRAFT NEARLY DOUBLES MAINTAINABILITY IN 1988
Lockheed's F-117A aircraft maintainability almost doubled in 1988 and
is now comparable to other front-line fighters, according to the Air
Force. The F-117A's mission-capable rate also went up 26% last year.
Maintainability is measured by the number of grounded aircraft that
could be returned to flight status within 8 hours of encountering a
problem.
CONCERNS AMONG NORTHROP'S MANAGEMENT OVER WORKER MORALE
Northrop Corp.'s production facilities are being affected by poor
worker morale while Congress debates about funding the company's B-2
bomber. There is concern among management that many technical and
skilled workers will walk out, perceiving their jobs in jeopardy.
Should this happen, current production schedules would be disrupted.
PRATT & WHITNEY BEGAN CHECKOUT TESTS ON SSME ALTERNATE TURBOPUMPS
Pratt & Whitney have begun checkout tests on a refurbished test stand
for the Space Shuttle's Main Engine (SSME) alternate turbopumps. In
1986, NASA awarded a $198 million contract to Pratt to develop high
pressure turbopumps for the SSME that could be interchangeable with the
existing turbopumps and able to operate 55 flights before requiring a
major overhaul and inspection. The company said that the alternate
turbopumps are scheduled for certification in 1991 with an expected
first flight in 1992.
ROCKWELL JOINED TEAM TO COMPETE FOR NASA CERV STUDY CONTRACT
Rockwell International's Space Transportation System Div. has joined up
with Honeywell Inc., McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. and TRW
Federal Systems to compete for a study of the Space Station Crew
Emergency Return Vehicle. Another team, Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.
and Boeing Aerospace and Electronics is also competing for the NASA
study. NASA plans to award two firm fixed-price CERV study contracts
in October.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACTS FOR $39.4 MILLION
Boeing Co. was given $39.4 million in Air Force contracts for aircraft
support, Minuteman missile services and B-1B aircraft flight tests.
COMPUTER SCIENCES AND IBM SIGN $134 MILLION SOFTWARE PROGRAM CONTRACT
Computer Sciences Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)
signed a $134 million contract to provided software and related
services for a program to upgrade equipment and software for the U.S.
air traffic control system. IBM is the prime contractor for the $3.6
billion program, called Advanced Automation System. Computer Sciences
will provide over 800,000 lines of Ada code, a government sponsored
programming language, to process flight plans, predict and resolve
potential conflicts in aircraft flight paths, provide weather data and
simulation to train controllers.
EG&G ISSUED CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT CHEMICAL WEAPONS-DESTRUCTION FACILITY
EG&G Inc.'s defense materials division was issued a $212 million Army
contract for construction of a chemical weapons-destruction facility.
FORD AEROSPACE CHOSEN FOR NASA CONTRACT VALUED AT $469 MILLION
Ford Aerospace Corp., a unit of Ford Motor Co., was chosen by NASA for
a 10 year contract, valued at $469 million, to provide engineering
services. Ford will be responsible for designing and developing
improvements to the space shuttle mission-control center and design a
new space station control center.
GENERAL ELECTRIC GIVEN $147.9 MILLION IN ARMY CONTRACT
General Electric Co. was given $147.9 million in Army contracts for
armored-vehicle transmissions and support of the air defense anti-tank
system.
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT
General Dynamics Corp. received an $82.5 million Air Force contract for
F-16 aircraft equipment.
GRUMMAN WON $44.6 MILLION IN NAVY CONTRACTS
Grumman Corp. won $44.6 million in Navy contracts for F-14 and E-2C
aircraft equipment.
GTE RECEIVED CONTRACTS TOTALING $66.6 MILLION
GTE Corp. received $66.6 million for support of the Joint Space
Intelligence Center and for Army communications equipment.
HONEYWELL ISSUED $115 MILLION IN ARMY CONTRACTS
Honeywell Inc. was issued $115 million in Army contracts for anti-tank
weapons and anti-personnel mines.
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED $1.8 BILLION NASA CONTRACT FOR EXTERNAL TANKS
Martin Marietta Manned Space Systems Co. received a $1.8 billion NASA
contract to produce 60 additional space shuttle external tanks. The
contract is an extension of previous awards under which the facility is
producing 59 tanks. To date, 52 of the external tanks have been
manufactured.
SIKORSKY WON CONTRACT FROM ROYAL SAUDI AVIATION COMMAND FOR TRAINING
Sikorsky International Products Inc., a unit of United Technologies
Corp., won a $42 million Army contract for helicopter training of the
Royal Saudi Aviation Command.
TRW GIVEN $64.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT TO DEVELOP SPACE-BASED LASER
TRW Inc. was given a $64.5 million Navy contract for development of a
space-based laser.
UNISYS AWARDED COMPUTER SYSTEMS CONTRACT BY THE AIR FORCE
Unisys Corp. was awarded a $27.2 million Air Force contract for
computer systems.
WESTINGHOUSE GIVEN $50 MILLION CONTRACT FOR NUCLEAR REACTOR DEVELOPMENT
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was given a $50 million contract from the
U.S. Department of Energy to continue development of a new nuclear
power plant. The new design, called AP600, is for a 600-megawatt
reactor that would be assembled on site, a process that would shorten
the construction period and improve the economics of nuclear power
plants. Westinghouse said they would match the $50 million with their
own funds. The company also said they hope to obtain Nuclear
Regulatory Commission design certification by 1994.
RFP UPDATE:
Due to the holiday, there were no RFPs on September 4, 1989.
September 5, 1989
GOVERNMENT ISSUED RFP FOR FAST DATA FINDER PROCESSING DEVICE
The Government intends to procure, under RFP DAAH03-89-R-3052, a Fast
Data Finder, high-speed textual data processing device (including
delivery, installation and training) from TRW, Inc. TRW is the only
known source for the device which meets the minimum requirements.
Requests for the RFP must be in writing.
Contact: Bobbie Jenkins
Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-5875
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PURCHASE DESIGN WORKSTATION EQUIPMENT
Wright-Patterson Contract Center intends to purchase Design Workstation
equipment on Federal Supply Schedule.
Contact: Marian Brummett
HQ Wright-Patterson Contract Center
Specialized Services Support Branch (PMRP)
Specialized Contracts Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-5320
(513) 257-4872
September 6, 1989
NASA GSFC TO ACQUIRE REPLACEMENT FOR HONEYWELL COMPUTER SYSTEM
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), under RFP 5-10648/034, intends
to acquire a computer system to replace a Honeywell DPS-6. Proposal
due date will be established when the RFP is issued. All responsible
sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by NASA/GSFC.
Requests for the RFP should be submitted in writing, no telephone
requests will be accepted.
Contact: Helen Young
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-2940
NASA KSC TO PROCURE HONEYWELL EQUIPMENT OVER FIVE YEAR PERIOD
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center intends to procure a five year
upgrade program for Honeywell equipment to be installed in FY 1990
through FY 1993. Major components will be acquired under both a 36 and
a 24 month lease to ownership plan (LTOP) and others will be purchased.
Of the LTOP items to be acquired in FY 1990, is a Honeywell CPS 8683
including 32 MB memory and other assorted peripherals. The Hardware
must meet the latest Honeywell revision level and be capable of running
under the latest installed release of all Honeywell system software
(currently SR3004) and also interface with existing Kennedy Inventory
Management System (KIMS) application software. Responses must identify
compatible items and state the basis under which compatibility has been
determined. All responsible sources may submit a response to this
notice which shall be considered by the agency. Responses must be
received within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice. No
telephone inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Rechea Hutchinson
Mail Code SI-PRO-33
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 867-3406
No relevant RFPs for September 8, 1989.
|
| 20.55 | Aerospace Industry News, 09/11/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Sep 25 1989 16:15 | 633 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008810
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 21-Sep-1989 04:54am CET
From: INDY
INDY@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@VALMTS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, 09/11/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of September 11, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
--------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
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Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 11, 1989
GENERAL:
FAA PROPOSED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS FOR MCDONNELL DOUGLAS JETLINERS
DEFENSE:
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES REJECT MORE FUNDING FOR TRIDENT D-5
NOMINATION OF DENNIS KLOSKE HELD UP FOR SEVERAL REASONS
FAGA BELIEVES DSP SATELLITE MUST BE MAINTAINED THROUGH 2000
PENTAGON TO ASSEMBLE PRELIMINARY LIST OF WEAPONS FOR ANDEAN NATIONS
SENATE FAILS TO OVERRIDE BUSH'S VETO ON RESTRICTIONS OF FXS PROGRAM
AIR FORCE MSD TO CONDUCT "BRILLIANT SUBMUNITIONS CONCEPT STUDY PROGRAM"
NASA:
BUSH ADMINISTRATION VOWS TO USE NUCLEAR GENERATOR FOR GALILEO
RESEARCHERS REPORT FINDINGS ON CHICKEN EGG STUDY ABOARD DISCOVERY
SEN. METZENBAUM TO OPPOSE PRIVATE FINANCING FOR ASRM FACILITY
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE FUNDS SPACE STATION AT $1.85 BILLION
INTERNNATIONAL:
SOVIET COSMONAUTS REACH MIR SPACE STATION
INDONESIA AND BOEING SIGN CONTRACT TO UPGRADE 737 SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT
PLESSEY CONCEDED DEFEAT TO GEC/SIEMENS HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID
INDIA TO LEASE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRANSPONDERS FROM ARABSAT
SOVIETS LAUNCHED SATELLITE CARRYING WEST GERMAN EXPERIMENTS
TURKEY AND BOEING NEGOTIATING BUILDING CHINOOK HELICOPTERS
GAO PUBLISHED REPORT "U.S.-JAPAN BURDEN SHARING"
BUSINNESS:
BOEING TO PAY $200,000 TO SETTLE FAA ALLEGATIONS
COLLLINS DEFENSE COMMUNICATIONS FACES CUT BACKS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CALLS FOR DC-10 IMPROVEMENTS
ROCKWELL INVESTIGATION FINDS NO WRONGDOING AT ROCKY FLATS PLANT
FORMER UNISYS VICE PRESIDENT SENTENCED TO 32 MONTHS IN JAIL AND FINED
UTC AND DOW CHEMICAL SIGN LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING FOR JOINT VENTURE
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BALL RECEIVED CONTRACT FROM SMITHSONIAN FOR SWAS SATELLITE
BOEING ISSUED MISSILE AND AIRCRAFT RESEARCH CONTRACT
FORD RECEIVED SUPPORT CONTRACT FOR SPACE DEFENSE OPERATIONS CENTER
GENERAL DYNAMICS GIVEN $149.9 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $11.5 MILLION
HUGHES AIRCRAFT ISSUED $98 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
LOCKHEED RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR C-130 AIRCRAFT
LOGICON WON TECHNICAL SUPPORT CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
ROCKWELL WON MOBILE MX MISSILE STUDIES CONTRACT
UNISYS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT COMPUTERS
UTC GIVEN $319.2 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
WESTINGHOUSE GOT MX MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for September 11, 1989.
September 12, 1989
LANGLEY INTENDS TO PLACE ORDER AGAINST MICROSYSTEMS
JSC TO PURCHASE ADP EQUIPMENT FOR IMIC
GOVERNMENT REQUIRES ADP PROGRAMMING SUPPORT ENVIRONMENT (APSE)
September 13, 1989
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO ACQUIRE TEMPEST MACINTOSH SE SYSTEMS
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER REQUIRES C/DAP SYSTEM FOR POWER SYSTEMS FACILITY
September 14, 1989
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER PLACED ORDER AGAINST FALCON MICROSYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for September 15, 1989.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
FAA PROPOSED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS FOR MCDONNELL DOUGLAS JETLINERS
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed extensive repairs
for aging McDonnell Douglas Corp. jetliners. The proposals require
specific, pre-set repairs and are expected to become final rules in
three or four months. The plan calls for 52 repairs to older DC-8s, 52
repairs to DC-9s, 22 to MD-80s and 33 to DC-10s. According to the Air
Transport Association estimates, the modifications will cost an average
of about $290,000 per plane. The proposals affect 1,900 aircraft
throughout the world with an estimated total cost of $563 million over
the next 20 years.
DEFENSE:
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES REJECT MORE FUNDING FOR TRIDENT D-5
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittees rejected new procurement
funding for the Navy's Trident D-5 missile and cut all of the Bush
administration's request to continue development of the national
aerospace plane in FY 1990. The D-5 missile has suffered a recent
series of test failures, which has lead to the concern among both
houses about the missile's future performance.
NOMINATION OF DENNIS KLOSKE HELD UP FOR SEVERAL REASONS
According to congressional sources, the nomination of Dennis Kloske for
assistant secretary of commerce for export administration is being held
up because of both "personality problems" and concern over technology
transfer. One senior Senate aide said "technology transfer is his
middle name and we don't like that." Also, some lawmakers in both the
House and Senate who favor cooperation among the Defense, Commerce and
State departments in international arms deals have been angered by Mr.
Kloske's statement to European officials that under his leadership the
Defense and State department's roles will be significantly diminished.
FAGA BELIEVES DSP SATELLITE MUST BE MAINTAINED THROUGH 2000
According to Martin Faga, nominee of the first Air Force assistant
secretary for space, the Defense Support Program (DSP) early warning
satellite system must be maintained through 2000 despite the presence
of the replacement Boost Surveillance Tracking System (BSTS). During
the hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his
nomination, Mr. Faga called the DSP a "vital tactical warning system."
Mr. Faga served as staff member on the House Intelligence program and
budget authorization subcommittee. The Air Force said this year that
they plan to delay the BSTS one year for further study.
PENTAGON TO ASSEMBLE PRELIMINARY LIST OF WEAPONS FOR ANDEAN NATIONS
The Pentagon plans to assemble a preliminary list of weapons to give to
South American countries for use in combatting drug manufacture and
transportation. According to Defense Department sources, President
Bush's plan gives Defense Secretary Dick Cheney a lot of room to
determine how best to offer U.S. military assistance.
SENATE FAILS TO OVERRIDE BUSH'S VETO ON RESTRICTIONS OF FXS PROGRAM
By a vote of 66-34, the Senate failed to override President Bush's veto
of a congressional resolution imposing restrictions on the joint
development of the FSX advanced jet fighter with Japan. The vote was
just one short of the two-thirds needed to override a veto. The FSX
program involves an upgraded version of the F-16 fighter to be jointly
developed by General Dynamics Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Ltd. of Japan. The failure to override the vote will allow the Bush
administration to continue overseeing U.S. participation in the program
without any legally binding restrictions.
AIR FORCE MSD TO CONDUCT "BRILLIANT SUBMUNITIONS CONCEPT STUDY PROGRAM"
The Air Force Munitions Systems Div. (MSD) hopes to identify component
technologies that will make future submunitions more effective in a
planned study entitled, "Brilliant Submunitions Concept Study Program."
According to MSD, the study will help identify technical problems and
critical experiments to be conducted in a brilliant submunition
technology project. The study also hopes to explore the environmental
impacts including day/night weather, terrain and clutter.
NASA:
BUSH ADMINISTRATION VOWS TO USE NUCLEAR GENERATOR FOR GALILEO
The Bush administration said they would use the 48-pound nuclear
generator to power the Jupiter space probe, Galileo. The
administration made the announcement following the release of a NASA
safety study that concluded that the chances of an accident are less
than 1 in 2,500 and that even if an explosion did occur, dangerous
radiation probably would not be released. Critics of the Galileo warn
that an accident like the one that destroyed the Challenger would
spread nuclear debris in space and contaminate parts of the Earth.
NASA has scheduled the launch of the Galileo for next month.
RESEARCHERS REPORT FINDINGS ON CHICKEN EGG STUDY ABOARD DISCOVERY
Researchers examining the earlier deaths in space of eight chicken
embryos inside eggs aboard the shuttle Discovery, say that weightless
did not effect the remaining eggs' skeletal structure in the
experiment. Michael Holick, a scientific adviser for the experiment,
plans to present he findings at a meeting of the American Society of
Bone and Mineral Research in Montreal. Mr. Holick said that "although
the information is still very preliminary, it appears as though
weightlessness does not affect the initiation of the ongoing process of
bone mineralization in chick embryos." Thirty-two eggs at different
stages of gestation were placed aboard the Discovery for a five day
flight. An identical group of 32 eggs remained on Earth. After the
shuttle landed, 16 of the spaceflight eggs and half the control-group
eggs were allowed hatch, while the others were opened up and examined.
The eight 2-day old eggs, the youngest from the shuttle, were dead.
The other group of 9-day old eggs hatched into normal chicks. Mr.
Holick said the information is valuable for future study efforts on
the effects of zero gravity on humans, chickens and other organisms. A
similar test is planned with white rats.
SEN. METZENBAUM TO OPPOSE PRIVATE FINANCING FOR ASRM FACILITY
Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH) said he will oppose NASA's plan to use
private financing to pay for Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM)
production and testing facilities when it comes up for a vote in the
Senate. Senator Metzenbaum wrote a letter to his fellow senators
stating that under the plan, a private bank would loan the contractor
the money needed to build the facility, allowing NASA to defer large
principal payments until 1992, thus costing NASA $156 million more than
if the construction were paid by the government.
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE FUNDS SPACE STATION AT $1.85 BILLION
A Senate Appropriations subcommittee approved $1.85 billion for the
space station which NASA Administrator Richard Truly said was the
minimum sum needed to avoid major restructuring of the program. The
$1.85 billion approved by the subcommittee split the difference between
President Bush's $2.05 billion request and the $1.65 billion approved
by the House in July. Subcommittee Chairman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
said; "We're essentially funding a no frill space station; one that can
fly, meet preliminary missions and meet our international agreements.
We can provide a space station. We can't provide a space station with
glitz."
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIET COSMONAUTS REACH MIR SPACE STATION
The two Soviet cosmonauts Aleksandr Viktorenko and Aleksandr Serebrov
were able to dock their Soyuz TM-8 spacecraft with the Mir space
station in less time than any previous mission. Although it did not
take long to dock, the two had to dock manually. As the spacecraft
approached Mir, the automatic docking system apparently malfunctioned
and the space station began moving up and to the left. The two will be
there for six months and will oversee the addition of two new modules,
planned for launch in October and February.
INDONESIA AND BOEING SIGN CONTRACT TO UPGRADE 737 SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT
The Republic of Indonesia and the Boeing Co. signed a $117 million,
four year contract to upgrade three 737 surveillance aircraft used to
patrol Indonesia's economic zone.
PLESSEY CONCEDED DEFEAT TO GEC/SIEMENS HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID
The Plessey electronics group (U.K.) conceded defeat to the GEC/Siemens
takeover bid. London industry analysts are predicting an extensive
restructuring of the European electronics industry. Plessey officials
announced that 19.2% of the its shareholders accepted the conditions of
the 2 billion pound ($3.06 billion) hostile bid, and the next day GEC
shareholders cleared the way by approving the bid agreement with West
Germany's Siemens, which brought the overall holdings of GEC/Siemens to
48.6% and effectively assured the bid's success.
INDIA TO LEASE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRANSPONDERS FROM ARABSAT
The Indian government will lease telecommunications transponders from
the Arabsat satellite communications system. The two year lease,
signed by the Indian Space Department and the Arab Satellite
Organization includes an option to cancel the contract after one year.
SOVIETS LAUNCHED SATELLITE CARRYING WEST GERMAN EXPERIMENTS
Soviet news agency Tass reported that the Soviets launched a Resurs-F
remote sensing satellite carrying West German biotechnical experiments
aboard a Soyuz booster. Images from the satellite will be used by the
Priroda (Nature) State Research and Industrial Center. The satellite
is also carrying low gravity biotechnical experiments, supplied by West
Germany.
TURKEY AND BOEING NEGOTIATING BUILDING CHINOOK HELICOPTERS
The Turkish government has begun negotiations with Boeing Co. to build
between 50 and 100 Chinook helicopters in Turkey. The new version of
the Chinook, the CH-47D, costs about $15 million. And, the total deal
has a potential value of about $750 million. The talks between the two
were disclosed when Turkey's Ambassador Nuzhet Kandemir was in Seattle
to discuss the possible contract. Boeing already has an agreement with
Turkey to build F-16 fighter planes.
GAO PUBLISHED REPORT "U.S.-JAPAN BURDEN SHARING"
A General Accounting Office (GAO) report found that the U.S. could save
at least $600 million annually if the Japanese government offsets the
full yen costs of stationing U.S. troops in Japan. "U.S.-Japan Burden
Sharing" reported that this would increase the Japanese contribution by
42% over the $1.7 billion cash contribution in 1987. The yen costs
includes salaries of Japanese workers, utilities and maintenance.
BUSINESS:
BOEING TO PAY $200,000 TO SETTLE FAA ALLEGATIONS
Boeing Co. agreed to pay $200,000 to settle seven civil cases brought
by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in connection with the
miswiring of fire-protection systems on its jetliners. The FAA
originally proposed a $200,000 penalty for a case in which Boeing
allegedly notified them months after it uncovered wiring problems on
two aircraft. Federal regulations require that defects be reported
within 24 hours of their discovery. However, Boeing and the FAA worked
out a deal in which six other cases related to miswiring were included
as part of a comprehensive settlement. The fine is the largest ever
collected from Boeing and perhaps from any airplane maker.
COLLLINS DEFENESE COMMUNICATIONS FACES CUT BACKS
Collins Defense Communications (Richardson, TX), a unit of Rockwell
International Corp., will be forced to cut back production operations
over the next six to nine months due to completion of contracts and
consolidation of other locations. The company will also begin focusing
on providing systems integration and engineering development support to
the unit's other operations facilities.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CALLS FOR DC-10 IMPROVEMENTS
McDonnell Douglas called for airlines to make improvements and add a
few simple parts to their DC-10s in order to prevent another accident
like the July crash in Sioux City, Iowa that killed 112 people. The
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to make the
alterations mandatory on domestic DC-10s and international regulatory
committees will probably follow suit. There are approximately 400 DC-
10s in service worldwide.
ROCKWELL INVESTIGATION FINDS NO WRONGDOING AT ROCKY FLATS PLANT
Rockwell International Corp. announced that it has completed an
internal investigation at its Rocky Flats Colorado nuclear-bomb plant
and found that the government's allegations of wrongdoing there are
completely unfounded. Rockwell said the "our investigation clearly
disproves the existence of criminal conduct" at Rocky Flats. Since the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) prepared an affidavit documenting
such things as the existence of infrared photographs showing Rockwell
dumping toxic chemicals into nearby streams and burning hazardous waste
in an incinerator that was to have been shut down, there have been
hundreds of news reports about the incident. Rockwell now wants to
pressure the Justice Department to make information available to the
public to allay there fears. The Rocky Flats plant is run by Rockwell
for the Energy Department.
FORMER UNISYS VICE PRESIDENT SENTENCED TO 32 MONTHS IN JAIL AND FINED
Former Unisys Corp. vice president Charles Gardner, who pleaded guilty
to charges of bribery and making illegal campaign contributions in the
Pentagon procurement scandal, was sentenced to 32 months in jail and
fined $40,000. Mr. Gardner was accused of systematically using funds
from sham consulting contracts and other corrupt activities to set up a
secret web of foreign and domestic bank accounts to be used for bribes,
illegal campaign contributions and for personal use. Mr. Gardner
pleaded guilty in March to bribing former Navy research chief Melvyn
Paisley by helping to arrange the purchase of an Idaho condominium from
Mr. Paisley at an inflated price.
UTC AND DOW CHEMICAL SIGN LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING FOR JOINT VENTURE
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) and Dow Chemical Co. have signed a
letter of understanding to form a joint venture that will make and sell
aerospace, defense and automotive parts made of composite materials.
The new venture, called Dow-United Technologies Composite Products,
will use Dow's advanced composites-fabrication technology with the
composite-parts development and manufacturing operations of UTC's
Sikorsky Aircraft division. Specific terms of the agreement were not
disclosed.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BALL RECEIVED CONTRACT FROM SMITHSONIAN FOR SWAS SATELLITE
Ball Corp. received a $14.5 million contract from the Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory to design and build a radioastronomy payload
for the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS). Under the
contract specifications, Ball will conduct radio receiver design
analysis, build the receiver timing control oscillator and star
tracker, develop spacecraft interface specifications and integrate and
test the satellite payload. SWAS will be used to measure the chemistry
of dense interstellar clouds using the submillimeter radio wave lengths
of water, molecular oxygen, carbon atoms and carbon monoxide. The
instrument is tentatively scheduled to be launched in 1993.
BOEING ISSUED MISSILE AND AIRCRAFT RESEARCH CONTRACT
Boeing Co. was issued a $16.8 million Air Force contract for missile
and aircraft research.
FORD RECEIVED SUPPORT CONTRACT FOR SPACE DEFENSE OPERATIONS CENTER
Ford Aerospace Corp., a unit of Ford Motor Co., received a $22.9
million contract from the Air Force for support of the Space Defense
Operations Center.
GENERAL DYNAMICS GIVEN $149.9 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
General Dynamics was given a $149.9 million Air Force contract for
aircraft parts.
GENERAL ELECTRIC AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $11.5 MILLION
General Electric Co. was awarded an $11.5 million Navy contract for
Aegis engineering services.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT ISSUED $98 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co. was issued a $98 million Army contract for anti-
tank missiles.
LOCKHEED RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR C-130 AIRCRAFT
Lockheed Corp. received a $63.5 million Air Force contract for four C-
130 aircraft.
LOGICON WON TECHNICAL SUPPORT CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
Logicon Inc. has won a $38.1 million Air Force contract for technical
support.
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. was given a $15.7 million Navy contract for
communications equipment.
ROCKWELL WON MOBILE MX MISSILE STUDIES CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. won a $23.8 million Air Force contract for
mobile MX missile studies.
UNISYS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT COMPUTERS
Unisys Corp. was awarded a $21.8 million Navy contract for aircraft
computers.
UTC GIVEN $319.2 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was given $319.2 million in Air Force
contracts for the Advanced Tactical Fighter engine, other aircraft
parts and Navy submarine research.
WESTINGHOUSE GOT MX MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT
Westinghouse Electric Corp. got a $19.7 million Air Force contract for
MX missile support.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for September 11, 1989.
September 12, 1989
LANGLEY INTENDS TO PLACE ORDER AGAINST MICROSYSTEMS
Under solicitation 3860.0056, NASA Langley Research Center intends to
place a delivery order against a non-mandatory GSA schedule contract
with Microsystems Inc., reference doc. GS00K89AFS6383, for seven
MacIntosh SE/30 with many assorted options and peripherals. Vendors
who can furnish the required equipment or its equivalent are invited to
submit, in writing, a substantive statement clearly stating the ability
to fill this requirement. Vendors responding to this notice with GSA
schedule contracts should include contract numbers and expiration
dates. Please submit written responses within 15 calendar days of this
notice. Inquiries concerning this purchase should reference 1-084-
3860-0056.
Contact: Mary Corbitt
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2434
JSC TO PURCHASE ADP EQUIPMENT FOR IMIC
Under solicitation 89214017, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to
issue a contract to IBM for commercial automatic data processing (ADP)
support for the Integrated Management Information Computer (IMIC) A
computer. This action is one in which the government intends to
solicit and negotiate with only one responsible source pursuant to FAR
6.302. The government intends to place a delivery order against GSA
contract GS00K89AGS5615. Interested vendors may identify their
interest and capability to meet the requirements in writing. It is
anticipated that the proposal will be issued within 15 days of this
publication.
Contact: Vann Jones
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG41
Data Systems and Aircraft Operations
Procurement Branch
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-8217
GOVERNMENT REQUIRES ADP PROGRAMMING SUPPORT ENVIRONMENT (APSE)
Under solicitation F05604-89-R-0119, the government has a requirement
for automatic data processing (ADP) programming support environment
(APSE) to include hardware and software to support large ADA
development projects and integrate into an existing development
environment. Complete information will be provided in the formal
solicitation.
Contact: Phyllis Poyhonen
3D Space Support Wing
PKBC
Bldg. 982 (Stop 20)
Peterson Air Force Base, CO 80914-5320
(719) 554-4230
September 13, 1989
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO ACQURE TEMPEST MACINTOSH SE SYSTEMS
Under solicitation F33657-89-B-0110, the contracting division of the
Advanced Tactical Aircraft System Program Office is planning to acquire
Tempest modified Apple MacIntosh Automatic Data Processing Equipment
certified to meet NACSIM 5100A, including 19 Tempest MacIntosh SE
Systems an many assorted peripherals. A Letter Request for Technical
Proposals (LRFTP), step one of a two-step procedure, is expected to be
released 15 days from publication of this announcement. Responsible
sources desiring a copy of the LRFTP should submit a written request
including a capability statement within 15 days after publication of
this notice. Notice of Contract Action is not to be construed as an
RFP/IFB.
Contact: Nancy Stormer
Contracting Division
Advanced Tactical Aircraft System Program Office
Systems Program Office
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-6503
(513) 255-2567
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER REQUIRES C/DAP SYSTEM FOR POWER SYSTEMS FACILITY
Under RFP 3-336262, NASA Lewis Research Center has a requirement for a
generic distributed, open and partitioned architecture Control/Data
Acquisition and Processing (C/DAP) System for the Power Systems
Facility. The Facility will be testing Electrical Power Systems (EPS)
and subsystems in support of the design and development of the space
station Freedom's electrical power system. The testing will require a
C/DAP System to control the test sequences, to monitor the test
operations and to acquire, process and archive the data. Data types
will include steady state data and transient data. Data will be
acquired from analog signals and from digital busses, such as IEEE-488
and MIL-STD-1553B busses. Control processing will include open and
closed loop control capability implemented with discrete, digital and
analog signals.
Contact: Dianna Corso
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2755
September 14, 1989
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER PLACED ORDER AGAINST FALCON MICROSYSTEMS
Under solicitation 3110.0959, NASA Langley Research Center intends to
place a delivery order against a Non-Mandatory GSA Schedule contract
with Falcon Microsystems, reference document GS00K89AFS6383, for eight
(8) MacIntosh IIcx and many other assorted peripherals. Vendors who
can furnish the required equipment or its equivalent are invited to
submit, in writing, a substantive statement clearly stating the ability
to fill this requirement. Vendors responding to this notice with GSA
schedule contracts should include contract number and expiration date.
Responses should be submitted in writing within 15 calendar days of
this notice. Inquiries concerning this procurement should reference 1-
075-3110.0959.
Contact: Gale Poulson
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2451
No relevant RFPs for September 15, 1989.
|
| 20.56 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 09/18/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Oct 02 1989 09:13 | 576 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008889
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 27-Sep-1989 06:26pm CET
From: INDY
INDY@SELL3@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 09/18/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of September 18, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
----------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 18, 1989
GENERAL:
FAA ANNOUNCES MANDATORY CHANGES TO DC-10s
DEFENSE:
PENTAGON NAMES WINNERS OF SHORT RANGE UAV COMPETITION
NAVY HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE TRIDENT II (D-5) MISSILE FAILURES
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS DENIED FUNDS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION OF C-17s
HOUSE VOTES TO EXTEND DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT FOR NINE MONTHS
NASA:
FINAL FltSatCom SPACECRAFT LAUNCH POSTPONED BY HURRICANE HUGO
NASA AND PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO COLLABORATE IN STUDY
NASA PROPOSED $14.5 BILLION FOR FY 1991 BUDGET REQUEST TO OMB
NASA AND MCDONNELL DOUGLAS BEING SUED BY TRANSPACE CARRIERS
INTERNATIONAL:
ESA REPORT HIPPARCOS STAR-MAPPING SATELLITE TO SEND DATA SOON
U.K. AND U.S. WITHDRAW FROM MODULAR STAND-OFF WEAPON PROJECT
DOD NOTIFIED CONGRESS OF PROPOSED SALE OF F-16A FIGHTERS TO NORWAY
BRITISH AND CHINESE TO NEGOTIATE INTERNATIONAL AIR SERVICE AGREEMENT
FRANCE EXPANDING MILITARY SPACE BUDGET
BUSINESS:
BELL BOEING V-22 TILT-ROTOR AIRCRAFT MADE FULL CONVERSION DURING TEST
HONEYWELL'S SPACE AND AVIATION SYSTEMS UNIT ON ITS WAY TO RECOVERY
HUGHES' RADAR SYSTEMS RESTRUCTURED OPERATING DIVISIONS
LOCKHEED UNIT SAYS OSHA HAS PROPOSED AN ADDITIONAL $44,200 IN PENALTIES
GAO UPHOLDS LITTON'S PROTEST OF LORAL'S ARWR CONTRACT
NORTHROP ELECTED FRED MANZELLA AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
ROCKWELL SUING EPA, JUSTICE AND ENERGY DEPARTMENTS
SPACEHAB IN PROCESS OF FINALIZING FINANCING FOR SPACEHAB MODULES
UNISYS HAS DELIVERED OVER 100 INTERCHANGEABLE COMMON AVIONICS MODULES
CONTRACT AWARDS:
APPLE CHOSEN TO SUPPLY 1000 MACINTOSH IICX PCs TO MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
BOEING WON ORDER FROM AIRMALTA FOR THREE JETLINERS
BOOZ, ALLEN & HAMILTON CHOSEN AS SUBCONTRACTOR TO CAE-LINK FOR JSC
ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS AWARDED COMPUTER CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
GE ISSUED SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS AND EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
HONEYWELL RECEIVED $750,000 AIRS STUDY CONTRACT FROM JPL
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AWARDED ARMY CONTRACT FOR A RADAR SYSTEM
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR $13.3 MILLION
SPACE DATA GIVEN $12.1 MILLION ARMY STRATEGIC DEFENSE CONTRACT
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ISSUED AIRCRAFT-ELECTRONICS IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT
THIOKOL RECEIVED $27.7 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
September 18, 1989
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PROCURE ADP TELEPROCESSING SUPPORT
No relevant RFPs for September 19, 1989.
September 20, 1989
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE SUN MICROSYSTEMS EQUIPMENT
September 21, 1989
LEWIS' FIBER OPTIC NETWORK HARDWARE CONTRACT WENT TO PROTEON
September 22, 1989
TRADOC PLACED ORDER AGAINST STARMASTER MAINFRAME
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
FAA ANNOUNCES MANDATORY CHANGES TO DC-10s
James B. Busey, head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
announced an order for mandatory inspections and changes on fan discs
of 220 DC-10 engines similar to the one investigators believe failed
prior to the July crash of a United DC-10 in Sioux City, Iowa. Prior
to Mr. Busey's order, the aircraft's builder, McDonnell Douglas, issued
a list of changes that should be made to the jetliners. The company
said the changes would prevent the loss of all hydraulic flight
controls. James Kolstad, chairman of the National Transportation
Safety Board also called for these modifications to be made. During
his announcement Mr. Kolstad added that aside from these minor changes,
the DC-10s are "the safest airplanes in history."
DEFENSE:
PENTAGON NAMES WINNERS OF SHORT RANGE UAV COMPETITION
The Pentagon announced that McDonnell Douglas and Israel Aircraft
Industries (IAI) won the Short Range Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
competition. The team of McDonnell Douglas and Developmental Sciences
won a $43.1 million contract, while IAI and TRW were given an $18.5
million contract. The two teams now have 18 months for fabrication and
integration of their proposed systems. Then one of the two teams will
be chosen for the production phase. According to the newly updated UAV
master plan, the system not selected may be used in a training and
contingency role.
NAVY HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE TRIDENT II (D-5) MISSILE FAILURES
Pentagon spokesperson Pete Williams said that the Navy has determined
the cause of the Trident II (D-5) missile failures in underwater launch
flight tests and believes there will be no delay in initial operating
capability. Mr. Williams said that a "major redesign" will not be
necessary and that the corrective action should be completed by March
1990. Navy engineers found that the plume of water that pulled up
behind the missile hampered operation of the movable first-stage
nozzle, setting off the self-destruct mechanisms. Last week, the
Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee cut $1.8 billion from D-5
production funds because of the missile's unresolved problems.
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS DENIED FUNDS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION OF C-17s
The Senate Appropriations Committee has denied funds for the Air Force
to increase production of C-17 airlifters to 29 a year starting in FY
1993. For FY 1990, the committee recommended funding $1.16 billion for
procurement of four C-17s, a reduction of $364 million and two aircraft
from the requested level. The committee commented that the program has
been experiencing "significant delays" and the panel "does not believe
it is prudent to increase the production rate at this time."
HOUSE VOTES TO EXTEND DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT FOR NINE MONTHS
The House voted to approve a bill extending the Defense Production Act
for nine months, or June 30. The extension of the act, which expires
September 30, is designed to provide the Senate with additional time to
hold hearings and consider revisions to the legislation. The 1950 act
provides the President with authority to order priorities among defense
contracts and to maintain and expand the U.S. industrial base
supporting defense production.
NASA:
FINAL FltSatCom SPACECRAFT LAUNCH POSTPONED BY HURRICANE HUGO
The final Navy/TRW Fleet Communications Satellite (FltSatCom)
spacecraft launch was postponed due to Hurricane Hugo. The satellite
will be launched by a NASA/General Dynamics Atlas Centaur vehicle. The
spacecraft will provide additional military UHF channels and evaluate
ground stations for the next-generation military communications
satellite. The mission will also be the last expendable vehicle launch
under NASA cognizance at Cape Canaveral. The Air Force and vehicle
contractors will be responsible for remaining Atlas, Martin Marietta
Titan and McDonnell Douglas Delta launches on the flight manifest.
NASA AND PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO COLLABORATE IN STUDY
NASA announced that the agency's Ames Research Center and the
Pennsylvania State University will begin a major long-term
collaboration on commercial space research in life sciences. This will
involve conducting several ground-based and space shuttle experiments
to better understand how microgravity accelerates the loss of bone
calcium, body mass and immune cell function.
NASA PROPOSED $14.5 BILLION FOR FY 1991 BUDGET REQUEST TO OMB
NASA has presented a FY 1991 budget request to the White House Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) of $14.5 billion that includes some
growth for the space station program. This is an increase of over $1
billion over the proposed 1990 budget of $13.3 billion which is now
before Congress. To date, the full House has approved $12.3 billion
and the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $13 billion for
NASA's FY 1990 budget.
NASA AND MCDONNELL DOUGLAS BEING SUED BY TRANSPACE CARRIERS
According to Washington Claims Court documents, NASA and McDonnell
Douglas are being sued by Transpace Carriers Inc. for $939.3 million to
compensate for lost profits and unpaid commissions in marketing Delta
commercial launch services. Transpace Carriers, which tried to market
Delta commercially for a several years before filing bankruptcy
protection in 1988, alleges that NASA broke an agreement to give it
exclusive rights to market Delta launch services. McDonnell Douglas
was given marketing control in 1986 and Transpace is charging them with
failure to pay commissions on launches arranged by Transpace. NASA
attorney Sara Najjar said it would be "inappropriate to comment" on the
case and referred questions to the Justice Department.
INTERNATIONAL:
ESA REPORT HIPPARCOS STAR-MAPPING SATELLITE TO SEND DATA SOON
A European Space Agency (ESA) spokesperson reported that scientists
were able to maneuver the Hipparcos star-mapping satellite and expect
to begin collecting data from it in late September or early October.
The satellite controllers will probably use three receiving stations,
one in Darmstadt, West Germany, another in Perth, Australia and will
probably set up a third station in Kourou, French Guiana. The
Hipparcos was stranded in geostationary transfer orbit when its apogee
boost motor failed to fire. Onboard stationkeeping thrusters were used
to raise its perigee. The satellite was launched from Kourou, French
Guiana aboard an Ariane 4 booster.
U.K. AND U.S. WITHDRAW FROM MODULAR STAND-OFF WEAPON PROJECT
A spokesperson from Britain's Defense Ministry said the U.K. and the
U.S. have withdrawn from a five-nation project to develop the Modular
Stand-off Weapon, an air-launched conventional missile. The two
countries were unable to agree on the weight and range of the missile.
The weapon had been intended for use by the British air force for use
in its front-line Tornado aircraft.
DOD NOTIFIED CONGRESS OF PROPOSED SALE OF F-16A FIGHTERS TO NORWAY
The Defense Department notified Congress of the proposed sale of eight
General Dynamics' F-16A fighters and support equipment to Norway.
Norway would use the aircraft to replace F-16s lost through attrition.
The sale is worth an estimated $125 million.
BRITISH AND CHINESE TO NEGOTIATE INTERNATIONAL AIR SERVICE AGREEMENT
British and Chinese officials said they plan to meet in Beijing, China
in October to resume negotiations on new international air service
agreements. The talks were originally scheduled for last June, but
were postponed due to the Tiananmen Square incident.
FRANCE EXPANDING MILITARY SPACE BUDGET
According to defense ministry officials in France, the country's
military space budget, already the largest in Europe, may rise 50% in
1990. The French government also appears to be eager to expand
European cooperation in military space programs. According to the
long-term military space program budget, the Plan Pluriannuel d'Espace
Militaire, 45 billion Francs in 1987 prices ($6.7 billion in 1989
dollars) have been earmarked for military space programs over the next
15 years. Currently, France intends to spend about 3 billion Francs
($448 million) on military space programs in 1990, compared with just
790 million Francs ($118 million in 1989 dollars) spent in 1987.
BUSINESS:
BELL BOEING V-22 TILT-ROTOR AIRCRAFT MADE FULL CONVERSION DURING TEST
The Bell Boeing V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft made its first full conversion
to the turboprop configuration during a test flight. The test took
place at the Bell facilities in Arlington, Texas and lasted for 65
minutes.
HONEYWELL'S SPACE AND AVIATION SYSTEMS UNIT ON ITS WAY TO RECOVERY
D. Larry Moore, president of Honeywell Inc.'s Space and Aviation
Systems, which suffered an operating loss of $142 million in 1988, said
that the unit is on its way to recovery. According to Mr. Moore,
Honeywell's third quarter report will report Space and Aviation Systems
"on or ahead of plan, year to date," in orders, sales and profits. He
added that although the company is not showing the profits he would
like to see, it is doing much better than expected.
HUGHES' RADAR SYSTEMS RESTRUCTURED OPERATING DIVISIONS
Hughes Aircraft's Radar Systems Group's eight operating divisions have
been organized into two product line divisions and four systems
divisions as part of the company's overall restructuring plan. Group
Senior vice president J. Richard Giacoletto said that the
reorganization "is designed to streamline operations, improve
accountability and position us to win in today's changing defense
marketplace." According to the plan, Hughes Aircraft plans to cut
about 6000 positions by the end of the year, about 1000 of those are at
the Radar Systems Group.
LOCKHEED UNIT SAYS OSHA HAS PROPOSED AN ADDITIONAL $44,200 IN PENALTIES
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co., a unit of Lockheed Corp., said that
the Labor Department's Occupational Health and Safety Administration
(OSHA) has proposed an additional $44,200 in civil penalties covering
230 alleged violation of safety and health standards. In July, the
unit agreed to pay $1.5 million in fines to OSHA, one of the largest
penalty sums involved in corporate-settlement agreements with the
agency. The new penalties stem from inspection of facilities not
covered in earlier inspections. Lockheed has 15 working days to
respond to OSHA.
GAO UPHOLDS LITTON'S PROTEST OF LORAL'S ARWR CONTRACT
The General Accounting Office's (GAO) bid protest unit recommended that
the Air Force terminate Loral Corp.'s Advanced Radar Warning Receiver
(ARWR) contract, sustaining competitor Litton Industries' protest of
the award. The Air Force is not bound by the GAO's decision, however
if it chooses not to follow the recommendation, it must go before
Congress to justify its actions. Litton filed a protest with the GAO
based on information in affidavits supporting "Operation Ill Wind"
search warrants which stated that industry consultant William Galvin
supplied Loral with Litton data he received from former Air Force
procurement official, Victor Cohen. The Air Force said that the
decision only forced a recompetition, which could cost between $60 and
$300 million.
NORTHROP ELECTED FRED MANZELLA AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Northrop Corp. elected Fred J. Manzella to its board and to a newly
created post of executive vice president. The move is part of the
company's management overhaul. Mr. Manzella was previously senior vice
president for business operations, which included responsibility over
contracts, pricing, environmental management, security, material and
services. He will now also be responsible for legal, human resources
and public affairs operations for Northrop.
ROCKWELL SUING EPA, JUSTICE AND ENERGY DEPARTMENTS
Rockwell International Corp. is suing the Justice Dept., the Energy
Dept. and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintaining that it
is "caught in the middle of an inter-governmental feud" over waste
disposal at the Rocky Flats nuclear-weapons plant. Rockwell feels that
if it continues to manufacture the nation's supply of plutomium at
Rocky Flats it will generate waste that the Energy Dept. has conceded
cannot legally be stored anywhere; however if they suspend their
operations, the company faces the possibly of being charged with
default on its contract with the government. The suit, filed in
federal district court in Washington, asks for a judge to rule on both
the government's and Rockwell's obligations under the contract.
SPACEHAB IN PROCESS OF FINALIZING FINANCING FOR SPACEHAB MODULES
Spacehab's commercial space officials said they are finalizing about
$130 million in private financing to complete development of Spacehab
modules for the space shuttle. Nearly 50% of the financing is from
non-U.S. investors, however the company is allowing no more than 30% of
the project's equity to be held by foreign interests. The spacehab
modules will increase the mid-deck experiment area on the shuttle by
1,000 cu. ft.
UNISYS HAS DELIVERED OVER 100 INTERCHANGEABLE COMMON AVIONICS MODULES
Unisys Defense Systems has delivered over 100 interchangeable airborne
information processing common modules that company officials say can
support avionics developed for next-generation aircraft such as the
Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) and the Light Helicopter Experimental
(LHX) as well as upgrades to existing aircraft like the F-16. Director
of airborne systems programs for the Unisys Computer Systems Div.
Robert Weber said that the modules can be used as "building blocks" for
new avionics systems. Texas Instruments and IBM are competing with
Unisys in development of common avionics modules.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
APPLE CHOSEN TO SUPPLY 1000 MACINTOSH IICX PCs TO MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
Apple Computer's Southwest Operations has been chosen to supply 1000
Macintosh IIcx personal computers to McDonnell Douglas Corp. Space
Systems Co. for use in its Space Station work under a $9 million
contract. The computers will be used to support computer-aided design
and engineering and automated information system needs, information
processing and host terminal emulation at McDonnell Douglas' Space
Station building in Huntington Beach, CA. They will be linked to
NASA's Technical and Management Information System for the Space
Station, which includes electronic mail, document handling and database
systems controlled by Ungermann-Bass networking hardware.
BOEING WON ORDER FROM AIRMALTA FOR THREE JETLINERS
Boeing Co. said its Boeing Commercial Airplanes unit won orders from
AirMalta for three 737-500 jetliners with an estimated value of $90
million including space parts, and secured options on three more of the
twinjets. Boeing said, however that AirMalta may change the order to
737-300s or 737-400s at a later date.
BOOZ, ALLEN & HAMILTON CHOSEN AS SUBCONTRACTOR TO CAE-LINK FOR JSC
Booz, Allen & Hamilton were chosen to provide space flight operations
engineering and integration services as a subcontractor to CAE-Link for
a contract for Johnson Space Center (JSC) to design and build training
hardware for the space station. Booz, Allen will provide space flight
operations engineering and integration services for strategic
engineering, independent systems engineering, operations engineering,
external data gathering and analysis, information asset management and
management information systems. The contract is estimated at $10
million over six years, increasing to about $17 million if a four-year
option is exercised.
ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS AWARDED COMPUTER CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
Electronic Data Systems, a unit of General Motors Corp., was awarded a
$17.2 million Army contract for computers.
GE ISSUED SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS AND EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
General Electric (GE) Co. was issued a $177.6 million Army contract for
satellite communications terminals and equipment.
HONEYWELL RECEIVED $750,000 AIRS STUDY CONTRACT FROM JPL
Honeywell's Electro-Optics Division received a $750,000 study contract
from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the Atmospheric
Infrared Sounder (AIRS) program. The AIRS instrument is designed to
accurately resolve global atmospheric temperatures and numerous surface
parameters in forming an accurate picture of global climatology. The
AIRS is to be carried on the polar orbiting platform that will be part
of NASA's Earth Observing System.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AWARDED ARMY CONTRACT FOR A RADAR SYSTEM
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., was awarded a
$26.1 million Army contract for a radar system.
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR $13.3 MILLION
Martin Marietta Corp. was given a $13.3 million Air Force contract for
missile-transporter units.
SPACE DATA GIVEN $12.1 MILLION ARMY STRATEGIC DEFENSE CONTRACT
Space Data Corp. was given a $12.1 million contract from the Army
Strategic Defense command to launch as many as eight suborbital rockets
as targets in theater-defense missile tests. The two-stage missiles
will serve as targets, mimicking enemy tactical ballistic missiles, for
the Extended Range Interceptor Technology (ERINT) missiles to be tested
by LTV Aerospace and Defense Co. beginning in the summer of 1991.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ISSUED AIRCRAFT-ELECTRONICS IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT
Texas Instruments Inc. was issued a $20.5 million Air Force contract
for aircraft-electronics improvements.
THIOKOL RECEIVED $27.7 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Thiokol Inc., a unit of Morton Thiokol Inc. received a $27.7 million
Navy contract for rocket motors.
RFP UPDATE:
September 18, 1989
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PROCURE ADP TELEPROCESSING SUPPORT
Wright-Patterson Headquarters intends to procure sole source from
Automatic Data Processing (ADP), continued Teleprocessing support.
This synopsis is being published for informational purposes only. The
solicitation document is not available.
Contact: Carolle Henderson
HQ Wright-Patterson Contracting Center
Specialized Equipment Support Branch
Specialized Contracting Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433
(513) 257-2698
No relevant RFPs for September 19, 1989.
September 20, 1989
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE SUN MICROSYSTEMS EQUIPMENT
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to place a delivery
order on a sole-source basis against Sun Microsystem's FY 1989 GSA
Schedule Contract under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c). The
acquisition is for a SUN-4/260. The SUN-4/260 will serve as a back-up
to the SUN 3/260 system which presently has no back-up system. This
off-load/back-up function requires that the acquired system is capable
of performing the SUN-3 functions. Additionally, the SUN-4/260 will
participate as a node in a high speed local area network (LAN) testbed
which is using 80 megabit per second ProNet-80 technology from Proteon
Inc. Any firm desiring consideration must respond within 15 days of
this notice. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis
to establish a bonafide capability to meet the requirement. It is
requested that pricing data and GSA schedule information, if
applicable, be included as a part of that response, including terms and
conditions and a copy of the current GSA schedule contract. All such
responses shall be fully considered by GSFC. If no affirmative
responses are received within 15 days to determine whether a qualified
source more advantageous to the Government is available, an order will
be place with Sun Microsystems. Responses must be in writing, no
telephone requests will be accepted.
Contact: Claudette Parent
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-7467
September 21, 1989
LEWIS' FIBER OPTIC NETWORK HARDWARE CONTRACT WENT TO PROTEON
NASA Lewis Research Center's RFP 3-321983 for fiber optic network
hardware, went to Proteon, Inc., for $924,085.
September 22, 1989
TRADOC PLACED ORDER AGAINST STARMASTER MAINFRAME
A notice of intent to place a sole source order against current Gandalf
GSA schedule for the purchase of a Starmaster Mainframe (fully
redundant) with other assorted peripherals was place by TRACOC. This
synopsis of intent to place an order against a scheduled contract
cannot be considered a request for proposals or offers. Responses to
this notice will be used to determine whether bonafide competition
exists and whether a formal solicitation is appropriate. Written
responses, including GSA contract number, if applicable, prices and
technical data in sufficient detail to determine the offeror's
capability of meeting the requirement, must be received by the office
within 45 calendar days of this notice. If no affirmative responses
are received within this time to determine that a comparable source
more advantageous to the Government is available, an order will be
placed with Starmaster against their current GSA schedule. Response
must state that vendor is not currently on the Consolidated List of
Debarred, Suspended and Ineligible Contractors or otherwise ineligible
to received Government contracts.
Contact: Barbara Watkins
TRADOC Contracting Activity
ATTN: ATCA
Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4005
|
| 20.57 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 09/25/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Oct 06 1989 15:56 | 592 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 008974
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 05-Oct-1989 10:13pm CET
From: INDY_DEV
INDY_DEV@SELL3@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 09/25/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of September 25, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-----------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25, 1989
GENERAL:
NCAT TO CONDUCT SYMPOSIUMS ON PLANNING FOR U.S. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
FAA CHOOSE THREE MORE AIRPORTS TO RECEIVE NEW BOMB DETECTORS
JAMES VAN ALLEN GIVEN THE CRAFOORD PRIZE
ISU HAS SELECTED SITES FOR 1990, 1991 AND 1992 SUMMER SESSIONS
DEFENSE:
ARMY'S HEDI LAUNCH POSTPONED UNTIL MID-NOVEMBER
B-2 TO UNDERGO BLOCK II TESTS BY NEXT SUMMER
SENATE APPROVES GENERAL POWELL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
SENATE ENDORSED $300 MILLION CUT TO "STAR WARS" PROGRAM
TWO B-2 TEST FLIGHTS CUT SHORT
BOOST SURVEILLANCE AND TRACKING SYSTEM CONTRACT ANNOUNCED IN FEB. 1991
U.S. TO REDUCE NOISE CAUSED BY MILITARY TRAINING FLIGHTS OVER GERMANY
NASA:
NASA LAUNCHES LAST OF ITS UNMANNED ROCKETS FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
SENATOR HEFLIN CALLS FOR SPACE SHUTTLE SUMMIT
HOUSE SPACE SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES PATENTS IN SPACE ACT
FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM FOR COLUMBIA ACCIDENTLY ACTIVATED
ANTI-NUCLEAR GROUPS SUE NASA AND PRESIDENT TO STOP GALILEO
TRULY BELIEVES "PERMANENTLY OPERATED" MOON BASE BY 2009 REASONABLE
INTERNATIONAL:
U.S. SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL TO LEND MILITARY RESEARCH SUPPLIES
SOVIETS LAUNCH SATELLITE BELIEVED TO BE ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION
IAI'S TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR COMPLETED FIRST FLIGHT
MATRA COMPLETED ACQUISITION OF FAIRCHILD'S OPERATIONS FROM BANNER
INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TESTED SHORT-RANGE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
SOVIETS OPEN SPACEPORT TO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
U.S. TO SELL PAKISTAN 60 F-16 JET FIGHTERS
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS NAMED WILLIAM ANDERS AS NEXT CHAIRMAN AND CEO
GE TO DELIVER PROTOTYPE F120 ENGINES BY MID-DECEMBER
LOCKHEED'S CONTRACT TO REFURBISH SPACE SHUTTLES EXTENDED
HAROLD SIMMONS NOW OWNS 10.43% OF LOCKHEED COMMON STOCK
NORDEN LAWSUIT AGAINST GD TO BE RULED UPON WITHIN NEXT TWO WEEKS
PRATT & WHITNEY TO BUILD COMPUTERIZED DISTRIBUTION CENTER
TI AND SANDERS BUILD COMPUTER SYSTEM TO GENERATE COCKPIT DISPLAYS
WHITTAKER COMMAND AND CONTROL FINED $3.5 MILLION FOR ATTEMPTED BRIBERY
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AT&T GOT $27.6 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
BOEING ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $65.3 MILLION
COMPUTER SCIENCES AND RAYTHEON GIVEN $69.6 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC WON AIR FORCE AND ARMY CONTRACTS
HONEYWELL RECEIVED ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTS TOTALING $28.4 MILLION
HUGHES AIRCRAFT WINS TEST BED CONTRACT FROM ARMY
IBM ISSUED $50 MILLION COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
LITTON SYSTEMS ISSUED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED TITAN IV ROCKET MOTORS CONTRACT
RAYTHEON RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACTS TOTALING $62.6 MILLION
ROCKWELL AWARDED SATELLITE PRODUCTION AND BOMB PARTS CONTRACT
THIOKOL RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $225.9 MILLION
UNISYS GIVEN TRAINING SIMULATORS CONTRACT
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AWARDED $234.3 MILLION IN MILITARY CONTRACTS
RFP UPDATE:
September 25, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE IBM HIGH PERFORMANCE COLOR GRAPHICS
No relevant RFPs for September 26-28, 1989.
September 29, 1989
TRADOC TO ACQUIRE REAL TIME AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEMS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
NCAT TO CONDUCT SYMPOSIUMS ON PLANNING FOR U.S. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Beginning in February, the National Center for Advanced Technologies
(NCAT) will conduct a year-long series of symposia aimed at promoting
and developing a national strategic plan for technology development.
The first session will be concerned with rocket propulsion and feature
experts from government, industry and academia discussing ways in which
the U.S. can capture and maintain a competitive edge in the field.
Other topics to be covered over the year include air breathing
propulsion, composite materials, software development, artificial
intelligence and computational science and superconductivity.
FAA CHOOSE THREE MORE AIRPORTS TO RECEIVE NEW BOMB DETECTORS
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) choose three more airports to
receive the new bomb detectors that bathe suitcases in radiation and
measure the distinct chemical signature of bomb ingredients. Detroit,
Washington and Frankfurt, West Germany have been added to the list that
already includes London, Miami International and Kennedy International
in New York.
JAMES VAN ALLEN GIVEN THE CRAFOORD PRIZE
James A. Van Allen, 74, was given the prestigious Crafoord Prize from
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf for his pioneering discoveries and
exploration of space. Mr. Van Allen, a U.S. space researcher,
discovered the Earth's high-energy radiation belts, which were named
after him, in 1958. The prize, worth $252,000, was first presented in
1982 to supplement the Nobel awards.
ISU HAS SELECTED SITES FOR 1990, 1991 AND 1992 SUMMER SESSIONS
The International Space University (ISU) has selected sites for its
1990, 1991 and 1992 summer sessions. York University, Toronto, Canada
has been selected for the 1990 ISU session with the Institute for Space
and Terrestrial Science hosting. The Moscow Aviation Institute in
Moscow will host the 1991 session. Finally, the 1992 session will be
held in Japan. ISU is designed to educate students from all over the
world who plan to work in the aerospace profession.
DEFENSE:
ARMY'S HEDI LAUNCH POSTPONED UNTIL MID-NOVEMBER
The first launch of the Army's High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor
(HEDI) has been postponed another six to eight weeks. According to a
spokesperson for the Strategic Defense Command (SDC), the launch was
originally scheduled for August, however one of four warhead igniters
failed to respond consistently to test signals during preflight
qualification testing and so the flight was postponed. Though the
problem has been traced to a circuit board, the SDC has been unable to
correct the problem to their satisfaction. The launch is now expected
to take place in mid-November.
B-2 TO UNDERGO BLOCK II TESTS BY NEXT SUMMER
B-2 program manager Brig. General Richard M. Scofield announced that
the bomber will begin Block II tests, an evaluation of stealth
characteristics, no later than next summer. Gen. Scofield went on the
say that the second B-2, now in production, will be ready at about that
same time.
SENATE APPROVES GENERAL POWELL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
Gen. Colin L. Powell's nomination as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff was approved by the Senate. Gen. Powell will replace Adm.
William Crowe, Jr. who will retire on October 1.
SENATE ENDORSED $300 MILLION CUT TO "STAR WARS" PROGRAM
By a vote of 66-34, the Senate endorsed an additional cut of almost
$300 million in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or "star wars"
program as part of a $288 billion military spending bill. As it
stands, the "star wars" spending bill totals about $4.1 billion: $3.7
billion for the program and $355 million for the Energy Department and
military construction. President Bush requested $4.5 billion for the
program. The House, on the other hand, approved $3.1 billion for SDI.
TWO B-2 TEST FLIGHTS CUT SHORT
Two test flights, the fourth and fifth of a series, of the B-2 Stealth
bomber were cut short according to the Department of Defense (DoD).
The fourth test flight which was to be five and a half hours, was cut
to three because of indications of low oil pressure in the gearbox.
Two days later, the fifth test only lasted one hour and 17 minutes due
to high winds. A DoD spokesperson said that the bomber would not be
flown for at least another five weeks in order to make modifications
and ground vibration tests.
BOOST SURVEILLANCE AND TRACKING SYSTEM CONTRACT ANNOUNCED IN FEB. 1991
The Air Force Space Systems Division plans to award a contract for
full-scale development of the Boost Surveillance and Tracking Systems
in February 1991. The Air Force is managing the contract for the
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) and will begin source
selection in December 1990. Both Grumman and Lockheed recently
received $25 million contracts for further risk reduction work on the
demonstration and validation portion of the program.
U.S. TO REDUCE NOISE CAUSED BY MILITARY TRAINING FLIGHTS OVER GERMANY
The U.S. has agreed to take steps to reduce noise caused by low-level
military training flights over West Germany. According to West German
Defense Minister Gerhard Stoltenberg, the changes will reduce noise by
about 45% in the seven regions where low-level flight training is
permitted. In order to do this, the U.S. will reduce the amount of
time that pilots may fly at the lowest permissible altitude of 250 feet
and cut the speed at which the aircraft is flown.
NASA:
NASA LAUNCHES LAST OF ITS UNMANNED ROCKETS FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
After more than 400 liftoffs in 31 years, NASA launched the last of its
unmanned rockets from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Atlas-Centaur
booster launched a $125 million Fleet Satellite Communications System
(iFltSatCom) satellite into orbit. The FltSatCom system will supply
communications to small terminals used by troops, aircraft, ships and
submarines. Private industry will now be responsible for the launching
of payloads.
SENATOR HEFLIN CALLS FOR SPACE SHUTTLE SUMMIT
While speaking on the Senate floor during a debate on the HUD-
independent agencies appropriations bill for FY 1990, Senator Howell
Heflin (D-AL) called for a space shuttle summit agreement between
Congress and the Bush Administration. He said, "I believe that we need
a summit agreement in order to place some stability in this all-
important program and not have these yearly life or death fights on the
space station." Sen. Heflin said he had discussed the proposal with a
"very receptive" President Bush.
HOUSE SPACE SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES PATENTS IN SPACE ACT
The House space subcommittee approved a bill that would serve to help
eliminate confusion on patent requirements for materials and inventions
developed in space and particularly on the space station. According to
the Patents in Space Act, inventions developed in U.S.-owned areas of
the station would fall under U.S. patent laws, while inventions
developed in foreign-owned areas of the station would fall under
foreign patent laws. The bill must now go to the Science, Space and
Technology Committee.
FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM FOR COLUMBIA ACCIDENTLY ACTIVATED
As the space shuttle orbiter Columbia was being prepared for a December
mission, the fire extinguishing system was accidentally activated. The
Firex extinguisher system at Kennedy Space Center sprayed into the
orbiter's nose, wing area and several access doors. NASA released a
statement saying no damage occurred in the flight crew module or in the
avionics bay. NASA officials plan to conduct an investigation to
determine what caused the accident and the extent of the water damage.
ANTI-NUCLEAR GROUPS SUE NASA AND PRESIDENT TO STOP GALILEO
Three anti-nuclear activist groups sued NASA and President Bush to stop
the October 12 launch of the Galileo probe to Jupiter, citing safety
risks. The Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, the Christic
Institute and the Foundation on Economic Trends allege that NASA has
underestimated the risks of the launch and has not planned how to
evacuate those living around the Kennedy Space Center should an
accident occur. An interagency panel and NASA have come up with vastly
different risk assessments. NASA estimated that only nine cancer
deaths could result in the event of an explosion, while the interagency
group found that 2,000 deaths could occur. The space shuttle Atlantis
will carry 50 pounds of radioactive plutonium for power under the
current NASA plan.
TRULY BELIEVES "PERMANENTLY OPERATED" MOON BASE BY 2009 REASONABLE
NASA Administrator Richard Truly said a "permanently operated" Moon
base by 2009 with a manned mission to Mars within ten years after that,
is a reasonable program for human exploration of space. Mr. Truly told
the House Science, Space and Technology space science and applications
subcommittee that teams are studying technical, schedule and cost
issues and will have preliminary reports completed by the end of the
year. Industry and congressional insiders estimate the cost of the
study to be between $200 and $400 million.
INTERNATIONAL:
U.S. SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL TO LEND MILITARY RESEARCH SUPPLIES
U.S. and Israeli officials said that the two countries have signed a
new agreement allowing the administration to lend materials, supplies
and equipment to Israel for military research and development. This is
the first time such an agreement has been struck. The agreement was
signed by Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Defense Secretary
Dick Cheney.
SOVIETS LAUNCH SATELLITE BELIEVED TO BE ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION
News agency Tass reported that the Soviet Union launched Cosmos 2024,
believed to be a reconnaissance satellite, aboard a Soyuz booster from
the Tyuratam complex. U.S. observers of the Soviet space program
believe the satellite has a photographic reconnaissance mission and
will probably be recovered in the Soviet Union after 14 days.
IAI'S TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR COMPLETED FIRST FLIGHT
Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) Technology Demonstrator, a modified
Lavi aircraft, completed its first flight. The plane has 15% larger
elevons than the original Lavi prototypes with highlights that include
a maximum altitude of 20,000 feet, a top speed of 320 knots, slow
flight at 120 knots and landing gear retraction at 5000 feet.
MATRA COMPLETED ACQUISITION OF FAIRCHILD'S OPERATIONS FROM BANNER
Matra SA's U.S. subsidiary has completed the acquisition of Fairchild's
space and defense electronics operations from Banner Industries Inc.
Matra purchased the Space, Communications and Electronics and Control
Systems from the Fairchild division. Matra's interest in Fairchild
will be held in trust by the U.S. under a proxy arrangement to be
approved by U.S. government agencies.
INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TESTED SHORT-RANGE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
India successfully tested a short-range surface-to-surface missile. A
few months ago, India demonstrated its ability to fire a long-range
missile. The missile has a range of 150 miles and is known as the
Prithvi. A spokesperson from the Defense Ministry said that India
plans to produce a large number of the missiles to be used by its
military.
SOVIETS OPEN SPACEPORT TO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
The Soviet Union opened its spaceport to foreign journalists in order
to help their space program yield bigger commercial dividends by
seeking foreign partners in space. In April, the Soviets launched
their first commercial payload at Plesetsk for Matra. The opening of
the spaceport revealed one the worst disasters in space technology in
which a Vostok rocket exploded during fueling and killed 50 people in
March 1980.
U.S. TO SELL PAKISTAN 60 F-16 JET FIGHTERS
The U.S. signed an agreement with Pakistan to sell them 60 F-16 jet
fighters for $1.4 billion. The planes will be delivered between 1992
and 1996.
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS NAMED WILLIAM ANDERS AS NEXT CHAIRMAN AND CEO
General Dynamics Corp. named William Anders as its next chairman and
chief executive officer. Mr. Anders is currently senior vice president
for operations at Textron and before that was a senior executive in
General Electric Co.'s nuclear energy and aircraft business. Mr.
Anders has had an illustrious career; he served on the Apollo 8 mission
which was the first manned flight into deep space, he was an Air Force
test pilot, executive secretary of NASA, chairman of the Atomic Energy
Commission and its successor, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and
U.S. ambassador to Norway. He succeeds Stanley Pace, who has been with
the company since 1986 and will retire on January 1.
GE TO DELIVER PROTOTYPE F120 ENGINES BY MID-DECEMBER
A spokesperson for General Electric (GE) said the company expects to
deliver its first prototype F120 engine by mid-December for integration
into the Lockheed-Boeing-General Dynamics YF-22 Advanced Tactical
Fighter (ATF) prototype. Ground tests of the prototype engine are
ongoing at the Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC)
in Tullahoma, TN and at the GE Aircraft Engines facility in Evendale,
Ohio.
LOCKHEED'S CONTRACT TO REFURBISH SPACE SHUTTLES EXTENDED
Lockheed Corp.'s contract to manage the refurbishing of space shuttles
and launch preparations at Kennedy Space Center in Florida has been
extended by NASA.
HAROLD SIMMONS NOW OWNS 10.43% OF LOCKHEED COMMON STOCK
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dallas
investor Harold Simmons said that he raised his stake in Lockheed Corp.
to 10.43%, or 6,621,900 of the common outstanding. On August 1, Mr.
Simmons held 9.46% of Lockheed's stock. The recent filing said the
additional shares were bought to increase the Simmons companies' equity
interests in Calabassas, California-based Lockheed.
NORDEN LAWSUIT AGAINST GD TO BE RULED UPON WITHIN NEXT TWO WEEKS
Norden Systems' lawsuit against prime contractor General Dynamics (GD)
will be ruled upon within the next two weeks to see if it will proceed.
General Dynamics has asked Judge Nicholas Cioffi, of the Stamford
Connecticut Superior Court to dismiss the suit, asserting that going to
trial would force revelation of secret information. However, Norden
claims that the classified data need not be used in order to prove the
assertion that GD wrongfully terminated Norden's radar subcontract and
progress payments without notice. Judge Cioffi is expected to make a
ruling within two weeks.
PRATT & WHITNEY TO BUILD COMPUTERIZED DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Pratt & Whitney announced plans to build a $30 million computerized
distribution center in East Hartford, CT. The company will use the
center to automate the processing, storage and shipment of spare parts
for commercial and military aircraft engines. A company spokesperson
said that the fact that about one-third of its customers request
expedited service was what prompted the company to establish the
automated system.
TI AND SANDERS BUILD COMPUTER SYSTEM TO GENERATE COCKPIT DISPLAYS
According to an official of the Texas Instruments (TI) Defense Systems
and Electronics Group, a computer system built from modular elements
developed by TI and Sanders Associates Inc. will generate cockpit
display graphics aboard the Lockheed-Boeing-General Dynamics Advanced
Tactical Fighter (ATF) prototype. TI has delivered six of the nine on-
board computers to Lockheed for its YF-22 prototype. The systems are
built from interchangeable airborne information processing common
modules inserted into an air-cooled chassis and can support as many as
three cockpit displays.
WHITTAKER COMMAND AND CONTROL FINED $3.5 MILLION FOR ATTEMPTED BRIBERY
Two former executives of Whittaker Command and Control Systems, a unit
of Whittaker Corp., and a defense consultant pleaded guilty to bribing
a Marine Corps official in an effort to get electronic contracts worth
over $7.7 million. The company agreed to pay $3.5 million in fines and
penalties.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AT&T GOT $27.6 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
AT&T Technologies Inc., a unit of American Telephone & Telegraph Co.,
got a $27.6 million Navy contract for signal processors.
BOEING ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $65.3 MILLION
Boeing Co. was issued a $65.3 million Air Force contract for radar
aircraft improvements.
COMPUTER SCIENCES AND RAYTHEON GIVEN $69.6 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Computer Sciences Corp. and Raytheon Co. were given a $69.6 million Air
Force contract for missile-range technical services.
GENERAL ELECTRIC WON AIR FORCE AND ARMY CONTRACTS
General Electric Co. won $35 million in contracts for Air Force radar
equipment and Army sensor systems.
HONEYWELL RECEIVED ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTS TOTALING $28.4 MILLION
Honeywell Inc. received $28.4 million in contracts for Navy electronics
equipment and Army batteries.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT WINS TEST BED CONTRACT FROM ARMY
Hughes Aircraft Co. won a $53 million contract from Army Strategic
Defense Command to develop, install and integrate an Extended Air
Defense Test Bed in Huntsville, Alabama and Fort Bliss, Texas. The
test bed will be used by the Army to simulate air and tactical missile
defense systems and run complex enemy attack scenarios against them in
order to evaluate the effectiveness of the systems. The two sites will
be networked with future sites planned for installations in NATO
countries.
IBM ISSUED $50 MILLION COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. was issued a $50 million
Army contract for communications equipment.
LITTON SYSTEMS ISSUED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
Litton Systems Inc., a unit of Litton Industries Inc., was issued an
$11.8 million Navy contract for communications equipment.
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED TITAN IV ROCKET MOTORS CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. was awarded a $32.4 million Air Force contract
for Titan IV rocket motors.
RAYTHEON RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACTS TOTALING $62.6 MILLION
Raytheon Co. received $62.6 million in contracts for Air Force
satellite production and Army Hawk missile services.
ROCKWELL AWARDED SATELLITE PRODUCTION AND BOMB PARTS CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. was awarded a $31.6 million contract for
Air Force satellite production and bomb parts.
THIOKOL RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $225.9 MILLION
Thiokol Inc. received a $225.9 million Air Force contract for MX rocket
motors.
UNISYS GIVEN TRAINING SIMULATORS CONTRACT
Unisys Corp. was given a $14.3 million Navy contract for training
simulators.
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AWARDED $234.3 MILLION IN MILITARY CONTRACTS
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was awarded $234.3 million in contracts for
Air Force radar improvements and Navy underwater mine-hunting devices.
RFP UPDATE:
September 25, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE IBM HIGH PERFORMANCE COLOR GRAPHICS
Under solicitation IFB3-324144, NASA Lewis Research Center intends to
procure five (5) High Performance Color Graphics IBM 5080 model 2
compatible workstations as well as any necessary peripheral equipment
to include, but not necessarily limited to, communications processors,
channel controller(s), modems and cabling to attach the display/
workstations to an existing mainframe computer at the Lewis Research
Center. The workstations will be connected to the AMDAHL 5860 computer
operating under MVS/XA. The workstations shall be fully compatible
with the CAD/CAM/CAE software system CADAM resident on the AMDAHL 5860
and with the CADAM Interactive Solids Design (ISD) system. The
contractor shall provide documentation and demonstration of the
workstation. All responsible sources may submit a bid which will be
considered. Delivery schedule, to Cleveland, Ohio, is 60 calendar
days after the contract award.
Contact: Ronald Matthews
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
MS 500-309
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216)433-2767
No relevant RFPs for September 26-28, 1989.
September 29, 1989
TRADOC TO ACQUIRE REAL TIME AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEMS
Under solicitation DABT62-90-R-0001, TRADOC intends to configure,
deliver, install and warrant two (2) Real Time Automated Control
Systems, modified brand name Alliant FX80 equal, consisting
of two identical multiprocessor computers, associated peripheral
devices and system software. Each system must support a real time
military force-on-force environment. All responsible sources may
submit an offer due November 27, 1989.
Contact: Jean Burns
TRADOC Contracting Activity-Fort Hood
P.O. Box Y
Fort Hood, TX 76544-5065
(817) 288-1387
|
| 20.58 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 10/02/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Oct 13 1989 12:41 | 590 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009047
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 12-Oct-1989 09:11pm CET
From: INDY_DEV
INDY_DEV@CIVIC@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 10/02/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 2, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
----------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 2, 1989
GENERAL:
DELTA, NORTHWEST AND TWA PLAN TO FORM JOINT CRS SYSTEM
HOUSE PASSES AVIATION SECURITY ACT OF 1989
DEFENSE:
SOVIET DEFENSE MINISTER IN U.S.
AIR FORCE SAB CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN NAMED
ARMY SOLICITING COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC DEVICES FOR THE CH-47D HELICOPTERS
DARPA STUDYING RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITE PROPOSAL FROM GLOBESAT, CTA
U.S. TO TIGHTEN EXPORT CONTROLS FOR 13 CHEMICALS
HOUSE EXTENDS THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT UNTIL AUGUST 1990
PENTAGON'S MANAGEMENT REVIEW PLANS NEARLY COMPLETE
NASA:
VOYAGER 2 PHOTOGRAPHED ACTIVE GEYSER ON TRITON
SPACE STATION DIRECTOR SAYS NASA WILL HOLD TO MARCH 1995 LAUNCH DATE
ROCKWELL AND LMSC TO BID FOR DEFINITION STUDIES ON CERV
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS FOR THE SPACE STATION NAMED
ONE OF ATLANTIS' IUS COMPUTERS MUST BE REPLACED BEFORE LAUNCH
TWO ATOMIC GENERATORS PLACED ABOARD ATLANTIS
INTERNATIONAL:
CHINA PLANS TO LAUNCH NEW COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE IN 1992
CANADA MAY REMOVE CANADIAN MILITARY FORCES FROM EUROPE SOON
LUFTHANSA GROUP ORDERED 31 BOEING TRANSPORTS VALUED AT ABOUT $1 BILLION
U.S. TO SELL BAHRAIN $33 MILLION WORTH OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT
TWO JAPANESE JOURNALISTS ARE CANDIDATES TO FLY A 1991 MISSION TO MIR
ARIANESPACE TO DELAY INTELSAT VI SATELLITE LAUNCH
THOMSON-CSF REPORTED NET PROFIT FELL 7.6% DURING FIRST HALF OF 1989
BUSINESS:
AMROC'S ROCKET BURNED ON LAUNCH PAD
MACHINISTS UNION STRIKE MAY AFFECT BOEING'S PRODUCTION CAPACITY
HUGHES AIRCRAFT ELECTED Lt. GEN. JAMES ABRAHAMSON AS EXECUTIVE VP
LOCKHEED WILL NO LONGER COMPETE FOR FIXED-PRICE DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER'S MD-520N NOTAR TO MAKE FIRST FLIGHT
CONTRACT AWARRDS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL RECEIVED ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
FORD AEROSPACE ISSUED SATELLITE CONTROL NETWORK OPERATIONS CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS GIVEN $100.2 MILLION IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED $118.3 MILLION IN NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACT
IBM WON ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT WORTH $61.6 MILLION
ITT AND WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACTS
LORAL RECEIVED LASER SYSTEMS SUPPORT CONTRACT WORTH $16.7 MILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED $39.3 MILLION IN CONTRACTS
NORTHROP GIVEN MISSILE TESTS AND AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT CONTRACTS
ROCKWELL GOT AIR FORCE MINUTEMAN MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT
SANDERS SELECTED FOR ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES SETS CONTRACT
SCIENCE APPLICATIONS AWARDED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS CONTRACT
TRW RECEIVED $132.1 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND ARMY CONTRACTS
UNISYS ISSUED COMPUTER EQUIPMENT CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
RFP UPDATE::
October 2, 1989
IBM HOST COMPUTER SOLICITATION WENT TO IBM
No relevant RFPs for October 3, 1989.
October 4, 1989
NASA GSFC TO PURCHASE NEXT COMPUTER SYSTEMS
NASA JSC ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR APPLE MACINTOSH SE WORKSTATIONS
October 5, 1989
NASA GSFC TO PURCHASE A FPS-164 COMPUTER
JSC PLACED PURCHASE ORDER WITH LORAL INSTRUMENTATION FOR COMPRESSOR II
No relevant RFPs for October 6, 1989
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
DELTA, NORTHWEST AND TWA PLAN TO FORM JOINT CRS SYSTEM
Delta, Northwest and Trans World airlines plan to form a joint computer
reservation system (CRS). The three airlines have signed a preliminary
agreement to work on forming the joint CRS which would be 40% owned by
Delta, Northwest would own 33% and TWA would own the remaining 27%.
Earlier this year, the government blocked an American and Delta
airlines joint CRS system plan due to antitrust concerns.
HOUSE PASSES AVIATION SECURITY ACT OF 1989
The first step toward federal funding of operational bomb detection
systems in airports was taken with the House passage of the Aviation
Security Act of 1989. Under the bill, airlines are still required to
buy the thermal neutron analysis (TNA) systems at a cost of up to
$750,000 each. However, the government would then reimburse the
airlines in full, thus owning the TNA systems. The airlines would
still be responsible for maintenance and operation of the systems.
DEFENSE:
SOVIET DEFENSE MINISTER IN U.S.
Soviet Defense Minister Dmitri Yazov arrived at Andrews Air Force Base
for a six day good will visit to the United States. Mr. Yazov began
the week with talks with Defense Secretary Dick Cheney at the Pentagon.
The visit is an another step in efforts to promote understanding
between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
AIR FORCE SAB CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN NAMED
The Air Force announced that Edwin Stear and Harold Sorenson will be
chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the Air Force Scientific
Advisory Board (SAB). Mr. Stear is currently vice-chairman of the SAB
and an executive director of the University of Washington Technology
Center. He was formerly a chief scientist for the Air Force. Mr.
Sorenson is vice president of MITRE Corp., Bedford, MA, and was also a
former Air Force scientist. Mr. Stear replaces Robert W. Lucky.
ARMY SOLICITING COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC DEVICES FOR THE CH-47D HELICOPTERS
Army project manager for CH-47D helicopter modernization Col. Ronald
Williams said that the Corps is buying computer diagnostic devices to
help correct airframe vibration that engineers believe is partially to
blame for equipment failures that have grounded the fleet of CH-47D
medium-lift helicopters since early August. Col. Williams said that
the Army is soliciting bids from four manufacturers for diagnostic
equipment designed to isolate sources of vibration in the helicopters.
The four companies that have received solicitations are Helitune Ltd.
of the U.K.; Chadwick-Helmuth Co., Inc., El Monte, CA; Scientific
Atlanta Inc., San Diego and Diagnostic Systems Corp., Torrance, CA.
DARPA STUDYING RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITE PROPOSAL FROM GLOBESAT, CTA
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is studying a
proposal by Globesat and CTA, Inc. for development of a small, tactical
reconnaissance satellite that could provide 3-foot image resolution
from a 400-nautical mile orbit. The satellite would use image
compression technology to provide the Army and Navy with a low-cost,
quick-reaction reconnaissance capability.
U.S. TO TIGHTEN EXPORT CONTROLS FOR 13 CHEMICALS
The Bush Administration said that it will tighten controls on the
export of U.S. products that could be used to manufacture missiles and
chemical weapons. Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher told the House
Foreign Affairs Committee that the U.S. plans to tighten export
controls, or impose new ones, on 13 chemicals that could potentially be
used to make chemical weapons.
HOUSE EXTENDS THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT UNTIL AUGUST 1990
The House voted to extend the Defense Production Act until August 10,
1990. The extension allows the Senate Banking Committee to study
whether the U.S. technology base is adequate to ensure the nation's
defense. Congressional sources believe the Senate will accept the new
expiration date. Without the extension, the Act would have expired
last week.
PENTAGON'S MANAGEMENT REVIEW PLANS NEARLY COMPLETE
A Defense Department spokesperson said that the military services and
defense agencies met the deadline for submitting plans to implement the
Pentagon's management review, however some still need sprucing up. The
Air Force and Navy plans have been received, but the Army's report is
not quite finished. The white paper on the relationship between the
Pentagon and Congress is not finished yet, but is expected to be
completed soon. The spokesperson also said that Deputy Defense
Secretary Donald Atwood has been working on the preparation of the
management review plans on a daily basis.
NAASA:
VOYAGER 2 PHOTOGRAPHED ACTIVE GEYSER ON TRITON
The Voyager 2 photographed an active geyser, or a volcano spewing
gaseous and frozen nitrogen on Triton, Neptune's largest moon. This is
only the third known object in the solar system that has active
eruptions; the other two being Earth and Io, a moon of Jupiter. Ellis
Minor, deputy Voyager 2 project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory said, "We caught one in the act!" The images radioed to
Earth when the Voyager 2 flew past Neptune and Triton last month showed
dark, plume-shaped deposits of material on Triton's south polar ice
cap. Scientists said the deposits were probably created by volcanos
spewing gas and ice 12 to 20 miles skyward. However, Mr. Minor said,
closer examination of the pictures revealed an eruption in progress.
SPACE STATION DIRECTOR SAYS NASA WILL HOLD TO MARCH 1995 LAUNCH DATE
NASA's space station director Richard Kohrs said that the agency plans
to hold firm to its initial launch date of March 1995, even if space
station funding is cut steeply from the $2.05 billion sought by the
administration for the current fiscal year. Though the Agency intends
to keep the launch date, Mr. Kohrs said that NASA could delay having
the station reach its full power capabilities by one year. He
cautioned, however, "we want to make sure the station can actually do
something - that we don't lighten the car by taking out the gas."
ROCKWELL AND LMSC TO BID FOR DEFINITION STUDIES ON CERV
Rockwell International and Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. (LMSC)
confirmed that they will bid for definition studies of a lifeboat crew
emergency return vehicle (CERV) system for the Space Station under
NASA's just released RFP. Johnson Space Center plans to award two
parallel six month, $1.5 million contracts to prepare final system
requirements, assess configurations and examine costs, risks and
schedules. The contracts will include a one year, $4.5 million option
to provide systems definition and preliminary design to support a
decision on whether to switch to full scale development in 1992. The
CERV system will include a vehicle berthed at the space station that
could be used to evacuate crew members in the event of a medical
emergency or other contingency.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS FOR THE SPACE STATION NAMED
Richard W. Moorehead was appointed deputy director for program and
operations in the Space Station program office. Mr. Moorehead will
direct the Reston, Virginia, program office which coordinates overall
technical direction and content of the station, including systems
engineering and analysis, configuration management, budgeting and
schedules. He replaces James Sisson.
ONE OF ATLANTIS' IUS COMPUTERS MUST BE REPLACED BEFORE LAUNCH
Space shuttle technicians must replace a computer on the Atlantis'
inertial upper stage (IUS) before it is launched with the Jupiter probe
Galileo. While running a simulated countdown, technicians detected
mismatches in data from one of the two IUS computers. Replacement and
testing of the new computer should take about two days.
TWO ATOMIC GENERATORS PLACED ABOARD ATLANTIS
Two atomic generators were placed aboard the space shuttle Atlantis in
preparation for the targeted October 12 launch. The generators were
installed in the Galileo space probe stored in the shuttle's cargo bay.
Anti-nuclear groups have vowed to block the launch.
INTERNATIONAL:
CHINA PLANS TO LAUNCH NEW COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE IN 1992
China announced plans to launch a new communications satellite in late
1992. According to the plan, the spacecraft will have 24 transponders
and be capable of handling six color television channels and 15,000
telephone and telegraph circuits. China will use a Long March 3
booster to launch the satellite.
CANADA MAY REMOVE CANADIAN MILITARY FORCES FROM EUROPE SOON
Canadian officials told the White House that they may remove all
Canadian military forces from Europe before a conventional arms
agreement is signed. The main reason for this is that the Canadian
Department of National Defense is seeking $2.7 billion in defense cuts
over the next five years. Should the Canadians pull out of Europe, the
U.S. may be able to keep a larger contingent in Europe when U.S. and
Soviet force reductions begin.
LUFTHANSA GROUP ORDERED 31 BOEING TRANSPORTS VALUED AT ABOUT $1 BILLION
The West German Lufthansa Group ordered 31 Boeing transports with a
total value of about $1 billion. Lufthansa German Airlines ordered 20
737 twinjets. The newly formed Lufthansa Leasing GmbH ordered eight
757s and Condor ordered three. All the 757s will be powered by Pratt &
Whitney PW2000 engines.
U.S. TO SELL BAHRAIN $33 MILLION WORTH OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT
Under a Foreign Military Sales program, the U.S. will sell Bahrain $33
million worth of armored personnel carriers, machine guns,
communications equipment, night vision goggles and logistics support.
The Army will handle the transaction, while FMC Corp. will be the prime
contractor.
TWO JAPANESE JOURNALISTS ARE CANDIDATES TO FLY A 1991 MISSION TO MIR
Two Tokyo Broadcasting System television network journalists have been
selected as candidates to fly on the joint Soviet and Japanese mission
to Mir space station in 1991. The journalist that is chosen to fly
will broadcast radio and television reports to Japan during the planned
eight day mission. Japan is giving the Soviets about $10 million for
training and flight instruction for the two journalists.
ARIANESPACE TO DELAY INTELSAT VI SATELLITE LAUNCH
Arianespace announced that the launch of an Intelsat VI satellite will
be delayed until November so that their technicians can test electrical
relays aboard its Ariane 4 booster. The decision was made after an
electromagnetic relay in the command unit of an Ariane 4 equipment bay
operated improperly during acceptance tests at a production facility in
France. The launch will take place in Kourou, French Guiana, however
no new launch date has been set.
THOMSON-CSF REPORTED NET PROFIT FELL 7.6% DURING FIRST HALF OF 1989
Thomson-CSF, Paris, reported that its consolidated net profit fell 7.6%
during the first half of 1989 and it expects full-year earnings to drop
as well. The company said that part of the sales decline reflected the
sales of its Bronzavia-Air Equipment and ABG-Semca units, along with
the transfer of its aviation electronics activity to a joint unit with
the state-owned Aerospatiale.
BUSINESSS:
AMROC'S ROCKET BURNED ON LAUNCH PAD
The American Rocket (AMROC) Co.'s rocket burned on the launch pad
during an attempted launch. It was the first rocket built and designed
entirely with commercial funds. The 58-foot rocket was to have flown
on a 15 minute suborbital flight to test "star wars" missile detectors
and a heat shield-parachute that may enable astronauts to escape a
space station emergency. AMROC president Jim Bennett told reporters
that the launch team tried to disengage the rocket, but were unable to
before it caught on fire.
MACHINISTS UNION STRIKE MAY AFFECT BOEING'S PRODUCTION CAPACITY
The 55,000 members of the Machinists Union decided to strike against
Boeing Co. and many analysts believe that a work stoppage of a month or
longer could hurt the already strained production capacity at the
Seattle-based company. However, analysts also feel that a strike of
two to six weeks, a likely scenario, will not cause much damage. The
strike could affect one of Boeing's largest customers, International
Lease Finance Corp. and others such as Japan Air Lines and UAL Corp.,
parent of United Airlines. Boeing's military and space production work
on the B-2 Stealth bomber could also be affected by the strike. This
is the first workers strike that Boeing has had in 12 years.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT ELECTED Lt. GEN. JAMES ABRAHAMSON AS EXECUTIVE VP
Hughes Aircraft Co. elected Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson (U.S. Air
Force-retired) as executive vice president for corporate development.
Gen. Abrahamson will also serve on the board of directors. He will be
responsible for business diversification and strategic planning. Gen.
Abrahamson retired from the Air Force in March after serving 33 years.
He directed the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization from 1984
until his retirement.
LOCKHEED WILL NO LONGER COMPETE FOR FIXED-PRICE DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS
Lockheed Corp. announced that, in the future, it will not compete for
fixed-price development contracts, marking the sixth large defense
contractor to make that decision. Lockheed also said that it expects
to post a loss of $35 million for third quarter 1989, charging $165
million against third quarter operating profits to cover fixed-price
cost overruns on C-17 airlifter and EP-3E ARIES II contracts. For the
year, Lockheed has taken $191 million in fixed-price related write-
offs.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER'S MD-520N NOTAR TO MAKE FIRST FLIGHT
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter's first production MD 520N no-tail-rotor
(NOTAR) helicopter is scheduled to make its first flight next month.
McDonnell Douglas NOTAR project manager James van Horn said that the
first flight will be limited to a low-altitude hover to test basic
flight characteristics, while the second flight will include forward
flight at moderate speeds.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL RECEIVED ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
Allied-Signal Inc. received contracts worth $22.8 million for Army
rocket components and Air Force F-15 parts.
FORD AEROSPACE ISSUED SATELLITE CONTROL NETWORK OPERATIONS CONTRACT
Ford Aerospace & Communications Corp., a unit of Ford Motor Co., was
issued a $75 million Air Force contract for satellite control network
operations.
GENERAL DYNAMICS GIVEN $100.2 MILLION IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
General Dynamics Corp. was given $100.2 million in contracts for Army
missiles and Air Force aircraft and support spare parts.
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED $118.3 MILLION IN NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACT
General Electric Co. was issued $118.3 million in contracts for Navy
nuclear propulsion research and for Army helicopter engines.
IBM WON ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT WORTH $61.6 MILLION
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) won a $61.6 million Navy
contract for electronics equipment.
ITT AND WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACTS
ITT Corp. and Westinghouse Electric Corp. received Navy contracts for
aircraft electronics jamming equipment. ITT's contract totaled $216.3
million, while Westinghouse's contract totaled $203.8 million.
LORAL RECEIVED LASER SYSTEMS SUPPORT CONTRACT WORTH $16.7 MILLION
Loral Corp. received a $16.7 million Army contract for laser systems
support.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED $39.3 MILLION IN CONTRACTS
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was awarded contracts worth $39.3 million for
Air Force aircraft parts and Navy aircraft electronics.
NORTHROP GIVEN MISSILE TESTS AND AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT CONTRACTS
Northrop Corp. was given $106.9 million in Air Force contracts for
missile tests and aircraft equipment.
ROCKWELL GOT AIR FORCE MINUTEMAN MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. got a $17.4 million Air Force contract for
Minuteman Missile support.
SANDERS SELECTED FOR ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES SETS CONTRACT
Sanders Associates Inc. was selected for an $18.1 million Army contract
for electronic countermeasures sets.
SCIENCE APPLICATIONS AWARDED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Science Applications International Corp. was awarded a $16.2 million
Navy contract for communication systems.
TRW RECEIVED $132.1 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND ARMY CONTRACTS
TRW Inc. received $132.1 million in contracts for Air Force missile
support and Army prototype communication equipment.
UNISYS ISSUED COMPUTER EQUIPMENT CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
Unisys Corp. was issued a $10 million Army contract for computer
equipment.
RFP UPDATE:
October 2, 1989
IBM HOST COMPUTER SOLICITATION WENT TO IBM
Solicitation NAS8-37436, issued on September 8, 1989, from NASA George
C. Marshall Space Flight Center for an IBM host computer system went to
IBM Corp. for $1,590,365.
No relevant RFPs for October 3, 1989.
October 4, 1989
NASA GSFC TO PURCHASE NEXT COMPUTER SYSTEMS
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) issued solicitation 522-18829/
093 to Next, Inc. for the purchase of one (1) Next computer system with
Optical Disk Drive, two (2) Next computer systems and one (1) Next
laser printer. The Next Computer System is a highly specialized
computer that has a unique architecture and advanced peripherals. Any
other firms desiring consideration must fully identify their capability
to provide this equipment within 15 days of publication of this
synopsis. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Dawn Murvin
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-5451
NASA JSC ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR APPLE MACINTOSH SE WORKSTATIONS
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) issued solicitation 9-bg41-33-0-02B for
twelve (12) Apple MacIntosh SE workstations and assorted peripherals.
All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered
by the Agency.
Contact: Barbara Perkins
NASA Johnson Space Center
BD 35
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4512
October 5, 1989
NASA GSFC TO PURCHASE A FPS-164 COMPUTER
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to conduct
negotiations, on a sole-source basis, with Floating Point Systems (FPS)
Computing for a FPS-164 scientific computer. The FPS-164 is a very
unique device for the solution of computationally intensive problems.
Failure to provide prompt and effective maintenance will result in
serious interruption of the research performed within the division.
This requirement consists of a FPS-164 Scientific Computer, model
number 1640125 and a Disk Subsystem Mode D64-002. All responsible
sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by NASA/GSFC.
Sufficient technical data and firm pricing, which clearly demonstrates
the capability to meet this requirement, must be submitted in writing
within 15 days of this notice. No telephone requests will be accepted.
Contract: Claudette Parent
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-7245
JSC PLACED PURCHASE ORDER WITH LORAL INSTRUMENTATION FOR COMPRESSOR II
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) proposes to place a purchase order with
Loral Instrumentation for the acquisition of a Compressor II. The
Mission Operations Directorate requires these boards because the System
500 Telemetry processor utilizes a proprietary architecture for the
internal high speed Telemetry BVS. These boards will expand the system
capabilities and act as an on-line spare for current equipment used in
the Mission Control Center. Vendors who can furnish the required
equipment are invited to submit a written substantive statement.
Vendors responding to this notice with a GSA schedule contract should
include contract number and expiration date. Written responses must be
submitted within 30 days of this notice. If no written response is
received, an order shall be placed with Loral Instrumentation.
Contact: David Schultz
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG 41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4162
No relevant RFPs for October 6, 1989
|
| 20.59 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 10/09/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Oct 17 1989 11:04 | 584 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009082
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 16-Oct-1989 10:23pm CET
From: INDY_DEV
INDY_DEV@CIVIC@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 10/09/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 9, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
----------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 9, 1989
GENERAL:
TNA SYSTEM AT JFK DETECTED 94-99% OF EXPLOSIVES IN FIRST TWO WEEKS
NSC MAY ESTABLISH NEW ORGANIZATION TO DEVELOP BUSH'S PROPOSALS
DEFENSE:
REP. SMITH OPPOSES PRODUCTION FUNDS FOR AMRAAM MISSILE
CHENEY REPORTS BUY AMERICAN LAWS HAVE HURT PENTAGON PROCUREMENT
SECRET SATELLITE LAUNCHED BY COLUMBIA APPEARS TO BE TUMBLING IN ORBIT
"BRILLIANT PEBBLES" TECHNOLOGY SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 1990 SPACE FLIGHT
AIR FORCE TO BUILD NEW LAUNCH COMPLEX AT VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE
AFA RELEASED STUDY ON DECLINE IN SKILLED WORKERS
F-16 JET ON TRAINING MISSION CRASHED, KILLING TWO
NASA:
NASA PRONOUNCED SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS READY FOR LAUNCH
NASA ISSUED CREW ASSIGNMENTS FOR SHUTTLE MISSIONS THROUGH EARLY 1991
AMES RESEARCH CENTER, GENENTECH AND PENN STATE TO COLLABORATE ON STUDY
NASA AND AIR FORCE STOCKPILING CARBONIZED RAYON YARN
HUBBLE TELESCOPE FLOWN TO KSC TO PREPARE FOR MARCH LAUNCH
NOVEMBER 9 LAUNCH DATE SET FOR NASA'S COBE SATELLITE
INTERNATIONAL:
NETHERLANDS, SOUTH KOREA AND DENMARK SIGN FMS AGREEMENTS WITH U.S.
JAPAN'S SOCIETY OF JAPANESE AEROSPACE COMPANIES PREDICT FY 1989
THREE COUNTRIES PULL OUT OF NATO PLAN TO BUILD FRIGATE
BRITISH AEROSPACE AND THOMSON-CSF SAY THEY ARE CLOSE TO AGREEMENT
BAE HAS DEMONSTRATED MILLIMETER-WAVE GUIDED MERLIN ANTI-TANK WEAPON
PENTAGON TO SELL JAPAN THREE E-2C HAWKEYE AIRCRAFT
SOVIET SHUTTEL BURAN TO HAVE MORE COMPLICATED IN-ORBIT SYSTEMS CHECKOUT
BUSINESS:
ASPEX DELIVERED SECOND COMPUTER FOR ROBOT FOR SPACE STATION
BOEING UNSURE WHEN STRIKE WILL END OR HOW PRODUCTION WILL BE AFFECTED
CONTEL ASC FILED $70.1 MILLION SUIT AGAINST NASA
JUDGE DENIES GD'S MOTION TO DISMISS NORDEN LAWSUIT
LOCKHEED THREATENED BY MACHINISTS STRIKE
ROCKWELL'S ROCKETDYNE PRESIDENT TO MOVE TO HERCULES AEROSPACE
SUNDSTRAND NAMED ROBERT BORK TO BOARD
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BALL AWARDED $23 MILLION NASA CONTRACT TO DEVELOP SAGE III
BOEING WON $46.7 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
COMSAT CHOSEN TO UPGRADE SHIP-TO-SHORE COMMUNICATIONS FOR JAPAN
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED COMPUTER SERVICES CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
GENERAL DYNAMICS ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $29 MILLION
GRUMMAN GIVEN AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS UPGRADE CONTRACT
HONEYWELL AND IBM RECEIVE AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
LOCKHEED ISSUED PROTOTYPE LONG-RANGE PATROL AIRCRAFT CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA WON $30.7 MILLION DOD CONTRACT
LABORATORY ASSOCIATED WITH MIT GOT $2.3 BILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
WESTINGHOUSE AND ITT GIVEN AIR FORCE/NAVY ASPJ CONTRACTS
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for October 9, 1989.
October 10, 1989
AIR FORCE COMPUTER ACQUISITION CENTER TO ACQUIRE LAN HARDWARE
No relevant RFPs for October 11, 1989.
October 12, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE DATA GENERAL HARDWARE
LANGLEY SEEKS FIRMS TO PROVIDE RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEM
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
TNA SYSTEM AT JFK DETECTED 94-99% OF EXPLOSIVES IN FIRST TWO WEEKS
According to the Federal Aviation Association (FAA), its Thermal
Neutron Analysis (TNA) system at Trans World Airline's international
terminal at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport has detected
94-99% of the explosives run through it during the first two weeks of a
one year test. The TNA machine bathes bags that pass through it in
low-energy neutron radiation from Californium 252, provoking their
contents to emit gamma rays with unique, identifiable wavelengths and
energy levels. The agency's specifications call for a 95% detection
rate of all explosives weighing more than 2.5 lbs. The TNA system
costs $750,000 per machine.
NSC MAY ESTABLISH NEW ORGANIZATION TO DEVELOP BUSH'S PROPOSALS
The White House National Space Council (NSC) is thinking about
establishing a new quasi-governmental organization to take the lead in
developing the lunar base and manned Mars mission proposed by President
Bush. NASA would then serve as a support agency, rather than the
principal manager. Another option the NSC is considering is to assign
other agencies, such as the Defense and Commerce departments,
responsibility for large portions of the missions.
DEFENSE:
REP. SMITH OPPOSES PRODUCTION FUNDS FOR AMRAAM MISSILE
Rep. Denny Smith (R-OR) opposes more production funds for the Advanced
Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) due to its many production
problems. Rep. Smith sent letters to members of the congressional
appropriations and authorization conferences suggesting that AMRAAM
funds be spent on the Advanced Tactical Fighter, National Aerospace
Plane or the V-22 aircraft. He cited software, integration,
reliability and structural problems as the main problem areas for the
missile. Production of AMRAAM missiles is well behind schedule.
CHENEY REPORTS BUY AMERICAN LAWS HAVE HURT PENTAGON PROCUREMENT
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said in a report to Congress, entitled
"The Impact of Buy American Restrictions Affecting Defense
Procurement," that the buy American laws have only marginally helped
the industrial base and have often hurt Pentagon procurement
efficiency. Mr. Cheney's report stated that the laws often cause delay
in purchases and have eroded the incentive for American companies to
compete and modernize technology.
SECRET SATELLITE LAUNCHED BY COLUMBIA APPEARS TO BE TUMBLING IN ORBIT
The secret CIA/U.S. Air Force reconnaissance satellite launched by the
space shuttle Columbia in August appears to be tumbling in orbit.
Intelligence sources say that the satellite is functioning normally,
though there were initial problems after deployment from the shuttle.
Despite these reports, astronomers in seven countries have reported
brilliant flashes of light from the spacecraft every second, which is
characteristic of a payload rotating out of control and reflecting the
Sun as it tumbles. The nature of the payload is classified.
"BRILLIANT PEBBLES" TECHNOLOGY SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 1990 SPACE FLIGHT
"Brilliant pebbles" technology has been scheduled to fly in space in
early 1990 on an upcoming Delta mission for the Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization (SDIO). Criticism of the program continues and
the Defense Acquisition Board is scheduled to review brilliant pebbles
in December.
AIR FORCE TO BUILD NEW LAUNCH COMPLEX AT VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE
The Air Force has decided to begin designing a new launch complex at
Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, for Titan 4 launches. Last month, the
Air Force decided to build a new complex, rather than modifying the old
shuttle launch pad which continues to cost $3 billion a year for
service. Building the new Space Launch Complex Seven (SLC-7) will
prove to be cheaper and more efficient than remodeling the old one.
Proposals for potential contractors are due October 23, and the Air
Force expects to award a contract in mid-December.
AFA RELEASED STUDY ON DECLINE IN SKILLED WORKERS
The Air Force Association (AFA) released a study, "America's Next
Crisis: The Shortfall in Technical Manpower," which states that the
decline in the skills of workers will render the U.S. uncompetitive in
future high-technology markets unless a war on technical illiteracy, as
broad and well-funded as that on drugs, is declared at once. The AFA
study demands an "interagency...war on technical incompetence...to be
waged by an 'education czar,' namely, the Secretary of Education.
F-16 JET ON TRAINING MISSION CRASHED, KILLING TWO
A F-16 military jet on a training mission crashed at Carswell Air Force
Base, Fort Worth, TX, killing two persons on board. The F-16 had flown
from Dallas Naval Air Station to Carswell. The cause of the crash in
not known.
NASA:
NASA PRONOUNCED SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS READY FOR LAUNCH
NASA pronounced the space shuttle Atlantis ready for its October 17
launch to dispatch the Galileo probe to Jupiter. NASA test director
Mike Leinbach praised the technicians and engineers that worked to
replace a failed engine computer which postponed the mission for five
days. Astronaut Donald Williams, Atlantis crew commander, also praised
the technicians and said the crew was eager to fly. Launch
preparations have been under very tight security due to anti-nuclear
protests over the launch that will carry 49.4 pounds of radioactive
plutonium 238.
NASA ISSUED CREW ASSIGNMENTS FOR SHUTTLE MISSIONS THROUGH EARLY 1991
NASA issued crew assignments for five space shuttle missions in late
1990 and early 1991. The first black woman, Mae Jemison, the first
Coast Guard astronaut, Coast Guard Cmdr. Bruce Melnick and the first
European Space Agency mission specialist, Claude Nicollier were among
those named.
AMES RESEARCH CENTER, GENENTECH AND PENN STATE TO COLLABORATE ON STUDY
NASA's Ames Research Center, Genentech Inc. and Penn State's Center for
Cell Research will collaborate on a research project into the affects
of microgravity on bone calcium, body mass and immune cell function.
The research will include studies of human bone diseases, organ
regeneration and transplantation, immune and skeletal muscle cell
deficiency on Earth and effects of space flight on the body.
NASA AND AIR FORCE STOCKPILING CARBONIZED RAYON YARN
NASA and the Air Force have begun stockpiling carbonized rayon yarn to
protect ongoing programs in the event the sole U.S. producer, Avtex
Fiber Inc., Front Royal, VA., is shut down. Last year, NASA and the
Air Force agreed to pay a $43 million bailout for Avtex. Now, however,
Virginia's attorney general is seeking to shut down the plant until the
company proves it has the money to clean up PCB contamination. The
carbonized rayon yarn is used in the shuttle solid rocket motor nozzles
and in numerous military missile and rocket programs.
HUBBLE TELESCOPE FLOWN TO KSC TO PREPARE FOR MARCH LAUNCH
The Hubble Space Telescope was flown from California to Kennedy Space
Center (KSC) to undergo preparations at the Vertical Processing
Facility for launch on March 26 aboard the Discovery. A project
manager said the move was perfect and that the telescope was not at all
disturbed. The Hubble, build by Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC),
will study the stars for 15 years with 10 times the resolution of any
existing ground telescope.
NOVEMBER 9 LAUNCH DATE SET FOR NASA'S COBE SATELLITE
NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), which will seek information
on the origin and dynamics of the universe, has been scheduled for a
November 9 launch date. The COBE's two year mission consists of
mapping the sky and measuring the cosmic background radiation of the
Big Bang through three infrared and microwave measuring instruments.
The satellite will be launched aboard a Delta booster and be placed in
sun synchronous polar orbit at 900 kilometers circular altitude.
INTERNATIONAL:
NETHERLANDS, SOUTH KOREA AND DENMARK SIGN FMS AGREEMENTS WITH U.S.
The U.S. has struck three Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreements with
the Netherlands, South Korea and Denmark. The Netherlands will
receive $100 million worth of pilot training for 150 F-16 pilots over
five years. South Korea is to receive $91 million worth of spares for
C-123, F-4, F-5, T-33, F-16 and A/T-37 aircraft. Lastly, Denmark is to
get 162 Maverick missiles worth $24 million.
JAPAN'S SOCIETY OF JAPANESE AEROSPACE COMPANIES PREDICT FY 1989
Japan's Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies predicted that their
nation's aerospace industry will manufacture about $5.1 billion worth
of products during FY 1989, 8.6% more than in 1988. The Society also
forecasts that new orders will drop to about $4.9 billion, or 1.7% less
than FY 1988. They also expect Japan to export aerospace products
worth $646 million this year, representing a 43.3% increase over FY
1988.
THREE COUNTRIES PULL OUT OF NATO PLAN TO BUILD FRIGATE
A NATO project to build a frigate for the 1990s was severely threatened
by the pull-out of three of its eight participating nations. Britain,
France and Italy announced their withdrawal from the project citing
technical reasons. However, in general, there seems to be a growing
reluctance among the allies to commit themselves to big defense
spending while East-West disarmament talks show signs of success.
BRITISH AEROSPACE AND THOMSON-CSF SAY THEY ARE CLOSE TO AGREEMENT
British Aerospace PLC and France's Thomson-CSF S.A. said they are close
to an agreement to merge their guided-missile divisions. The merger
would be a 50-50 joint venture between the two companies, have combined
sales of at least $2.17 billion and be one of the world's largest
missile makers. The two companies hope for a final agreement by the
end of the year.
BAE HAS DEMONSTRATED MILLIMETER-WAVE GUIDED MERLIN ANTI-TANK WEAPON
At a Washington press conference, British Aerospace (BAe) officials
said that its active millimeter-wave guided Merlin mortar-launched
anti-tank weapon has been tested against stationary and moving targets.
The demonstrations, conducted by the U.K. Ministry of Defense, proved
that the weapon is useful against massed tanks at 4 km range or less.
BAe said they anticipate a large market for the Merlin weapon because
it does not need elaborate launch or support gear.
PENTAGON TO SELL JAPAN THREE E-2C HAWKEYE AIRCRAFT
The Pentagon announced plans to sell Japan three E-2C Hawkeye airborne
early warning and control aircraft for $214 million. The sale will
include spares and repair parts, ferry services and technical services.
Grumman Corp. will serve as the prime contractor, while the Navy will
handle the transaction.
SOVIET SHUTTLE BURAN TO HAVE MORE COMPLICATED IN-ORBIT SYSTEMS CHECKOUT
Oleg Babkov, deputy general designer of the Soviet shuttle, said the
second flight of the space shuttle Buran will involve a more
complicated in-orbit systems checkout, including opening the payload
bay doors. The second flight will be unmanned and is scheduled for
launch in 1992.
BUSINESS:
ASPEX DELIVERED SECOND COMPUTER FOR ROBOT FOR SPACE STATION
Aspex Inc. said they have delivered a second computer for use in
developing software that will enable a two-armed robot to view objects
as it assembles and maintains the planned orbiting U.S. space station
Freedom. The Pipelined Image Processing Engine is a main processor for
the computer system that enables the robot to visualize objects. The
first test flight of the robot is scheduled for August 1991. The
computer was delivered to the Commerce Department's National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST).
BOEING UNSURE WHEN STRIKE WILL END OR HOW PRODUCTION WILL BE AFFECTED
A Boeing Co. spokesperson said that the company has been in constant
communication with all of its customers during the Machinists union
strike but cannot predict how production schedules will be disrupted.
Supervisors and non-striking employees have been trying to finish about
40 aircraft that were all but completed before the walkout. So far, of
the 40, four have been completed and a fifth plane, a 747-400, was to
be flown to Air China over the weekend.
CONTEL ASC FILED $70.1 MILLION SUIT AGAINST NASA
Contel American Satellite Company (ASC) filed a $70.1 million suit
against NASA, stating that NASA broke a contract for the launch of an
ASC-2 telecommunications satellite in January 1987. In October 1986,
NASA removed Contel from its shuttle manifest after President Reagan
decided to discontinue launching commercial satellites in the wake of
the space shuttle Challenger accident. At that time, NASA removed
about 25 satellites owned by over 10 companies from the shuttle
schedule.
JUDGE DENIES GD'S MOTION TO DISMISS NORDEN LAWSUIT
A Connecticut judge denied General Dynamics (GD) Corp.'s motion to
dismiss Norden Systems' lawsuit against it. General Dynamics asked the
judge to dismiss the suit, asserting that going to trial would reveal
secret data, however Norden claimed that the classified information
need not be introduced in order to prove that GD wrongfully terminated
Norden's radar subcontract and progress payments without notice. A
trial date has not been set.
LOCKHEED THREATENED BY MACHINISTS STRIKE
Lockheed Corp. is threatened with a machinists strike. Talks have
broken off between the union and Lockheed, but the union has agreed to
work through its expired contract and then is expected to strike at the
end of the week.
ROCKWELL'S ROCKETDYNE PRESIDENT TO MOVE TO HERCULES AEROSPACE
Rockwell International's Rocketdyne Div. president Richard Schwartz
will become president of Hercules Aerospace Co. and a senior vice
president of Hercules Inc. effective November 1. Mr. Schwartz replaces
Edward Sheehy who will retire at the end of the year.
SUNDSTRAND NAMED ROBERT BORK TO BOARD
Sundstrand Corp. elected former federal judge Robert Bork to its board
and according to a company spokesperson, Mr. Bork will serve on "a
special independent litigation committee in connection with pending
stockholder derivative lawsuits." Former U.S. Attorney David Acheson
and retired AT&T vice chairman Charles Marshall were also elected to
Sundstrand's board. The elections bring Sundstrand's board membership
from nine members to twelve.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BALL AWARDED $23 MILLION NASA CONTRACT TO DEVELOP SAGE III
Ball Corp. was awarded a $23 million NASA contract to develop three
space flight instruments for the agency's polar orbiting platform and
the space station as part of the Earth Observing System. The
instruments, called Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE
III), are expected to provide vertical resolution profiles of aerosols
and other atmospheric gasses from near the Earth's surface or cloud
tops into the stratosphere and mesosphere. Under the contract, Ball
will design, fabricate and deliver the SAGE III instruments and provide
support for integration, launch, flight operations and on-orbit
servicing for the designated missions.
BOEING WON $46.7 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Boeing Co. won a $46.7 million Air Force contract for developing cable
systems for the Minuteman Missile.
COMSAT CHOSEN TO UPGRADE SHIP-TO-SHORE COMMUNICATIONS FOR JAPAN
Comsat Systems Div. was chosen to upgrade a coastal Earth station and a
two-ocean region network control processor for ship-to-shore
communications for Japan under a contract with Kokusai Denshin Denwa
Co. Under the 11 month, $5 million contract, Comsat will upgrade an
existing Inmarsat Standard-A coastal Earth station at Yamaguchi to a
second generation, two-ocean region network control processor providing
telex, voice and data communications to ships operating in the Pacific
and Indian Ocean regions.
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED COMPUTER SERVICES CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
General Electric Co. received a $14.4 million Navy contract for
computer services.
GENERAL DYNAMICS ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $29 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. was issued a $29 million Air Force contract for
electronic-warfare training sets.
GRUMMAN GIVEN AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS UPGRADE CONTRACT
Grumman Corp. was given an $18.1 million Navy contract to upgrade
aircraft electronics.
HONEYWELL AND IBM RECEIVE AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
Honeywell Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) were
chosen to receive Air Force contracts to develop integrated circuits
for use in space. Honeywell's contract totaled $69.7 million, and
IBM's $68.8 million.
LOCKHEED ISSUED PROTOTYPE LONG-RANGE PATROL AIRCRAFT CONTRACT
Lockheed Corp. was issued a $26 million Navy contract for prototype
long-range patrol aircraft.
MARTIN MARIETTA WON $30.7 MILLION DOD CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Air Traffic Systems, a division of the Information
Systems Group, won a $30.7 million contract from the Defense Department
(DoD) to help modernize the military air traffic control and airspace
systems. The three year contract will define DoD requirements for
integration into the Federal Aviation Administration's National
Airspace Plan.
LABORATORY ASSOCIATED WITH MIT GOT $2.3 BILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
A laboratory associated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) got a $2.3 billion Air Force contract for various research and
development work. A spokesperson for MIT said that several private
companies will probably receive about half of the funds under the five
year contract. The Air Force's Electronic Systems Div. said the
contract involves research on satellite communications, space
surveillance, high-energy lasers and advanced electronics.
WESTINGHOUSE AND ITT GIVEN AIR FORCE/NAVY ASPJ CONTRACTS
Westinghouse Electric Corp. and ITT Avionics Div. were given contracts
for low-rate initial production of the Air Force/Navy Airborne Self-
Protection Jammer (ASPJ). Westinghouse got $203.7 million and ITT
$216.3 million to build 50 ASPJ systems each. The ASPJ systems create
false targets and jam enemy tracking systems. The contract is
scheduled to be completed in December 1994.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for October 9, 1989.
October 10, 1989
AIR FORCE COMPUTER ACQUISITION CENTER TO ACQUIRE LAN HARDWARE
A draft RFP, without requirement for comments, is expected to be
available for release on or about October 31 with release of the actual
RFP on or about November 30. The solicitation, number F19630-90-R-
0002, is a requirement for the Navy to acquire Local Area Network (LAN)
hardware, software, maintenance, training and engineering support
services for use with government furnished PC and AT compatible
microcomputer systems located throughout the world. The resulting
contract will be mandatory for the Naval Data Automation Command
(NAVDAC) and all Navy Regional Data Automation Centers (NARDACS), and
non-mandatory for remaining Naval activities or Department of Defense
(DoD) activities. The Network Operating System (NOS) will fully
support MS-DOS and SM-OS/2 workstations and be capable of supporting
future OS.2 applications as well. Firms interested in responding
should write within 15 calendar days of this notice.
Contact: Maureen Scanlon
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCC)
Directorate of Contracting
PKC
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 07131-6340
(617) 377-8634
No relevant RFPs for October 11, 1989.
October 12, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE DATA GENERAL HARDWARE
The Lewis Research Center has a requirement to procure hardware that
shall be compatible with existing Government-owned Data General
equipment. Copies of the solicitation may be obtained by called the
telephone number below. All responsible sources may submit a bid which
will be considered. Delivery schedule will be required 60 days after
contract award.
Contact: Ronald Matthews
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Mail Stop 500-309
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-6616
LANGLEY SEEKS FIRMS TO PROVIDE RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEM
Firms are sought that can provide a relational database system. The
relational database system shall be UNIX-based and run on Convex C210
and Sun 3/80 platforms. This synopsis is for information and planning
purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government,
nor will the Government pay for information solicited. All responses
shall be submitted to NASA Langley Research Center within 14 days from
the date of publication of this announcement. When responding, please
reference SS108.
Contact: NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 144
Industry Assistance Office
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2547
|
| 20.60 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 11/06/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Nov 21 1989 09:21 | 582 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009134
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 21-Nov-1989 08:19am CET
From: ROACH
ROACH@SELECT@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 11/06/89
From: NAME: IMSIS_NEWS <IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO>
To: ROACH@A1NSTC
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of November 6, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
---------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6, 1989
GENERAL:
U.S. EXPORTED 406 NEW AIRCRAFT IN FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1989
U.S. MUST MAKE CHANGES TO HAVE SHARE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE MARKETS
DEFENSE:
141ST TEST OF THE MINUTEMAN 3 MISSILE IS A SUCCESS
AIR FORCE TOOK DELIVERY OF LOCKHEED F-117A TACTICAL STEALTH AIRCRAFT
ARMY GROUNDED FLEET OF CH-47D MEDIUM-LIFT HELICOPTERS
PENTAGON ANNOUNCED SALE OF TANKS TO SAUDI ARABIA
PENTAGON TELLS CONGRESS TROOPS MAY HAVE TO BE CUT BY 10%
SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CONSIDERS PENTAGON NOMINATIONS
SOVIETS SUSPECTED OF FIRING LASERS AT MILITARY AIRCRAFT
HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE APPROVE $286.2 BILLION DOD BILL
DEA OFFICIALS SEIZED 64 POUNDS OF COCAINE FROM AIR FORCE PLANE
$3.4 BILLION USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN COMMISSIONED
NASA:
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LAUNCH DATE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 20
LIFE SCIENCES, MICROGRAVITY PAYLOADS FOR SPACE STATION PLANNED FOR 1996
JPL TO CONDUCT TESTS TO LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF U.S. MARS ROVER MISSION
NASA REQUESTS $14.5 BILLION FY 1991 BUDGET
OSSA HAS DEVELOPED SIX "SCIENTIFIC THEMES" FOR MOON AND MARS MISSIONS
NASA FINDS HUMAN ERROR CAUSED FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM TO GO OFF
INTERNATIONAL:
FERRANTI AND THOMSON TO DEVELOP DIPPING SONAR FOR ROYAL NAVY
AEROFLOT TO PURCHASE FIVE AIRBUS INDUSTRIE TRANSPORTS
THREE MONTH SERIES OF PAYLOAD TESTS ON INTELSAT VI SATELLITE HAS BEGUN
GE RECEIVES ORDER FOR ENGINES FOR START-UP AUSTRALIAN AIRLINE
SOVIETS HAVE SLOWED MODERNIZATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
THORN EMI PLC STILL LOOKING FOR A BUYER FOR ITS DEFENSE UNITS
BUSINESS:
HARRIS REPORTS 11% BETTER INCOME IN FIRST-QUARTER OF FY 1990
THE FIRST MARTIN MARIETTA COMMERCIAL TITAN ROLLED OUT TO LAUNCH PAD
ROCKWELL NEGOTIATING WITH BOEING TO BUILD PRODUCTION SITE
SPACE SERVICES TO LAUNCH SECOND SUBORBITAL BOOSTER ON NOVEMBER 15
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BDM GIVEN $9.7 MILLION INCREASE TO AIR FORCE RDB CONTRACT
FORD AEROSPACE ISSUED $48 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
GROTON WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENT
IBM GIVEN $230.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA ISSUED AIR FORCE SPACE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
TRACOR AWARDED RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS CONTRACT
ZDS WON CONTRACT TO SUPPORT PERSONAL COMPUTERS AT DOD FACILITIES
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for November 6, 1989
November 7, 1989
GOVERNMENT PLACED ORDER AGAINST ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS HARDWARE CONTRACT
November 8, 1989
IBM COMPATIBLE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONTRACT WENT TO FEDERAL DATA
November 9, 1989
TRADOC PLACED ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS FOR SUPERWORKSTATION
LOCKHEED SPACE OPERATIONS TO PROCURE MAINFRAMES
No relevant RFPs for November 10, 1989.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
U.S. EXPORTED 406 NEW AIRCRAFT IN FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1989
The General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. reported that during the first
nine months of 1989, the U.S. general aviation industry exported 406
new aircraft, compared with 311 for the same period in 1988. Foreign
sales accounted for over a third of the industry's output and
represented 34.6% of the billings. During the same nine months, export
sales totaled $427 million.
U.S. MUST MAKE CHANGES TO HAVE SHARE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE MARKETS
An American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) report
said that the U.S. must make "major policy changes" if it is to win
substantial shares of commercial space markets in the 21st century.
The report states: "Space will be commercialized by the private sector,
not by the government." AIAA found that the government should do more
to help foster industry consortiums and partnerships between businesses
and universities. The report also suggests that the U.S. establish
more consistent policies and more stable markets to reduce economic
uncertainty and encourage innovation. The study identified the six
major markets in space commerce with significant growth potential as
communications, Earth observations, materials processing, life
sciences, transportation and ground and orbital services. The study
was written at the behest of NASA's Office of Commercial Programs.
DEFENSE:
141ST TEST OF THE MINUTEMAN 3 MISSILE IS A SUCCESS
The Air Force said that a 16 year old Minuteman 3 missile delivered
dummy warheads to Pacific Ocean targets 4,200 miles from its California
launch site. Thirty minutes after liftoff, the missile's unarmed
reentry vehicles were tracked to targets in the Kwajalein Missile
Range. This was the 141st in a series of operational test launches of
the Minuteman 3 weapon system.
AIR FORCE TOOK DELIVERY OF LOCKHEED F-117A TACTICAL STEALTH AIRCRAFT
The Air Force took delivery of an additional Lockheed F-117A tactical
stealth aircraft, bringing the total number to 53. There has been
little official information about the closely held program since it was
acknowledged in November 1988. At that time, the Pentagon formally
acknowledged the existence of the program and said it had taken
delivery of 52 of the 59 planes ordered. Two are known to have been
lost in training accidents near their base on the Tonopah Test Range,
Nevada.
ARMY GROUNDED FLEET OF CH-47D MEDIUM-LIFT HELICOPTERS
The Army has grounded its fleet of CH-47D medium-lift helicopters for
the second time in less than four months. A grounding order was first
issued in August and 210 of the 264 Chinooks had been released since
that time. According to the service's Aviation Systems Command
(AVSCOM), the problem stems from the combining transmission cooler fan,
which has been prone to failure since the winter of 1987. The fleet is
expected to remain grounded for at least a week.
PENTAGON ANNOUNCED SALE OF TANKS TO SAUDI ARABIA
The Pentagon announced the sale of 315 M1A2 Abrams tanks and other
related equipment to Saudi Arabia. The total value of the sale is $3.1
billion. The proposed sale encountered opposition from a bipartisan
majority on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; however, there were
indications that Defense Secretary Dick Cheney helped to defuse the
problem. The sale includes tanks provided by General Dynamics Land
Systems Division and M88A1 recovery vehicles made by the BMY Division
of Harsco Corp.
PENTAGON TELLS CONGRESS TROOPS MAY HAVE TO BE CUT BY 10%
Pentagon officials told Congress that the automatic spending cuts now
favored by the Bush administration would force the armed services to
reduce active-duty troop levels by 170,000 to 230,000 men and women.
This would leave American armed forces at the level of the post-Vietnam
War era, which Republican leaders have called the "decade of neglect."
Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA)
warned that the cuts could be "very damaging" to U.S. security. This
can be avoided if Congress and the president reach a compromise deficit
reduction bill aimed at narrowing the budget gap through spending cuts
and revenue increases.
SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CONSIDERS PENTAGON NOMINATIONS
Nomination hearings for Robert C. Duncan as Pentagon director of
Operational Test and Evaluation and Duane P. Andrews as Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and
Intelligence were heard before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Mr. Duncan is currently the director of Defense Research and
Engineering and Mr. Andrews is on the staff of the House Intelligence
Committee.
SOVIETS SUSPECTED OF FIRING LASERS AT MILITARY AIRCRAFT
It is suspected that the Soviet Union has fired lasers at four U.S.
military aircraft in the Pacific in the past few weeks, damaging the
eyesight of an Air Force flier in one incident. According to the
Pentagon, there wasn't any immediate comment from Moscow even though
the incidents occurred despite an accord between the U.S. and the USSR
designed to avoid dangerous military encounters.
HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE APPROVE $286.2 BILLION DOD BILL
A House-Senate conference approved a $286.2 billion FY 1990 Defense
Department (DoD) bill that provides $3.57 billion for the Strategic
Defense Initiative (SDI) and imposes new restrictions on procurement of
the Trident II missile until the weapon has passed successive tests.
The conference voted to preserve the Air Force's Advanced Tactical
Fighter program, though at the reduced funding level of about $900
million. They also rejected a proposed transfer of $485 million to
NASA.
DEA OFFICIALS SEIZED 64 POUNDS OF COCAINE FROM AIR FORCE PLANE
Federal officials seized nearly 64 pounds of cocaine valued at $3
million that was flown aboard an Air Force cargo plane from Panama to
Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Federal Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) agent Larry Whitfield said that the DEA had been
monitoring the shipment from the time it was placed on the C-5 cargo
plane at Howard Air Force Base in Panama. Two suspects were arrested,
Natham Thomas and his brother Victor Thomas, an Army maintenance worker
stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. Officials did not say whether they
suspected any other members of the Air Force of being involved in the
cocaine operation.
$3.4 BILLION USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN COMMISSIONED
The Navy commissioned a $3.4 billion nuclear aircraft carrier. The
100,000 ton, 1,092-foot USS Abraham Lincoln is 24 stories tall and the
Navy's heaviest warship. During the ceremonies at Norfolk Naval
Station, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said that despite the
liberalization actions in Eastern Europe, we must keep the U.S.
militarily strong.
NASA:
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LAUNCH DATE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 20
NASA officials announced that the space shuttle Discovery will lift off
after dark on a secret military mission scheduled for November 20. The
launch date was announced after shuttle managers concluded a two day
review assessing the readiness of the orbiter, the payload, the global
tracking network and all other aspects of the mission.
LIFE SCIENCES, MICROGRAVITY PAYLOADS FOR SPACE STATION PLANNED FOR 1996
Although a tentative launch manifest will not be developed until 1991,
the first life sciences and microgravity payloads for the Space Station
are planned for launch by late 1996. NASA's Office of Space Science
and Applications (OSSA) has produced a "traffic model", in response to
questions from the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, that
outlines payload development timelines.
JPL TO CONDUCT TESTS TO LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF U.S. MARS ROVER MISSION
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) intends to conduct tests in
December applicable to development of a U.S. Mars Rover mission that
will return a sample of Martian soil to Earth. While conducting the
ground-based tests, a vehicle equipped with a semiautonomous navigation
system would assimilate imagery generated by an on-board camera with
lower resolution pictures obtained by a satellite providing an overhead
perspective. The data could then be used to guide the vehicle around
obstructions on Mar's surface.
NASA REQUESTS $14.5 BILLION FY 1991 BUDGET
NASA sent a FY 1991 funding request of $14.5 billion to the White House
Office of Management and Budget which includes extra funding for
President Bush's Moon/Mars initiative. However, in requesting extra
funds for the project, NASA does not want to jeopardize nearly $200
million also being sought next year for instruments on NASA's first
Mission-to-Planet Earth spacecraft.
OSSA HAS DEVELOPED SIX "SCIENTIFIC THEMES" FOR MOON AND MARS MISSIONS
NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) has created a
list of six "scientific themes" for missions to the Moon and Mars. The
"themes" were created in response to President Bush's initiative to
return to the Moon and send a manned mission to Mars. The proposed
themes include: study of origins of the Earth and Moon, exploration
for existing or former life on Mars, the relation of the Sun to
planetary atmospheres and climates, detection and characterization of
planets orbiting other stars, astrophysics and the ability for humans
to settle on other planets. Administrator Richard Truly will present
the plan to the National Space Council on November 17.
NASA FINDS HUMAN ERROR CAUSED FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM TO GO OFF
NASA investigators found that human error caused the fire extinguishing
system to spray water on the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia at Kennedy
Space Center in September. According to the report, a technician
inadvertently turned on the fire extinguishing system while Columbia
was undergoing refurbishment in High Bay 2 of the Orbiter Processing
Facility. Columbia is currently being readied for a December launch to
deploy Syncom IV-05 and retrieve the Long Duration Exposure Facility.
INTERNATIONAL:
FERRANTI AND THOMSON TO DEVELOP DIPPING SONAR FOR ROYAL NAVY
Ferranti Computer Systems of the U.K. and Thomson-CSF of France
announced they will jointly develop a long-range active dipping sonar
for the Royal Navy's EH-101 Merlin helicopter. Thomson is Europe's
leading manufacturer of helicopter sonar systems and Ferranti
specializes in towed array radars and hull-mounted installations for
surface vessels and submarines.
AEROFLOT TO PURCHASE FIVE AIRBUS INDUSTRIE TRANSPORTS
Soviet officials said that Aeroflot has signed a letter of intent to
purchase five Airbus Industrie A310-300 transports and has taken an
option on five more. Airbus Industrie's production facilities and
delivery schedules are heavily booked, so Aeroflot does not expect
delivery until 1991. A Soviet official said the Soviet aircraft
industry cannot keep pace with Aeroflot's needs now that the USSR is
opening up and there are more flights to Europe.
THREE MONTH SERIES OF PAYLOAD TESTS ON INTELSAT VI SATELLITE HAS BEGUN
A three month series of spacecraft and communications payload tests on
Intelsat VI, which completed deployment of antennas and its solar drum
on November 2, has begun. The International Telecommunications
Satellite Organization expects the satellite to be placed in operation
over the Atlantic Ocean by April 1990. The Intelsat will carry an
average of 24,000 telephone calls and three television channels
simultaneously, with a total capacity to carry up to 120,000 calls.
GE RECEIVES ORDER FOR ENGINES FOR START-UP AUSTRALIAN AIRLINE
General Electric Co.'s Aircraft Engines division reported that Polaris
Aircraft Leasing Corp., San Francisco, agreed to purchase CF6-80C2 jet
engines in an order valued at about $100 million. The engines will be
used to power five new Airbus Industrie A-300-600R aircraft to be
leased from Polaris by Compass Airlines, a start-up domestic carrier
based in Hamilton, Australia. Airbus Industries is an aircraft
manufacturing consortium based in Toulouse, France.
SOVIETS HAVE SLOWED MODERNIZATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
U.S. officials said that the Soviet Union has slowed its modernization
of nuclear weapons capable of striking the U.S., which may reflect the
country's growing economic hardships and Moscow's expectation of a new
superpower arms-control treaty. The Soviets have slowed production of
their principal nuclear submarine, the Typhoon, and its most
threatening ballistic missiles, the SS-18 and SS-24.
THORN EMI PLC STILL LOOKING FOR A BUYER FOR ITS DEFENSE UNITS
Thorn EMI PLC said it is still looking for a buyer for its defense
units but has moved to study other options because there have been no
attractive bids. Thorn placed its Thorn EMI Electronics Ltd. and a
related U.S. company, Systron Donner Corp., up for sale in June. The
company will not disclose what price Thorn has sought, but the British
press reports that Thorn is asking about $474.5 million to the two
electronics operations.
BUSINESS:
HARRIS REPORTS 11% BETTER INCOME IN FIRST-QUARTER OF FY 1990
Harris Corp. reported 11% better income from continuing operations of
$25.6 million on a 66% increase in revenues to $722.7 million in the
first-quarter of FY 1990. The high revenue is due, in part, to the
sale of its GE Solid State and Lanier Worldwide subsidiaries.
According to company chairman and chief executive John T. Hartley, the
company's Semiconductor Sector and Communications Sector enjoyed higher
sales and strong earnings, while the Electronic Systems Sector had
moderate earnings on slightly increased sales.
THE FIRST MARTIN MARIETTA COMMERCIAL TITAN ROLLED OUT TO LAUNCH PAD
The first Martin Marietta Commercial Titan vehicle was rolled out to a
launch pad at Cape Canaveral, FL, in preparation for launch no earlier
than November 30. The Commercial Titan will carry two communications
satellites; the British military Skynet 4 and the Japanese JCSat.
ROCKWELL NEGOTIATING WITH BOEING TO BUILD PRODUCTION SITE
Rockwell International said it is negotiating with Boeing Co. to build
major structural components for 747-series transports. The company's
Palmdale, CA, production plant, where the B-1B bombers are built, is a
potential site. Rockwell currently builds 747 aerostructures at Tulsa,
OK, but would like to expand its subcontract work.
SPACE SERVICES TO LAUNCH SECOND SUBORBITAL BOOSTER ON NOVEMBER 15
Space Services Inc.'s launch of its second suborbital booster for the
Consortium for Materials Development in Space at the University of
Alabama, Huntsville, is planned for November 15 and will provide 12
experiments with seven minutes of microgravity. The flight will last
about 15 minutes and will reach an altitude of about 200 miles. The
Consort 2 will be launched from the White Sands Missile Range, New
Mexico.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BDM GIVEN $9.7 MILLION INCREASE TO AIR FORCE RDB CONTRACT
BDM International was given a $9.7 million increase to an Air Force
Logistics Command contract for work on its Requirements Data Bank (RDB)
program, a computerized space parts inventory control system. This
brings the total value of the RDB contract, initially awarded in 1985,
to over $200 million. According to BDM, the contract increase will pay
for computer programming and hardware to centralize the RDB program at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, site of Logistics Command
headquarters, and at a backup facility at the Oklahoma City Air
Logistics Center.
FORD AEROSPACE ISSUED $48 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Ford Aerospace Corp., a unit of Ford Motor Co., was issued a $48
million Air Force contract for automated remote tracking stations.
GROTON WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENT
Groton Associates Inc. won an Air Force contract to develop a computer-
based system that will identify deficiencies in an organization's
software engineering capability and take remedial steps to correct
them. Groton will combine a database on the latest Computer Aided
Software Engineering (CASE) products and other software development
aids with a software engineering capability test. Terms of the
contract were not disclosed.
IBM GIVEN $230.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. was given a $230.5 million
Navy contract for a sonar weapons launch system for submarines and
related software.
MARTIN MARIETTA ISSUED AIR FORCE SPACE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Astronautics Group will test and qualify a solid rocket
motor nozzle using polyacrilonitrile-based materials as a replacement
for rayon under an Air Force contract issued by the Space Systems
Division. The $15.5 million increase to a fixed price incentive firm
contract is scheduled to be completed by March 1992.
TRACOR AWARDED RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Tracor Applied Sciences Inc., a unit of Tracor Inc., was awarded a
$13.7 million Navy contract for work on radio communications systems.
ZDS WON CONTRACT TO SUPPORT PERSONAL COMPUTERS AT DOD FACILITIES
Zenith Data Systems (ZDS), a subsidiary of Zenith Electronics Corp.,
won a contract worth approximately $534 million to support its personal
computers installed in Defense Department (DoD) facilities. ZDS will
supply advanced peripherals and software as well as maintenance,
training and support services for all DoD owned Zenith personal
computing equipment over a five year period. The Navy's Automatic Data
Processing Selection Office is the contracting activity.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for November 6, 1989
November 7, 1989
GOVERNMENT PLACED ORDER AGAINST ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS HARDWARE CONTRACT
The government intends to place an order against a GSA ADP Schedule
Contract with Zenith Data Systems for Hardware. The requirement
includes: 60 desktop PC-ATs, 40 math coprocessors, 40 80MB harddisks
and other assorted peripherals. All responsible sources may respond,
and all responses will be fully considered. Pricing data should be
submitted. No contract award will be made on the basis of any response
to this notice, because the intent to place an order against the
schedule contract shall not be considered a solicitation document.
Contact: A Eierman
Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-8278
November 8, 1989
IBM COMPATIBLE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONTRACT WENT TO FEDERAL DATA
RFP F19630-87-R-0007, issued for Offutt Air Force Base, NE, by the Air
Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCC), to provide and maintain IBM
compatible peripherals, hardware and software, provide analyst support,
system integration support, data and training went to Federal Data
Corporation, Bethesda, MD, for $29,429,274. on November 1, 1989.
November 9,, 1989
TRADOC PLACED ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS FOR SUPERWORKSTATION
TRADOC Contracting Activity placed a notice of intent to place an order
against Silicon Graphics' current GSA schedule on a sole source basis
for an Iris 4D/70GT Superworkstation and many assorted peripherals.
Responses to this notice will be used to determine whether bonafide
competition exists and whether a formal solicitation is appropriate.
No solicitation document exists and no telephone inquiries will be
accepted. Written responses, including GSA Contract numbers, if
applicable, prices and technical data sufficient to determine
capability to meet the requirement must be received by the office
within 45 calendar days after publication of this notice. If no
affirmative responses are received within that time to determine that a
comparable source more advantageous to the government is available, an
order will be placed with Silicon Graphics against their current GSA
schedule. A request for solicitation will not be considered an
affirmative response, however, if issuance of a solicitation is
determined to be appropriate, you will be included on the mailing list.
When responding, please reference W44DVM 9208 0900 (cp). RFP must
state that vendor is not currently on the Consolidated List of
Debarred, Suspended or Ineligible Contractors or otherwise ineligible
to received Government contracts.
Contact: Joseph Farrel
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Ft. Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4007
LOCKHEED SPACE OPERATIONS TO PROCURE MAINFRAMES
Under solicitation RFQ JM-9277-5461, Lockheed Space Operations intends
to procure 22 common processor mainframes with VME CPU boards and other
assorted peripherals. The items will be part of the simulation and
data acquisition systems which will run the OS-9 operating system at
Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, as described in the RFQ Statement
of Work. FAX requests will be accepted if hard copy requests follow in
the mail. No telephone requests will be honored.
Contact: Jeff Marshall
Mail Code LS)-360
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
FAX (407) 867-7068
No relevant RFPs for November 10, 1989.
|
| 20.61 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 11/13/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Nov 22 1989 07:21 | 601 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009173
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 22-Nov-1989 03:02am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 11/13/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of November 13, 1989
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13, 1989
GENERAL:
U.S. APPLICATION OF ADVANCED MATERIALS TO MANUFACTURING PROCESSES LAGS
DSB FINDS U.S. MUST CHANGE POLICIES CONCERNING THE PACIFIC RIM
DEFENSE:
NAVY ORDERED 48 HOUR SUSPENSION OF ROUTINE OPERATIONS
BETTI WON'T FORCE AIR FORCE'S SYSTEMS AND LOGISTICS COMMANDS TO MERGE
AIR FORCE AND NORTHROP HAVE RESUMED B-2 FLIGHT TESTING
BRILLIANT PEBBLES TESTS COMPLY WITH ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY
CONGRESS BARS AIR FORCE FROM BUILDING NEW TITAN 4 COMPLEX
SOFTWARE CHANGES TO AMRAAM SEEM TO HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE
EIGHTH TEST ON THE TACIT RAINBOW MISSILE WAS A SUCCESS
NASA:
HUBBLE TELESCOPE PLACED IN MULTILAYER BAG AS PROTECTION
DISCOVERY SCHEDULED TO BE LAUNCHED NOVEMBER 20
U.S. SPACE COMMAND AND NASA TENTATIVELY PLAN TO ASSESS SPACE DEBRIS
NASA TO PROVIDE SSI WITH GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETER
INTERNATIONAL:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MAY REVITALIZE WOOMERA ROCKET RANGE
CENTRAL FIGURE IN EUROPEAN SPACE SCIENTIFIC SECTOR DIED
CALUDIUS DORNIER SEASTAR GMBH FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY
CHAIRMAN OF ALITALIA AIRLINE KILLED IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
FRANCE TO SUPPLY LIBYA WITH THREE MIRAGE FIGHTER PLANES
ESA PREPARING THE ULYSSES SPACECRAFT FOR OCTOBER 1990 LAUNCH
EURODYNAMICS CONDITIONS SEEN AS BID TO WEAKEN U.K. TIES WITH U.S.
BUSINESS:
AMROC MAY CONSTRUCT SMALLER SOUNDING ROCKET
BOEING PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY USING CLASSIFIED PENTAGON DOCUMENTS
DELTA AIRLINES TO ACQUIRE PLANES FROM MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AND BOEING
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS/BELL TEAM SELECT SIX COMPANIES FOR LHX TRAINING
NORTHROP APPOINTS OLIVER BOILEAU AS PRESIDENT OF B-2 STEALTH DIVISION
PEGASUS BOOSTER MEETS PLANNED TEST OBJECTIVES
UNISYS CHOSEN TO HELP PROVIDE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT FOR FREEDOM
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEROJET CHOSEN TO DEVELOP NEW INTERCEPTOR BOOSTER FOR THE ARMY
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED $48.6 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC AEROSPACE AND GE ISSUED NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
HECHT-NIELSON NEUROCOMPUTERS GIVEN DARPA CONTRACT
INTERSTATE ELECTRONICS GOT A $41.8 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
LOCKHEED AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT
LTV AEROSPACE WON $106.4 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA UNIT AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $19.5 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN NASA CONTRACT TO LAUNCH MARS OBSERVER SPACECRAFT
MITRE RECEIVED $396.2 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
RAYTHEON WON AIR FORCE COMPETITION FOR ALQ-184 POD-MOUNTED JAMMERS
TRW UNIT ISSUED $47.9 MILLION IN AIR FORCE MISSILE PROGRAM CONTRACTS
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for November 13, 1989.
November 14, 1989
WRIGHT PATTERSON ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR PRIME COMPUTER HARDWARE
November 15, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PROCURE PRIME HARDWARE
November 16, 1989
AIR FORCE PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST DATA GENERAL
November 17, 1989
JSC SEEKING SOURCES FOR UTILITIES CONTROL SYSTEM CENTRAL COMPUTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
U.S. APPLICATION OF ADVANCED MATERIALS TO MANUFACTURING PROCESSES LAGS
A recently published National Research Council report states that the
U.S. is behind other nations in applying advanced materials to
manufacturing processes. After studying the aerospace industry, they
found it has "a clear need to produce and fabricate new and traditional
materials more economically, and with higher reproducibility and
quality" than at present. The U.S. leads the world in materials
research; however, the Council believes that there must be more
emphasis on coordination on materials applications, product development
and manufacturing in order to compete internationally.
DSB FINDS U.S. MUST CHANGE POLICIES CONCERNING THE PACIFIC RIM
The Defense Science Board (DSB) found that the U.S. must immediately
change its security and technology policies regarding the Pacific Rim
because in ten years it will be the "world leader" in aerospace
technology and won't need military assistance from the U.S. The DSB
task force said that the U.S. must adapt to a world where "concerns of
long-term economic survival are supplanting materials." The task force
believes that the U.S. must change policies and technology transfer
structures toward a more two-way cooperative posture; there must be a
two-way flow of benefits.
DEFENSE:
NAVY ORDERED 48 HOUR SUSPENSION OF ROUTINE OPERATIONS
The Navy ordered a 48 hour suspension of routine operations in order to
review safety procedures. The unprecedented suspension follows a
recent series of fatal accidents.
BETTI WON'T FORCE AIR FORCE'S SYSTEMS AND LOGISTICS COMMANDS TO MERGE
Despite the Pentagon's defense management review recommendation to
merge the Air Force's Systems and Logistics Commands, Defense
Acquisition Chief John A. Betti said that he will not force the issue.
Mr. Betti said that he feels satisfied with the reorganization plans
submitted by the services and believes that if the Air Force leaders
"can prove that they can streamline the current basic structure and
make it more efficient and effective" they should be given the
opportunity to do so.
AIR FORCE AND NORTHROP HAVE RESUMED B-2 FLIGHT TESTING
The Air Force and Northrop Corp. have resumed B-2 Stealth bomber flight
testing. Among the tests, the B-2 has completed a 6 hour and 5 minute
test mission that included an aerial refueling. This flight places the
Air Force more than a third of the way through the B-2's Block 1 flight
test program. The program consists of about 75 hours and 15 flights to
evaluate the B-2's aerodynamic performance and flightworthiness. The
House and Senate defense authorization bill prohibits the Air Force
from procuring additional B-2 bombers in FY 1990 until the Defense
Department certifies that Block I testing has been successfully
completed and Block 2 testing has begun.
BRILLIANT PEBBLES TESTS COMPLY WITH ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE TREATY
The Defense Department (DoD) maintains that rudimentary tests of
brilliant pebbles strategic defenses comply with the Anti-Ballistic
Missile Treaty. The DoD said that the approved tests do not involve
experiments on suborbital rocket flights, and therefore are not very
far along in the program.
CONGRESS BARS AIR FORCE FROM BUILDING NEW TITAN 4 COMPLEX
Congress has barred the Air Force from building a new complex for Titan
4 launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. Now, the Air Force must
convert an old, shutdown shuttle launch pad at Vandenberg, an option
the Air Force earlier rejected. Congress feels that it would be more
"prudent and economical" to convert the shuttle facility, rather than
build a new one.
SOFTWARE CHANGES TO AMRAAM SEEM TO HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE
The Air Force reported that recent software changes to the Advanced
Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) have proved effective in a
one-on-one engagement between an F-16 and a target drone. The software
changes were made after four of the missiles failed during testing in
August.
EIGHTH TEST ON THE TACIT RAINBOW MISSILE WAS A SUCCESS
The eighth in a series of 25 tests was conducted on the Tacit Rainbow
defense suppression missile by a team of Air Force, Navy and Northrop
Corp. technicians. A spokesperson from the Air Force Aeronautical
Systems Div. said that the weapon was launched from the bomb bay of a
B-52 at the lowest altitude to date. The test flight was a success,
with the weapon locating and impacting its target area.
NASA:
HUBBLE TELESCOPE PLACED IN MULTILAYER BAG AS PROTECTION
While undergoing final checks in the vertical processing facility at
Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Hubble space telescope was placed in a
multilayer bag to provide added protection from contamination. The
telescope will be left in the bag until it is loaded in the space
shuttle's cargo bay. As an additional measure of protection, the
burning of swamp areas around the KSC facility has been stopped until
after the launch, scheduled for next spring.
DISCOVERY SCHEDULED TO BE LAUNCHED NOVEMBER 20
NASA officials announced that the space shuttle Discovery has been
scheduled for a November 20 launch. Mission 33 will carry a secret
military/National Security Agency intelligence spacecraft in the cargo
bay. The four day mission will be launched at night at approximately
7:30 pm EST.
U.S. SPACE COMMAND AND NASA TENTATIVELY PLAN TO ASSESS SPACE DEBRIS
The U.S. Space Command tentatively plans to help NASA assess the extent
of orbiting space debris that may threaten both the space station and
military satellites. Under the agreement, space command would use the
Haystack Observatory radar dish, operated by the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), to test a method for scanning debris
with a narrow beam radar. NASA will also fund the construction of an
auxiliary radar dish at the Haystack site as part of the $15 million
agreement.
NASA TO PROVIDE SSI WITH GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETER
NASA will provide the Space Studies Institute (SSI) with a gamma-ray
spectrometer as part of an experiment package aboard a Lunar Prospector
spacecraft scheduled for launch in 1992. The instrument will circle
the moon in search of water and other evaporating fluids. Funding for
the Lunar Prospector will come from private and corporate
contributions.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA MAY REVITALIZE WOOMERA ROCKET RANGE
According to Australian officials, the state of South Australia is
considering revitalizing the abandoned Woomera rocket range. Thirteen
companies have already responded to a proposal for opening the facility
for commercial testing of jet engines, radar systems, small rocket
vehicles and other aerospace equipment.
CENTRAL FIGURE IN EUROPEAN SPACE SCIENTIFIC SECTOR DIED
E.A. Trendelenburg, former director of the European Space Agency's
(ESA) Space Science Dept. and a central figure in the European space
scientific sector for over 20 years, died of cancer at the age of 66.
Mr. Trendelenburg was involved in many space programs and was
responsible for the agreement that allowed data from the 1986 Soviet
Vega Halley Comet missions to be used for accurate targeting of ESA's
Giotto spacecraft for its close flyby of the comet.
CALUDIUS DORNIER SEASTAR GMBH FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY
West Germany's Claudius Dornier Seastar GmbH filed for bankruptcy
stemming from infighting among members of the Dornier family over the
firm's management structure, and the handling of funding from the
German government and the state of Bavaria. The company still plans to
certify its CD.2 amphibious aircraft, however. Testing for the Seastar
continues and certification of the twin-engine aircraft is planned for
late December or early 1990.
CHAIRMAN OF ALITALIA AIRLINE KILLED IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Carlo Verri, chairman of the Italian airline Alitalia, was killed in an
automobile accident in Rome. Mr. Verri had been chairman of Alitalia
since July, 1988.
FRANCE TO SUPPLY LIBYA WITH THREE MIRAGE FIGHTER PLANES
The French Foreign Ministry announced it will supply Libya with three
Mirage fighter planes, lifting a 1986 embargo on the sale. Repair work
on unspecified French military equipment for the Libyan armed forces
has also been authorized by the Foreign Ministry. The original sale
was to take place in January 1986 but was blocked after France sent
troops to Chad to bolster the government against Libyan and rebel
forces.
ESA PREPARING THE ULYSSES SPACECRAFT FOR OCTOBER 1990 LAUNCH
The European Space Agency (ESA) is putting the Ulysses spacecraft
through a barrage of tests to ensure the satellite can withstand the
low temperatures and vacuum of space it will encounter during its five
year mission. The ESA plans an October 1990 space shuttle launch of
the Ulysses, whose mission will be to study the sun's polar regions.
EURODYNAMICS CONDITIONS SEEN AS BID TO WEAKEN U.K. TIES WITH U.S.
Many European business analysts see the French government's move to
impose conditions on the proposed merger of British Aerospace and
Thomson-CSF missile operations as an attempt to place one of the two
major U.K. missile companies into the French sphere of activity and
weaken potential links with the U.S. Negotiations on the planned
creation of Eurodynamics were slowed by French demands that the British
join the French-led, three-nation Eurosam air defense missile project
as part of the price of approval, however analysts do not expect the
French to block the merger. Eurosam, made up of Aerospatiale, Thomson-
CSF and the Italian government-controlled Selenia, is in competition
with the U.S. NATO Anti-Air Warfare System (NAAWS). The U.K. has not
yet decided between the two.
BUSINESS:
AMROC MAY CONSTRUCT SMALLER SOUNDING ROCKET
American Rocket Co. (AmRoc) officials are leaning toward construction
of a smaller sounding rocket that more closely meets market demand for
launch services. The proposed 34-foot vehicle would carry payloads
above the atmosphere to conduct scientific and military experiments.
It would use an engine that generates less than one-half the lift force
of the H-500 hybrid engine, which failed on October 5. The sounding
rocket's capability would range from carrying a 220-pound payload to an
altitude of 434 miles, to carrying a 1,100-pound payload to an altitude
of 155 miles. AmRoc officials expect to make a final decision on how
to proceed by December.
BOEING PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY USING CLASSIFIED PENTAGON DOCUMENTS
Boeing Co. pleaded guilty to criminal charges of illegally using
classified Pentagon planning documents and has agreed to pay the
government over $5 million. Three former Boeing executives allegedly
participated in the criminal activity.
DELTA AIRLINES TO ACQUIRE PLANES FROM MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AND BOEING
Delta Airlines announced plans to acquire as many as 260 airplanes from
McDonnell Douglas Corp. and Boeing Co. in a transaction that could be
worth over $10 billion. The plans include "firm" orders for 50
McDonnell Douglas MD-90s and 50 Boeing 737-300s. Delivery of the
planes is expected in the mid-1990s.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS/BELL TEAM SELECT SIX COMPANIES FOR LHX TRAINING
The McDonnell Douglas/Bell Helicopter Textron team competing to build
the Army's next-generation LHX helicopter has announced the selection
of six companies that will help develop an integrated training system
for LHX flight and maintenance crews. AAI Corp., Maitlaind, FL; ECC
International Corp., Wayne, PA; Grumman Electronics, Bethpage, NY;
Hughes Simulation Systems Inc., West Covina, CA; Loral Defense Systems,
Akron, OH, and McDonnell Aircraft Co. Training Systems, St. Louis, MO,
were the six companies selected by the McDonnell Douglas/Bell team.
NORTHROP APPOINTS OLIVER BOILEAU AS PRESIDENT OF B-2 STEALTH DIVISION
The Northrop Corp. appointed Oliver C. Boileau president and general
manager of its B-2 Stealth bomber division. Mr. Boileau is a former
president of General Dynamics Corp. and a former chief of Boeing Co.'s
aerospace unit. Mr. Boileau is known as a roll-up-your-sleeves, get
things done sort of manager, which is exactly what the B-2 division
needs right now as it faces severe opposition in Congress.
PEGASUS BOOSTER MEETS PLANNED TEST OBJECTIVES
Orbital Sciences Corp. officials said that while the Pegasus air-
launched space booster met all of its planned test objectives, it lost
pieces of its thermal coating, a hermetic seal, during its first
captive flight attached to a B-52. The flight lasted 88-minutes, with
the NASA-owned B-52 reaching about 36,000 feet with a top speed of
about Mach 0.84 during the flight, which followed low and high speed
taxi tests.
UNISYS CHOSEN TO HELP PROVIDE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT FOR FREEDOM
Unisys Houston Operations in Texas was chosen by NASA to assist in
providing computer hardware, software and systems integration for the
space station Freedom control center. Unisys will support prime
contractor Ford Aerospace Space Systems Division. The company will
supply the center's command and control, planning and flight
preparation systems.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEROJET CHOSEN TO DEVELOP NEW INTERCEPTOR BOOSTER FOR THE ARMY
Aerojet Solid Propulsion was chosen to develop a new interceptor for
ground-based strategic defense, under a $21.4 million contract from the
Army Strategic Defense Command. The Advanced Exoatmospheric
Interceptor Booster will offer significant improvements in performance,
reliability and maintainability, according to an Aerojet spokesperson.
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED $48.6 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
General Dynamics Corp. received a $48.6 million Air Force contract for
F-16 aircraft and mission support equipment.
GENERAL ELECTRIC AEROSPACE AND GE ISSUED NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
General Electric Aerospace and General Electric (GE) Co. were issued
Navy and Air Force contracts totaling $31.7 million for integrated
voice communications and an engine readjustment.
HECHT-NIELSON NEUROCOMPUTERS GIVEN DARPA CONTRACT
Hecht-Nielson Neurocomputers were given a Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) contract for the detailed design of a very
large scale integration neural network chip for image analysis. It
seems that neural networks have superior capabilities for dealing with
blurry images and inconsistent data because they learn by exposure to
repeated examples, rather than being programmed.
INTERSTATE ELECTRONICS GOT A $41.8 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Interstate Electronics Corp. got a $41.8 million Navy contract for
engineering services for the fleet ballistic missile program.
LOCKHEED AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co., a division of the Lockheed Corp.,
received a $26 million Navy contract for two prototype versions of
aircraft.
LTV AEROSPACE WON $106.4 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
LTV Aerospace & Defense Co., a division of LTV Corp., won a $106.4
million Army contract for restructuring of the extended intercept
program.
MARTIN MARIETTA UNIT AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $19.5 MILLION
Martin Marietta Corp.'s Space Launch Systems Co., was awarded a $19.5
million Air Force contract for work on the Titan IV space system.
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN NASA CONTRACT TO LAUNCH MARS OBSERVER SPACECRAFT
Martin Marietta Corp. was given a NASA contract worth $156.6 million to
launch the Mars Observer spacecraft on an unmanned Titan III rocket in
September 1992. The spacecraft will orbit Mars for two years, studying
its atmosphere and surface.
MITRE RECEIVED $396.2 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Mitre Corp. received an Air Force contract worth $396.2 million for
work related to command control communications and intelligence
systems.
RAYTHEON WON AIR FORCE COMPETITION FOR ALQ-184 POD-MOUNTED JAMMERS
Raytheon won the first round in the Air Force's procurement competition
between the Raytheon ALQ-184 and the Westinghouse ALQ-131 pod-mounted
jammers. Under the $120.3 million contract, Raytheon will supply 120
of its ALQ-184s plus six sets of ALM-233 field support equipment to
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. Delivery is scheduled to begin in
October of next year and be completed by the end of 1991.
TRW UNIT ISSUED $47.9 MILLION IN AIR FORCE MISSILE PROGRAM CONTRACTS
TRW Defense Systems Group, a unit of TRW Inc., was issued $47.9 million
in Air Force contracts for missile programs.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for November 13, 1989.
November 14, 1989
WRIGHT PATTERSON ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR PRIME COMPUTER HARDWARE
Wright Patterson Contracting Center issued solicitation F33600-90-Q-
0005 for computer hardware for Prime 6350 computer systems. Requests
for copies of the solicitation must be written, no telephone inquiries
will be accepted.
Contact: Cathy LaMusga
HQ Wright Patterson Contracting Office
Specialized Equipment Support Branch
Specialized Contracting Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433
(513) 257-2698
November 15, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PROCURE PRIME HARDWARE
The Defense Supply Service-Washington, in support of Joint Chief of
Staff, intends to procure a replacement CPU and peripheral equipment
from GSA Schedule Contract No. GS00K90AFS5699 with Prime Computer,
Inc., Natick, MA. The equipment will be used to upgrade and support
an existing fully automated, integrated, secure microfilm-based
document storage and retrieval system operating on a Prime 9750 CPU
under the Proprietary PRIMOS operating system. Interested parties are
invited to identify their interest and capability to respond to the
requirement. Interested parties shall submit a written response
including GSA Contract Number, if applicable, prices and technical data
sufficient to determine capability to meet the requirement. The
response must also state that neither the Requester or Principal
Corporate Officials and Owners are currently suspended, debarred or
otherwise ineligible to receive contracts from any Federal Agency.
Responses to this notice will be used to determine whether a bonafide
competition exists and whether a formal solicitation is appropriate.
If no affirmative responses are received in order to determine whether
a comparable source more advantageous to the government is available,
an order will be placed with Prime Computer, Inc. A request for
solicitation will not be considered an affirmative response. However,
if issuance of a solicitation is determined to be appropriate, you will
be included on the mailing list. All responsible sources may submit an
offer which will be considered by the agency.
Contact: Morie Gunter
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 697-3672
November 16, 1989
AIR FORCE PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST DATA GENERAL
A notice of intent to issue a delivery order under GSA contract no.
GS00K90AFS689 to Data General Corp., or equal, for a volumetric scan
workstation consisting of hardware and software was issued by the Air
Force. No award will be made solely on the basis of this notice since
a synopsis of intent to place an order against a schedule contract
cannot be considered an RFP/RFQ. Response to this notice will be the
basis to determine whether bonafide competition exists and whether a
formal solicitation is appropriate. Only written requests are
acceptable. Firms must submit information identifying their capability
to supply the required supplies. This information will, however, be
considered only if clear and convincing documentation, including
technical and pricing information, is received by this office within 15
days after the publication of this notice. No solicitation document is
available. A request for documentation will not be considered an
affirmative response. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. The
government will not be responsible to pay any costs associated with
preparing a response to this notice.
Contact: Joyce Sigler
Contract Negotiator
ESMC/AFSC Contracts Division PKPC
Patrick Air Force Base, FL 32925-5472
(407) 494-7091
November 17, 1989
JSC SEEKING SOURCES FOR UTILITIES CONTROL SYSTEM CENTRAL COMPUTER
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is seeking sources for a Utilities
Control System Central Computer. The JSC Plant Engineering Division is
considering replacement of the existing Utilities Control System (UCS)
computer system with current technology computer hardware and control
system software. Field devices and remote terminal units (RTUs) will
not be replaced. Modernization of the UCS requires enhanced graphical
user/operator interface capabilities, with regard to Supervisory
Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Relational Data Base Management
System, Fourth Generation Language, Reporting, Archiving and
Configuration Management. The system sought shall be provided by one
qualified source which shall comply with the following general
requirements: the system shall be comprised of commercial-off-the-
shelf (COTS) hardware and software products and the system solution
shall have a 15 year life cycle. This synopsis was published in order
to investigate possible sources, and therefore, a contract will be not
awarded. The information requested should be written, no telephone
inquiries will be accepted, and should be received no later than 30
days from the publication date of this notice.
Contact: Betty Craig
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-2338
|
| 20.62 | Aerospace Industry News, Weeks of 11/20 and 11/27 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Dec 06 1989 15:24 | 689 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009409
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 05-Dec-1989 06:15pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@VALMTS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Weeks of 11/20 and 11/27
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Weeks of November 20 & 27, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to marker::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEKS OF NOVEMBER 20 & 27, 1989
GENERAL:
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER OLDEST OBJECT YET FOUND IN THE UNIVERSE
U.S. BUSINESS JET AIRCRAFT SALES UP 10.1% IN FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1989
DEFENSE:
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHENEY PRESSES FOR FURTHER BUDGET CUTS
AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE STOCKS FALL BY AS MUCH AS 10%
AIR FORCE PROPOSES BARRING BOEING OFFICE FROM DEALINGS WITH DOD
WEST GERMANY WILL NOT UPGRADE SHORT-RANGE NUCLEAR MISSILES
WHITEMAN TO BE READY FOR B-2 BOMBERS BY EARLY 1991
TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY ISSUE IS THE MAJOR DEBATE OF FSX PROJECT
AIR FORCE ANNOUNCED SIX MILITARY BASES FOR MX NUCLEAR MISSILE
JOHN MARSH NAMED HEAD OF THE RESERVE FORCES POLICY BOARD
B-2 STEALTH BOMBER MAKES EIGHTH FLIGHT AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
CHENEY SAYS U.S. WILL KEEP MAJOR MILITARY PRESENCE IN EUROPE
NASA:
WHITE HOUSE REVIEWING NASA MANNED EXPLORATION OF MOON AND MARS PLAN
GALILEO CRITIC CHARGES NASA DID NOT HAVE TO USE NUCLEAR POWER FOR PROBE
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY COMPLETES FIVE DAY CLASSIFIED MISSION
NASA TO SWITCH TO NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERIES FOR HUBBLE TELESCOPE
GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATING AUXILIARY INSTRUMENTS USED ON SHUTTLE FLIGHTS
SOLAR MAXIMUM MISSION SATELLITE TO RE-ENTER ATMOSPHERE SOON
INTERNATIONAL:
JAPANESE TO DISCUSS JOINT PRODUCTION OF SMALL JETS IN EUROPE
KAL AND AEROFLOT DISCUSSING KAL'S REQUEST TO FLY OVER THE SOVIET UNION
MATRA'S SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR DIED IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
MBB TO MARKET NEW LIGHTWEIGHT MISSILE ATTACK WARNING SYSTEM IN U.S.
MITSUBISHI REPORTED 43% RISE IN NET INCOME FOR FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR
TWO BRITS SELECTED FOR TRAINING FOR BRITISH-SOVIET JUNO MISSION
BUSINESS:
BOEING AND STRIKING MACHINISTS UNION REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
EASTERN HAS RENEWED TALKS TO SELL ASSETS TO AMERICAN AIRLINES
GENERAL DYNAMICS FILED SUIT AGAINST DEFENSE CONTRACT AUDIT AGENCY
GTE'S GSTAR III REACHED GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT AFTER BEING STRANDED
LOCKHEED MAY POST NET LOSS FOR THE YEAR DUE TO P-7 PLANNING MISTAKE
HAROLD SIMMONS' STAKE IN LOCKHEED RAISES TO 10.84%
LORAL TO BUY HONEYWELL'S ELECTRO-OPTICS DIVISION
SPACE SERVICES SECOND SUBORBITAL BOOSTER FAILED SECONDS AFTER LAUNCH
THINKING MACHINES WORKING ON NEW COMPUTER FOR THE PENTAGON
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEL DEFENSE GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $46.1 MILLION
BOEING-SIKORSKY JOINT PROGRAM OFFICE ISSUED LHX PROGRAM CONTRACT
DYNAMICS RESEARCH AWARDED EXTENSION CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED CONTRACTS TOTALING $12.4 MILLION
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED $695.2 MILLION IN CONTRACTS
GTE'S GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS AWARDED SOFTWARE CONTRACT FOR THE PENTAGON
HYDROACOUSTICS RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $14.9 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED $136.5 MILLION IN DEFENSE CONTRACTS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AND TEXTRON TEAM GIVEN ARMY LHX PROGRAM CONTRACT
RAYTHEON WON CONTRACT FOR EQUIPMENT TO VERIFY MISSILE TREATIES
SCC GIVEN ENERGETICS CONTRACT FOR SATELLITE LAUNCHES
TENNECO UNIT GIVEN $416 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS WON AIRCRAFT RADAR SYSTEMS CONTRACT
UNISYS ISSUED $233.1 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR DESKTOP COMPUTERS
UTC GIVEN SH-60B HELICOPTER CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for November 20, 1989.
November 21, 1989
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE TWO FRONT END PROCESSORS
No relevant RFPs for November 22-23, 1989.
November 24, 1989
AFDW CONTRACTING OFFICE TO PROCURE CAREER INFORMATION SYSTEM
No relevant RFPs for November 27-30, 1989.
December 1, 1989
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND ISSUED SOLICITATION TO CADRE TECHNOLOGIES
---------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER OLDEST OBJECT YET FOUND IN THE UNIVERSE
Astronomers discovered the oldest, most distant object yet found in the
universe, a star-like body called a quasar, about 14 billion light
years from Earth. Scientists say the discovery is extremely
significant because it challenges current theories about when the
universe developed. Analysis of light emitted by the quasar indicates
that it existed when the universe was only 7% of its current age and
one-sixth its present size. The discovery was made by Dr. Donald
Schneider of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, NJ, while
working at the California Institute of Technology's Palomar
Observatory.
U.S. BUSINESS JET AIRCRAFT SALES UP 10.1% IN FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1989
New U.S. business jet aircraft sales were up 10.1% in the first nine
months of the year, compared with sales during the same period in 1988.
Cessna Aircraft Co. and Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. led the industry
during the nine months in jet deliveries.
DEFENSE:
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHENEY PRESSES FOR FURTHER BUDGET CUTS
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said on ABC-TV that the likelihood of an
all-out U.S.-Soviet conflict "is probably lower now" than any time
since the end of World War II. Also, Mr. Cheney has demanded that
Pentagon officials begin making the irreversible budget cuts they have
thus far resisted. Military spending has been relatively flat over the
past few years and military leaders have been able to trim expenditures
in relatively simple ways, such as slowing down the pace of weapon
development and acquisition. However, Mr. Cheney clearly favors
cutting machines before manpower which is bad news for the U.S. defense
industry. Mr. Cheney plans to cut total Defense Department spending
over the next six years by as much as $180 billion.
AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE STOCKS FALL BY AS MUCH AS 10%
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney's announcement to cut Pentagon spending
by as much as $180 billion sparked a large decline on Wall Street for
aerospace and defense stocks. Many aerospace and defense companies,
including Raytheon Co., Lockheed Corp., and United Technologies stocks
lost up to 10% of their value. Many analysts believe the market
overreacted because most expect the Pentagon to eventually eliminate a
few weapons systems now in the early stages of development or
production, such as the Stealth B-2 bomber, rather than reduce or
stretch out programs because that drives up unit costs.
AIR FORCE PROPOSES BARRING BOEING OFFICE FROM DEALINGS WITH DOD
Following Boeing Co.'s guilty plea to unlawful handling of Defense
Department (DoD) planning documents, the Air Force proposed barring
Boeing's Washington, D.C. area office (Roslyn, VA), from future
dealings with the Pentagon and all other federal agencies. The
debarment could last as long as three years. It is very unusual for
the Pentagon to suspend a single office, rather than an entire unit or
division, and the proposal is seen as largely symbolic.
WEST GERMANY WILL NOT UPGRADE SHORT-RANGE NUCLEAR MISSILES
In response to the question about the possibility of replacing the
short-range nuclear missiles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) in Germany with new ones as the U.S. was demanding earlier this
year, a West German officials said, "the question of modernization is a
question that makes me laugh." The official was accompanying West
German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher who was in Washington
meeting with President Bush and Secretary of State James A. Baker.
WHITEMAN TO BE READY FOR B-2 BOMBERS BY EARLY 1991
According to Air Force officials, the $640 million B-2 Stealth bomber
facilities planned at Whiteman Air Force Base, MO, should be ready to
accept the first aircraft in early 1991. The construction plans call
for 30 enclosed, climate-controlled B-2 "maintenance docks", where each
B-2 will be housed separately to protect their radar-absorbing coatings
from sunlight and to facilitate coating and engine maintenance. Many
officials believe that the $630 million figure, which includes $20
million in operations and maintenance for runway improvements, is about
one third higher than would be necessary at other bases under
consideration as future B-2 locations. Whiteman's runway was last used
by an active bomber wing when B-47s were stationed there in 1963.
TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY ISSUE IS THE MAJOR DEBATE OF FSX PROJECT
The issue of whether Japan will transfer technology to the U.S., and
for what price, has become the major debate of the FSX project.
Although the U.S. and Japanese governments have already signed a
general agreement, General Dynamics Corp., the main subcontractor and
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. continue to disagree over the
specifics of the technology transfer. Mitsubishi does not want to
share certain technologies with General Dynamics because the U.S.
company was planning to sell planes with that technology to third world
countries. Japan has a policy against military exports to countries
other than the U.S. General Dynamics feels this reluctance violates
the spirit of the project. It is hoped that the two companies will
come to an agreement by the end of the year.
AIR FORCE ANNOUNCED SIX MILITARY BASES FOR MX NUCLEAR MISSILE
The Air Force announced the six bases that will serve as sites for a
railroad-based version of the MX nuclear missile. The bases are in
Louisiana, Texas, Washington, North Dakota, Arkansas and Michigan. The
missiles will be kept at the military installations, to be moved on
civilian railroad tracks in time of crisis.
JOHN MARSH NAMED HEAD OF THE RESERVE FORCES POLICY BOARD
Former Army Secretary John O. Marsh Jr. was named head of the Reserve
Forces Policy Board (RFPB) by Defense Secretary Dick Cheney. The RFPB
advises the secretary of defense on Reserve issues and is made up of
active and reserve general and flag officers representing all services,
as well as the assistant service secretaries for Reserve affairs.
B-2 STEALTH BOMBER MAKES EIGHTH FLIGHT AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
The B-2 Stealth bomber made its eighth flight at Edwards Air Force
Base, CA. According to the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Div., the
five hour and 28 minute flight "continued planned flight control and
structural systems checkout," and continued testing operation
characteristics.
CHENEY SAYS U.S. WILL KEEP MAJOR MILITARY PRESENCE IN EUROPE
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said the U.S. will keep a major military
presence in Europe despite its plan for cuts. Mr. Cheney was quoted as
saying "We are in Europe to stay." Mr. Cheney's remarks were to calm
worried allies, who were concerned by the announcement that the U.S.,
the biggest contributor to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
plans spending cuts of up to $180 billion by 1995.
NASA:
WHITE HOUSE REVIEWING NASA MANNED EXPLORATION OF MOON AND MARS PLAN
The White House is currently reviewing a NASA plan for the manned
exploration of the moon and Mars which would spend about $200 million
on the project in FY 1990. NASA Administrator Richard Truly presented
the plan to the National Space Council last week. The plan envisions
sending astronauts to the moon as early as the year 2001 and to Mars as
early as 2011.
GALILEO CRITIC CHARGES NASA DID NOT HAVE TO USE NUCLEAR POWER FOR PROBE
Karl Grossman, journalism professor at the State University of New York
and a critic of NASA's plutonium-powered Galileo space probe charged in
an article published in The Nation that the agency deliberately lied
about the need for the spacecraft's nuclear power plant to Congress,
the public and a federal court. According to the charges, a 1981
study, funded by NASA and researched at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
showed that the spacecraft could have been powered by solar cells.
Grossman alleged that NASA hid this information, saying that the
mission must either be nuclear powered or it would not go. NASA
officials responded to the article calling these "false accusations"
that "misrepresent the facts."
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY COMPLETES FIVE DAY CLASSIFIED MISSION
The space shuttle Discovery and its five member crew completed a
successful five day classified Defense Department mission. The shuttle
landed one day later than scheduled due to heavy crosswinds at the
runway of Edwards Air Force Base, CA. Many observers speculate that
the shuttle carried a satellite destined for a geostationary orbit, one
that may be used to collect signals intelligence from the Soviet Union.
A NASA spokesperson said, upon initial inspection, the orbiter suffered
the least damage of any after flight shuttle, due in part to use of the
concrete runway.
NASA TO SWITCH TO NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERIES FOR HUBBLE TELESCOPE
NASA said it will use nickel-hydrogen batteries on the Hubble Space
Telescope, rather than the nickel-cadmium batteries it planned to use
for the spacecraft. The nickel-hydrogen batteries will have more power
and provide longer life for the telescope. The Hubble launch date is
scheduled for March 1990.
GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATING AUXILIARY INSTRUMENTS USED ON SHUTTLE FLIGHTS
A Birmingham, Ala., federal grand jury is investigating allegations
that some auxiliary instruments used on three space shuttle flights
were not properly inspected and certified for use. NASA officials said
that government investigators are looking into certain auxiliary
equipment used on the first three shuttle flights launched after the
Challenger explosion grounded the space program for over two years.
The investigation reportedly began after a Thiokol Corp. design
engineer raised concerns about proper testing and qualification on
Thiokol instruments. The company designs and makes the solid-rocket
boosters for the shuttle program.
SOLAR MAXIMUM MISSION SATELLITE TO RE-ENTER ATMOSPHERE SOON
NASA officials said that the Solar Maximum Mission satellite, which
went out of control, is expected to re-enter the atmosphere around
December 2. U.S. Space Command has been tracking the satellite since
Goddard Space Flight Center controllers separated the spacecraft's high
gain antenna. Solar Max was launched on February 14, 1980 aboard the
space shuttle to study the effects of atmospheric expansion caused by
the solar cycle.
INTERNATIONAL:
JAPANESE TO DISCUSS JOINT PRODUCTION OF SMALL JETS IN EUROPE
A group from Japan, comprised of representatives from the Ministry of
International Trade and Industry and three airplane makers; Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries Ltd., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Kawasaki Heavy
Industries Ltd., will go to France, Britain, West Germany, the
Netherlands and Italy to explore possibilities for joint production of
small commercial jets. The team will discuss, with at least one
airplane company in each country, the production of 75-passenger
compact jets.
KAL AND AEROFLOT DISCUSSING KAL'S REQUEST TO FLY OVER THE SOVIET UNION
Korean Air Lines (KAL) and the Soviet carrier Aeroflot met in Seoul to
discuss the KAL's request for permission to fly over the Soviet Union
for European services. Since there are no diplomatic relations between
the two countries, only the two airlines were involved in the
negotiations. Details of the meetings were not disclosed; however, KAL
officials said that payment to the Soviet Union in return for rights to
fly over Soviet territories was among the points that needed to be
resolved.
MATRA'S SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR DIED IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
Scientific director of Matra's Space Branch Armand Peraldi died in a
motorcycle accident in France. Mr. Peraldi was in charge of defining
Matra's space science strategy and following scientific/technological
advances at the company.
MBB TO MARKET NEW LIGHTWEIGHT MISSILE ATTACK WARNING SYSTEM IN U.S.
Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm (MBB), West Germany, has developed a
lightweight passive airborne missile attack warning system (MAWS), and
has teamed with Tracor to investigate potential U.S. markets. The MAWS
is expected to weigh less than 20 lbs. in a production version and uses
three small sensors operating in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum
to detect missile rocket-engine plume. MBB will probably market a
hybrid MAWS, which combines a Doppler radar with the passive
ultraviolet sensors, for the proposed new European fighter aircraft.
MITSUBISHI REPORTED 43% RISE IN NET INCOME FOR FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR
Mitsubishi Corp., Japan, reported a 43% rise in net income for the
first half of 1989 to 30.14 billion yen or $210 million from a year
earlier.
TWO BRITS SELECTED FOR TRAINING FOR BRITISH-SOVIET JUNO MISSION
The U.K. organizers of the British-Soviet Juno mission selected a
British Army AirCorps major and a research technologist at Mars
Confectionery as the two training candidates for astronaut training
leading to an eight-day mission to the Mir space station in 1991. The
two candidates will now go to the Soviet Union to begin 18 months of
astronaut training at the Gagrain Center in Star City near Moscow. One
of them will be selected to fly with two Soviet cosmonauts on a mission
planned for some time between March and July 1991.
BUSINESS:
BOEING AND STRIKING MACHINISTS UNION REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
Boeing Co. and the striking Machinists union announced they have
reached a tentative settlement agreement, ending the six week work
stoppage. The tentative agreement was reached after a federal mediator
put his own recommendation on the table. Details of the three year
pact will not be disclosed until the Machinists union members, all
55,000 of them, vote on the agreement.
EASTERN HAS RENEWED TALKS TO SELL ASSETS TO AMERICAN AIRLINES
Eastern Airlines and AMR Corp.'s American Airlines have renewed talks
for the sale of some major Eastern assets, worth approximately $400
million to $500 million, to American. The key asset in the proposed
sale is the package of South American routes, valued at a minimum of
$365 million. The sale would help Eastern's bankruptcy-law
reorganization effort by liquidating assets. The sale depends on an
agreement to settle unrelated litigation pending between American and
Eastern's sister carrier, Continental Airlines. Both Eastern and
Continental are units of Texas Air Corp.
GENERAL DYNAMICS FILED SUIT AGAINST DEFENSE CONTRACT AUDIT AGENCY
General Dynamics Corp. filed a $29.2 million suit in Los Angeles
federal court charging that the Defense Contract Audit Agency
negligently performed audits of the company's work on an anti-aircraft
system. According to the charges, it was the negligent Defense
Contract Audit Agency work which led to criminal indictments and civil
actions against the company. Though all charges were eventually
dismissed in 1987, General Dynamics said the amount it is seeking in
the suit represents the total cost of its legal defenses in this matter
from 1984, when allegations of fraudulent mischarging were first
brought.
GTE'S GSTAR III REACHED GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT AFTER BEING STRANDED
GTE Spacenet Corp.'s GStar III communications satellite has reached
geostationary orbit and been declared operational after being stranded
in an elliptical orbit following an apogee kick motor firing last
September. The satellite was left stranded after an imbalance in the
fuel tanks caused it to pinwheel when its apogee kick motor fired. GTE
is marketing the satellite for relaying short television news
broadcasts, mobile services and video networks; however, because the
satellite has drifted, it is less feasible that is will be used to
relay data services.
LOCKHEED MAY POST NET LOSS FOR THE YEAR DUE TO P-7 PLANNING MISTAKE
Lockheed Corp. announced it made a planning mistake on its P-7 anti-
submarine-warfare aircraft that could cost the company as much as $300
million in charges and, as a result, the company may post a net loss
for the year. Following the disclosure, Lockheed stock closed at
$39.50, off $2.125, in New York's Stock Exchange composite trading.
According to the company, the mistake is the result of engineers
originally believing that the P-7 would have 30% of its design in
common with the old submarine-warfare aircraft, the P-3 Orion.
However, Lockheed has realized that the Navy wants a practically new
plane. The cost of the project was originally estimated at about $600
million, but will now cost Lockheed about $1 billion. The contract is
a fixed-price development contract, which the company has since stated
they will no longer bid on.
HAROLD SIMMONS' STAKE IN LOCKHEED RAISES TO 10.84%
The Dallas, TX, investor Harold Simmons announced that he bought an
additional 117,600 common shares of Lockheed Corp., raising his stake
in the company to 10.84%. Lockheed declined comment on Mr. Simmon's
purchases.
LORAL TO BUY HONEYWELL'S ELECTRO-OPTICS DIVISION
Loral Corp. has agreed to buy Honeywell Inc.'s Electro-Optics division.
The value of the transaction was not disclosed, however securities
analysts speculate that Loral will pay about $60 million for the
Electro-Optics division which will have sales of $130 million in 1989
with $170 million backlog. The division makes infrared imaging devices
and parts for airborne reconnaissance, threat warning, missile guidance
and targeting systems. The purchase will add to the growing Loral
portfolio of defense electronics business.
SPACE SERVICES SECOND SUBORBITAL BOOSTER FAILED SECONDS AFTER LAUNCH
Space Services Inc.'s second suborbital booster, the Consort 2, failed
just seconds after launch from White Sands Missile Range, NM. The
booster carried 12 microgravity experiments sponsored by the Consortium
of Materials Development in Space at the University of Alabama at
Huntsville. The flight was to have lasted 15 minutes and provide seven
minutes of microgravity for the materials processing and life sciences
experiments.
THINKING MACHINES WORKING ON NEW COMPUTER FOR THE PENTAGON
Thinking Machines Corp., Cambridge, MA, announced that it is working on
a new computer that would be as much as 1,000 times faster than
conventional supercomputers. The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) has given the company a $12 million contract to
deliver a scaled-down version of the machine in 1992. Thinking
Machines said it will invest $12 million of its own money in the
project, named the Mega machine. The design is called massively
parallel processing with a network linking the processors in the Mega
machine will be patterned on the telephone network, where messages are
routed automatically around defective parts of the system.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEL DEFENSE GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $46.1 MILLION
AEL Defense Corp. was given a $46.1 million Air Force contract for a
training simulator.
BOEING-SIKORSKY JOINT PROGRAM OFFICE ISSUED LHX PROGRAM CONTRACT
The Army issued Boeing-Sikorsky Joint Program Office, a team of Boeing
Co. and United Technologies Corp., a $167.6 million contract for
demonstrating and validating the light helicopter experimental, or LHX,
program.
DYNAMICS RESEARCH AWARDED EXTENSION CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
Dynamics Research Corp. was awarded an $8.5 million, one-year contract
extension for the Air Force System Design and Analysis program.
Dynamics signed the original contract in September 1987.
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED CONTRACTS TOTALING $12.4 MILLION
General Electric Co. received $12.4 million in Navy contracts for
missile-engineering services and automation equipment.
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED $695.2 MILLION IN CONTRACTS
General Electric Co. also received $695.2 million in contracts for Navy
destroyer weapons and parts and for Air Force jet engine spare parts.
GTE'S GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS AWARDED SOFTWARE CONTRACT FOR THE PENTAGON
GTE Corp.'s GTE Government Systems Corp. unit was awarded a $16.4
million contract from the Defense Communications Agency to develop
software for an advanced data processing system. The software will be
used in the Pentagon's Joint Operation Planning and Execution System
and will link computer systems used by the Pentagon for military
exercises and warfare planning, including troop and equipment
deployment. GTE said the contract runs through October 1990 with
options to continue through 1991 for a yet to be determined price.
HYDROACOUSTICS RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $14.9 MILLION
Hydroacoustics Inc. received a $14.9 million Navy contract for work on
a high-power underwater sound projector system.
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED $136.5 MILLION IN DEFENSE CONTRACTS
Martin Marietta Corp. received $136.5 million in contracts for Army
helicopter electronics and Air Force jet aircraft navigation equipment.
The Pentagon said that Westinghouse Electric Co. will participate in a
joint venture for the helicopter electronics.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AND TEXTRON TEAM GIVEN ARMY LHX PROGRAM CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co.-Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., a joint
venture of McDonnell Douglas Corp. and Textron Inc., was awarded a
$167.3 million contract for demonstrating and validating the light
helicopter experimental, or LHX, program.
RAYTHEON WON CONTRACT FOR EQUIPMENT TO VERIFY MISSILE TREATIES
Raytheon Co. won a $28.9 million Army contract for equipment to verify
missile treaties.
SCC GIVEN ENERGETICS CONTRACT FOR SATELLITE LAUNCHES
Space Commerce Corp. (SCC) was given a $54 million contract by
Energetics Satellite Corp. for launch of up to eight geolocation
satellites aboard Soviet Proton boosters beginning in late 1990. The
contract calls for SCC, Houston, TX, to coordinate the two launches,
with options for up to six more, through its joint venture with
Glavkosmos, the Soviet civilian space agency. A spokesperson for SCC
said that despite U.S. restrictions on technology exports to Communist
countries, the company believes that the government will approve the
export license application because the technology proposed for the
satellites is within the public domain and has been presented to users
in the U.S., Australia and Europe.
TENNECO UNIT GIVEN $416 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Tenneco Inc.'s Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. was given a
$416 million Navy contract for one SSN-688 class submarine.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS WON AIRCRAFT RADAR SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Texas Instruments Inc. won a $10 million Navy contract for aircraft
radar systems.
UNISYS ISSUED $233.1 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR DESKTOP COMPUTERS
Unisys Corp. was issued a $233.1 million Air Force contract for desktop
computers, related peripherals and other components and services.
UTC GIVEN SH-60B HELICOPTER CONTRACT
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was given a $45 million Navy contract
for 12 SH-60B helicopters.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for November 20, 1989.
November 21, 1989
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE TWO FRONT END PROCESSORS
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to place a delivery
order with an ADP GSA Schedule vendor IAW FIRMR 201-2.206 for the
acquisition of two Comten 3695 front end processors or equal. The
vendor must verify that certification for the X.25 interface has been
granted by either TYMNET, TELENET, UNINET or the DDN. Also, the front
end processor shall provide remote IBM Virtual Telecommunication Access
Method (VTAM) capability. All responsible sources may respond by
submitting a written narrative statement of capability, including
detailed technical information and other technical literature
demonstrating the ability to meet the requirement, within 15 days of
the publication of this notice. All such responses shall be fully
considered by NASA/GSFC. If no affirmative responses are received
within 15 days to determine whether a qualified source more
advantageous to the Government is available, an order will be placed
with a GSA vendor against their GSA schedule. No telephone inquiries
will be accepted.
Contact: Julie Hostetler
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-2940
No relevant RFPs for November 22-23, 1989.
November 24, 1989
AFDW CONTRACTING OFFICE TO PROCURE CAREER INFORMATION SYSTEM
The Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) Contracting Office intends
to negotiate a sole source procurement with Allen Communications, Salt
Lake City, UT, for a Career Information System, under solicitation
F49642-90-Q-0928. The necessary hardware needed must fully integrate
with Allen Communications proprietary software. This requirement is
for hardware which the Government has determined to be proprietary to
Allen Communications.
Contact: Joanne Mohn
Air Force District of Washington
Contracting Office
Bldg. 3534/CNA
Andrews Air Force Base, DC 20331-5320
No relevant RFPs for November 27-30, 1989.
December 1, 1989
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND ISSUED SOLICITATION TO CADRE TECHNOLOGIES
The U.S. Army Missile Command issued solicitation DAAH03-90-R-0017 for
two Software Analysis System 2420 workstations. These workstations
allow multiple CPUs to be monitored at one time while evaluating
software performance. It is the government's intent to award a sole
source contract to Cadre Technologies, Inc.
Contact: Margaret Moulder
Commander
U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 842-7442
|
| 20.63 | AIIC's NewsCapsule 12/6/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Dec 07 1989 11:23 | 104 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009444
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 07-Dec-1989 10:57am CET
From: AIIC
AIIC@AIADM@SELECT@HERON@MRGATE@VALMTS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: AIIC's NewsCapsule 12/6/89
================================================================================
* * * * * * * * ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION CENTER * * * * * * * *
+ + + + + + + + NewsCapsule + + + + + + + +
* * * * * * * * Wednesday, December 6, 1989 * * * * * * * *
================================================================================
DEC STOCK: 87 3/4 - 1/4
IBM
+++
"IBM To Trim 10,000 Jobs, Take $2.3 Billion Charge"
<Boston Globe 12/6/89 P.85>
"IBM announced that it will cut 10,000 jobs in the US, shut
production lines and take other steps to slash bloated costs
and off-set stubbornly sluggish US sales". "The cutbacks are the
latest and most severe IBM has been forced to take to adjust to
a slowdown in the US computer market."
SUN MICROSYSTEMS/ANDERSEN CONSULTING
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
* "Andersen Consulting To Become Commercial Integrator of
Sun Systems"
<BusinessWire 11/28/89>
Sun Microsystems announced that Andersen Consulting will
remarket Sun's entire line of computers and software as part of
systems integration solutions for the commercial market.
"Andersen and Sun already have several joint commercial projects
under way, such as development of software for imaging and
document management, CIM and Artificial Intelligence for
commercial applications. These projects are aimed at providing
solutions for customers in securities, insurance, airline
transportation and manufacturing industries."
"To demonstrate the commercial potential of its integration
solutions using Sun equipment, Andersen Consulting has set up
prototypes of CIM applications at its systems Integration Centers
in Evanston, ILL and Dallas."
NEURAL NETS
+++++++++++
"Neural Networking, A Form of AI Computing, Is A $10-$30
Million Market"
<High Technology Business 12/89 P.32>
"Neural Net computer systems are a $10-30 million market,
according to various industry estimates. The technology's
first deployment was in a TRW Electronics System Mark III
co-processor designed to work with a DEC VAX mainframe
at Lincoln Laboratories, MIT. There are 6+ small firms active
in this market, selling about $1million/year each in neural
network hardware and software. Most applications are in the
defense and aerospace industries, but financial services firms
are using the technology to analyze credit risks."
DEC
+++
* "Digital Equipment in Ties to Develop Image Processors"
<Wall Street Journal 12/5/89 P.B4>
"DEC announced strategic relationships with several companies
in the field of imaging technology. Separately, NCR gave
details of its imaging stratety yesterday, saying it would
concentrate in hi-volume forms processing, document management
and office systems. Eastman Kodak and LaserData are among the
companies expected to announce partnerships with DEC. Digital
plans to incorporate Kodak's optical disk technology and a
high-speed production scanner into Digital's imaging technology."
PLEASE NOTE: * indicates full-text article is located in the Information
Center. Please come down and copy article if you wish to
do so.
AI Information Center
DLB5-1/E3
291-8256
AIADM::AIIC
|
| 20.64 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 12/11/89 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Dec 20 1989 11:27 | 618 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009655
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 19-Dec-1989 11:52pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@MRGATE@STATOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 12/11/89
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of December 11, 1989
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
----------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to ink::shaw or
Douglas Shaw @CFO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 11, 1989
GENERAL:
U.S. R&D SPENDING IN 1990 FALLS BEHIND EUROPE AND JAPAN
SCIENTISTS DISCOVER MOST DISTANT KNOWN STAR IN THE MILKY WAY
U.S. PLUTONIUM PRODUCTION FIGURES COVERING 1944 TO 1960 TO BE RELEASED
DEFENSE:
OBSERVERS REPORT SECRET DEFENSE SATELLITE BOOSTED TO HIGHER ORBIT
ARMY TESTS NEW PROTECTIVE CONFIGURATION FOR MLRS
AIR FORCE REPORTS NINTH TACIT RAINBOW MISSILE TEST PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL
TRIDENT 2 MISSILE HAS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH
SOVIETS TO INSPECT SDI RESEARCH FACILITIES IN NEW MEXICO AND CALIFORNIA
THREE MORE FOUND GUILTY IN "OPERATION ILL WIND" INVESTIGATION EFFORTS
DOD TO ELIMINATE 25,000 PERSONNEL IN FY 1990
NASA:
NASA TO SEND TOMATO SEEDS FLOWN IN SPACE TO SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASSES
DALE COMPTON NAMED AS DIRECTOR OF AMES RESEARCH CENTER
NASA POSTPONED COLUMBIA'S LAUNCH DATE TO PREPARE THE LAUNCH PAD
LANGLEY TO RECEIVE COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS AND PROGRAMMING SERVICES
INTERNATIONAL:
ARIANESPACE'S SPOT2 SATELLITE SCHEDULED TO BE LAUNCHED IN JANUARY
IRAQI GOVERNMENT CLAIMS TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED ROCKET
JAPAN TO LAUNCH MUSES-A IN JANUARY, MOS-2 IN FEBRUARY
U.S. PROTEIN CRYSTAL GROWTH EXPERIMENT TO BE FLOWN ABOARD MIR
JAPAN'S MINISTRY OF FINANCE PLANS TO REDUCE DEFENSE SPENDING INCREASES
BUSINESS:
CTC RECEIVED MANY UNSOLICITED BIDS AFTER ANNOUNCING POSSIBLE SALE
DOW AND UTC FORM JOINT COMPOSITES VENTURE
GD NAMES PETER GOSSENS AS CORPORATE MANAGER OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
GENERAL SCIENCES DEVELOPING MAPS OF RADIATION LEFT FROM BIG BANG
LORAL TO PAY FINES AND HAVE LITTON AS SECOND SOURCE ON ARWR CASE
ORBITAL SCIENCES POSTPONED INAUGURAL LAUNCH OF PEGASUS TILL JANUARY
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEL INDUSTRIES TO BUILD TWO AN/MLQ-T4 (V) SYSTEMS FOR THE AIR FORCE
BOOZ, ALLEN & HAMILTON WON $6.6 MILLION SDIO CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS GOT NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $238.2 MILLION
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED SHIPBOARD WEAPONS SYSTEMS CONTRACT
HONEYWELL GIVEN $22.3 MILLION CONTRACT MODIFICATION BY THE NAVY
H&R WON AN EARLY PHASE OF ADVANCED AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE PROGRAM CONTRACT
IBM TO TRANSFER MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR NAVSTAR GPS TO AIR FORCE
LOCKHEED WON TWO NAVY CONTRACTS TOTALING $135.5 MILLION
LTV AEROSPACE RECEIVED ROCKET SYSTEM WARHEAD DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT
RAYTHEON ISSUED NAVAL MISSILE-GUIDANCE SECTIONS CONTRACT
SPACE DATA CHOSEN BY SDIO TO CONDUCT SUBORBITAL LAUNCHES
SYSTEMS RESEARCH AWARDED AIR FORCE DATA PROCESSING CONTRACT
TRW PICKED BY NASA FOR TWO-PHASE DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT FOR EOS
UNISYS RECEIVED ARMY TACTICAL COMPUTER CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
Decembber 11, 1989
AMES RESEARCH CENTER PLACED ORDER AGAINST FALCON MICROSYSTEMS CONTRACT
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND REQUIRES A COMPUTER BASED DVCS
December 12, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PURCHASE PORTABLE DATA TERMINALS
December 13, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE MICRO COMPUTERS
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE MACINTOSH PERSONAL COMPUTERS
No relevant RRFPs for December 14-15, 1989.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
U.S. R&D SPENDING IN 1990 FALLS BEHIND EUROPE AND JAPAN
Research & Development magazine reported that U.S. Research &
Development (R&D) spending in 1990, with 5.6% growth, will be only
slightly higher than inflation. However, some large corporations are
expected to spend up to 8%. This puts the U.S. far behind large
European and Japanese companies, which are expected to increase R&D
funding to 12% in 1990.
SCIENTISTS DISCOVER MOST DISTANT KNOWN STAR IN THE MILKY WAY
Scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD,
have spotted the most distant known star in the Milky Way. According
to Howard Bond, who along with two others discovered the star, the
discovery could help determine the total mass of the galaxy. The star
is located 160,000 light-years from the Earth in the direction of the
constellation Virgo.
U.S. PLUTONIUM PRODUCTION FIGURES COVERING 1944 TO 1960 TO BE RELEASED
Energy Secretary James Watkins authorized the release of plutonium
production figures covering 1944 to 1960 at the Hanford nuclear
reservation in Richland, WA. Plutonium production figures have never
been released because the U.S. feared the information could help the
enemy determine the size of the nation's nuclear stockpile. The
information is being released at the request of an independent panel of
scientists that are studying past radiation releases at Hanford in
order to determine if people in the area have suffered health problems
due to the release of radioactive gas.
DEFENSE:
OBSERVERS REPORT SECRET DEFENSE SATELLITE BOOSTED TO HIGHER ORBIT
Civilian observers report that the classified military satellite
deployed during a space shuttle Columbia mission last August has been
maneuvered to a higher orbit and may have deployed up to three
subsatellites. This leads the observers to believe that the payloads
are electronic intelligence satellites designed to collect radio
transmissions and other communications.
ARMY TESTS NEW PROTECTIVE CONFIGURATION FOR MLRS
The Army's Multiple Launch Rocket System's (MLRS) stainless steel
experimental blast protection configuration, offering five times the
endurance of the current design, underwent tests at White Sands Missile
Range, NM. According to Army Missile Command, the current panels made
of neoprene bonded to aluminum require maintenance after 110 firings,
while the stainless steel design can withstand up to 500 firings before
needing replacement.
AIR FORCE REPORTS NINTH TACIT RAINBOW MISSILE TEST PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL
The Air Force reported the ninth test of the Tacit Rainbow defense
suppression missile a partial success because of an anomaly in the
final phase of the flight. The nature of the irregularity was not
disclosed.
TRIDENT 2 MISSILE HAS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH
For the second time in a row, the Navy successfully launched a Trident
2 missile. The missile was launched from the USS Tennessee which was
cruising submerged in the Atlantic about 50 miles off the coast of
Florida. The anti-nuclear group Greenpeace kept their distance from
the launch area this time, following warnings by the Navy to stay away.
SOVIETS TO INSPECT SDI RESEARCH FACILITIES IN NEW MEXICO AND CALIFORNIA
The Soviet Union has accepted an invitation extended by Secretary of
State James Baker to Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze for
the Soviets to inspect Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) research
facilities in New Mexico and California. The Soviet delegation will
visit the Beam Experiment Aboard Rocket (BEAR) neutral particle beam
project in Los Alamos, NM and the Alpha Laser project at TRW's San Juan
Capistrano test facility. According to an SDI spokesperson, the final
dates of the visit are now being worked out.
THREE MORE FOUND GUILTY IN "OPERATION ILL WIND" INVESTIGATION EFFORTS
Two former executives of United Technologies Corp.'s unit Norden
Systems and a prominent defense-industry consultant were convicted on
felony charges stemming from an investigation of Pentagon bribery and
procurement fraud. The convictions concerned efforts to influence the
award of Marine Corps radar and aircraft communications contracts with
an estimated worth of $150 million. The case is part of the continuing
defense industry investigation "Operation Ill Wind."
DOD TO ELIMINATE 25,000 PERSONNEL IN FY 1990
The Pentagon announced that the Defense Department (DoD) will eliminate
25,000 personnel as part of cost-cutting moves to come up with $1.7
billion in FY 1990 sequestrations mandated under the Gramm-Rudman
deficit reduction law. The cuts are in addition to the reduction of
21,000 troops mandated by Congress, bringing the total number of
personnel cuts to 46,000 for FY 1990. DoD spokesman Pete Williams said
that $900 million of the $1.7 billion in sequestrations was distributed
among the military services personnel accounts.
NASA:
NASA TO SEND TOMATO SEEDS FLOWN IN SPACE TO SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASSES
NASA's Education Office will mail tomato seeds flown in space to 67,000
school science classes in a major educational project to stimulate
student interest in space. The seeds have been aboard NASA's Long
Duration Exposure Facility on the space shuttle Columbia. The students
will try to grow the seeds, which probably will not sprout because of
the intense radiation dose they received during six years in orbit.
NASA Administrator Richard Truly said that he hopes the experiment will
help children become interested in space science careers.
DALE COMPTON NAMED AS DIRECTOR OF AMES RESEARCH CENTER
Dale L. Compton has been named as director of NASA's Ames Research
Center, replacing William Ballhause who retired on July 15. Mr.
Compton is an aeronautical engineer who has spent his professional
career at Ames. As director, he will manage both the Ames Research
Center and the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air
Force Base, CA.
NASA POSTPONED COLUMBIA'S LAUNCH DATE TO PREPARE THE LAUNCH PAD
NASA officials announced that space shuttle Columbia's launch date has
been postponed two or three days and will not fly any earlier than
December 20. The delay will allow technicians time to validate Launch
Complex 39A's propellant loading systems, which pump liquid hydrogen
and oxygen into the orbiter's power reactant storage and distribution
system tanks during the launch countdown. Columbia will be the first
shuttle to use complex 39A since STS 61-C, the January 1986 mission
prior to the Challenger explosion. The ten day mission will deploy a
Navy communications satellite payload and retrieve the Long Duration
Exposure Facility (LDEF).
LANGLEY TO RECEIVE COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS AND PROGRAMMING SERVICES
NASA's Langley Research Center will receive computer analytical and
programming services for their engineering and scientific research
program under a $17.6 million Computer Sciences Corp. contract.
INTERNATIONAL:
ARIANESPACE'S SPOT2 SATELLITE SCHEDULED TO BE LAUNCHED IN JANUARY
An Arianespace spokesperson said the Spot2 remote sensing satellite and
six auxiliary payloads are scheduled to be launched on January 10 from
Kourou, French Guiana, however the Superbird B communications satellite
is in need of repairs and thus leaves the rest of the launch manifest
in question since company officials are not yet sure whether the
Superbird can be launched with NHK's BS-2x communications satellite in
February. The Superbird was to be launched on December 13, but was
postponed to allow Hughes Aircraft Co. engineers time to make
modifications to its traveling wave tube assemblies.
IRAQI GOVERNMENT CLAIMS TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED ROCKET
According to the Iraqi government the Iraqi space agency successfully
launched a three-stage rocket which took off from Anbar Research Base
in Iraq with a range of 2,000 kilometers or 1,240 miles. This news
caused debate among U.S. experts over Iraq's growing ability to build
space launchers with potential military uses. Some officials at the
State Dept. feel that since the Iraqi government has made exaggerated
or false claims of its military and scientific strength in the past,
this new claim may not be true. Others, however feel that it may have
happened and thus poses a possible threat to Middle Eastern countries.
JAPAN TO LAUNCH MUSES-A IN JANUARY, MOS-2 IN FEBRUARY
The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Japan plans to
launch the Muses-A spacecraft on January 23. The Muses-A will be fired
on a lunar swingby trajectory by a Nissan M-3S-2 booster. Also,
Japan's National Space Development Agency scheduled the second Marine
Observation Satellite (MOS-2) for launch on February 2 on a Mitsubishi
H-1 booster.
U.S. PROTEIN CRYSTAL GROWTH EXPERIMENT TO BE FLOWN ABOARD MIR
An unmanned Soviet Progress spacecraft was launched carrying a
collection a protein crystal growth experiments from the U.S. to be
flown to Mir space station. This is the first U.S. commercial cargo on
board the Mir station. Designed by Payload Systems Inc., the package
of experiments is scheduled to be delivered to Mir on December 25.
Protein crystal growth is believed to be one of the most promising
commercial space markets.
JAPAN'S MINISTRY OF FINANCE PLANS TO REDUCE DEFENSE SPENDING INCREASES
Japan's Ministry of Finance plans to reduce defense spending increases
planned for FY 1990. The Ministry of Finance, citing East-West arms
control efforts and easing tensions, plans to increase defense spending
by less than 6%, or a total of $29.35 billion in 1990. Still, Japan's
defense budget is expected to exceed 1% of the gross national product
for the fourth year in a row. The government will submit its FY 1990
budget plan to the Japanese parliament by late January, which will be
acted upon by March. The new fiscal year begins April 1.
BUSINESS:
CTC RECEIVED MANY UNSOLICITED BIDS AFTER ANNOUNCING POSSIBLE SALE
Chrysler Corp. Vice Chairman Gerald Greenwald said that several
unsolicited bids for the company's Chrysler Technologies Corp. (CTC)
aircraft and defense electronics unit, including Gulfstream Aerospace,
were received within hours of the announcement that it would be put up
for sale. Mr. Greenwald did not identify any particular bid, however
Allen Paulson, chairman of the Chrysler subsidiary Gulfstream Aerospace
has resigned from Chrysler's board and taken a temporary leave of
absence to "consider a bid for some or all" of CTC's operations.
DOW AND UTC FORM JOINT COMPOSITES VENTURE
Dow Chemical Co. and United Technologies Corp. (UTC) have formed a
joint composites venture combining Dow's advanced composites epoxy-
resin technology with the composites manufacturing abilities of UTC's
Sikorsky Aircraft. Dow-United Technologies Composite Products will be
headquartered in Stratford, CT, with Sikorsky vice president-composite
products Thomas Scarpati as president and chief executive. They will
design, manufacture and market advanced composite components for the
aerospace, defense, automotive and general industrial markets.
Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
GD NAMES PETER GOSSENS AS CORPORATE MANAGER OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
General Dynamics Corp.'s Washington Operations office named Peter J.
Gossens the corporate manager of legislative affairs. Mr. Gossens will
manage legislative liaison activities relating to space and energy
programs for the office.
GENERAL SCIENCES DEVELOPING MAPS OF RADIATION LEFT FROM BIG BANG
General Sciences Corp. is developing sophisticated maps of the
radiation that is believed to be remaining from a theoretical Big Bang
explosion with data being transmitted from the Cosmic Background
Explorer satellite that was launched on November 18. They are also
developing software, under a $7.86 million contract with NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center, to determine the temperature of the primordial
material for research support and computer analysis services.
LORAL TO PAY FINES AND HAVE LITTON AS SECOND SOURCE ON ARWR CASE
Loral Corp. pleaded guilty in an Alexandria, VA, federal court to
charges of filing false claims and false certifications and receiving
illegally acquired government information. The company agreed to
forfeit profits, pay nearly $6 million in fines and penalties and bring
in competition loser Litton Systems Inc. as a second source on the ALR-
56M Advanced Radar Warning Receiver (ARWR) program. The case settled a
nearly year long dispute over the ARWR program arising from the
government's "Operation Ill Wind" defense fraud investigation.
ORBITAL SCIENCES POSTPONED INAUGURAL LAUNCH OF PEGASUS TILL JANUARY
Orbital Sciences Corp. said they will postpone the inaugural launch of
the Pegasus rocket until mid-January in order to take time to evaluate
the results of November's flight tests. Several problems arose during
the test flight of the Pegasus, which was mounted under the wing of
NASA's B-52 aircraft, including electrical noise in the rocket's
systems that was generated by the B-52, and flaking of its thermal-
protection coating. The Pegasus payload will include two satellites:
Pegsat, a small Navy communications satellite and a NASA experimental
payload.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEL INDUSTRIES TO BUILD TWO AN/MLQ-T4 (V) SYSTEMS FOR THE AIR FORCE
AEL Industries Inc. was issued an Air Force contract to build two
additional AN/MLQ-T4 (V) ground jammer systems under a $9.1 million
contract.
BOOZ, ALLEN & HAMILTON WON $6.6 MILLION SDIO CONTRACT
Booz, Allen & Hamilton won a $6.6 million consulting contract to
identify program efficiencies for the Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization (SDIO). Under the three year contract Booz, Allen will
seek multiple applications of developed hardware and investigate the
impact of technological breakthroughs on the program schedule.
GENERAL DYNAMICS GOT NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $238.2 MILLION
General Dynamics got a $238.2 million Navy contract for 280 Tomahawk
cruise missiles.
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED SHIPBOARD WEAPONS SYSTEMS CONTRACT
General Electric Co. received a $68.6 million Navy contract for
shipboard weapons systems.
HONEYWELL GIVEN $22.3 MILLION CONTRACT MODIFICATION BY THE NAVY
Honeywell's Electro-Optics Div. was given a $22.3 million contract
modification by Naval Air Systems Command to supply 210 AN/AAR-47
missile warning systems for fleet helicopters. With this, Honeywell
will provide a total of 694 of the missile warning systems to the Navy.
According to Honeywell, the AN/AAR-47 detects incoming threats,
automatically fires flares and other countermeasures, checks for flare
ignition and alerts the pilot to the direction of attack.
H&R WON AN EARLY PHASE OF ADVANCED AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE PROGRAM CONTRACT
H&R Co., a joint venture between General Motors Corp., GM's Hughes
Aircraft Co. unit and Raytheon, won an $11.8 million Navy contract for
the early phase of the advanced air-to-air missile program.
IBM TO TRANSFER MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR NAVSTAR GPS TO AIR FORCE
Under an $11.1 million contract, International Business Machines (IBM)
Federal Systems Div. will transfer management responsibility for the
Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) to the Air Force Space Command.
IBM has served at the Air Force's primary contractor for the GPS
control segment. Navstar will consist of 21 satellites that would
provide highly precise navigational information to military and
civilian users.
LOCKHEED WON TWO NAVY CONTRACTS TOTALING $135.5 MILLION
Lockheed Corp. won two Navy contracts totaling $135.5 million. One
contract, for $101 million, is for full-scale development of the long-
range anti-submarine warfare capability aircraft, and the other, for
$34.5 million, is for Trident II missile production.
LTV AEROSPACE RECEIVED ROCKET SYSTEM WARHEAD DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT
LTV Aerospace & Defense Co., a division of LTV Corp., received a $25.6
million Army contract for rocket system warhead development.
RAYTHEON ISSUED NAVAL MISSILE-GUIDANCE SECTIONS CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was issued a $13.1 million Navy contract for missile-
guidance sections.
SPACE DATA CHOSEN BY SDIO TO CONDUCT SUBORBITAL LAUNCHES
Space Data Corp. was chosen by the Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization (SDIO) to conduct six launches for flight testing of
technology for sensors and interceptors. Six launches are covered
under the $25 million contract, which has options for 14 additional
launches through 1994.
SYSTEMS RESEARCH AWARDED AIR FORCE DATA PROCESSING CONTRACT
Systems Research Laboratories Inc. was awarded a $15 million Air Force
contract for data processing.
TRW PICKED BY NASA FOR TWO-PHASE DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT FOR EOS
TRW Inc. was picked by NASA Langley Research Center for a two-phase $37
million contract to develop instruments for American and European
components of the Earth Observing System (EOS). TRW will build up to
six instruments for the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System, an
experiment to measure clouds and fields of radiation in the atmosphere.
Phase one of the contract is for one year, beginning January 15, and is
worth $700,000. Phase two will begin when the EOS program is approved
as a new start by the White House and Congress, and is expected to be
worth $36.3 million over eight years.
UNISYS RECEIVED ARMY TACTICAL COMPUTER CONTRACT
Unisys Corp. received a $10.1 million Army contract for tactical
computers.
RFP UPDATE:
December 11, 1989
AMES RESEARCH CENTER PLACED ORDER AGAINST FALCON MICROSYSTEMS CONTRACT
NASA Ames Research Center, under solicitation 3412(JWS), placed a
notification of intent to place a delivery order against GSA
Nonmandatory ADP Schedule Contract No. GS-00K-89AFS-6383, with Falcon
Microsystems, for eleven (11) MAC II cx 80/4, 5 additional 4 MB memory
for MAC II cx and many assorted and related peripherals. Suppliers of
identical or similar items that will perform the same end-use
function(s) may submit data to demonstrate their ability to satisfy
this requirement. Pricing data and delivery days (after receipt of
order) must be included. If no affirmative responses are received
within 15 calendar days, the Contracting Officer will proceed with this
acquisition to Falcon Microsystems. All responsible sources may
respond to this notice which shall be considered by the Agency. No
contract award will be made on the basis of any response to this
notice, because this synopsis of intent to place an order against a GSA
Nonmandatory Schedule Contract shall not be considered a solicitation
document.
Contact: John Sherman
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 241-1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 694-3007
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND REQUIRES A COMPUTER BASED DVCS
The U.S. Army Missile Command has a requirement for a computer based
test control system for testing various missiles, or a Digital
Vibration Control System (DVCS). The primary application of this
hardware will be for captive flight vibration testing of external
stores on helicopters using existing vibration exciters. Vendor field
installation, checkout and operator orientation are also required.
Interested parties are requested to present their requests for the
solicitation document. No telephone requests will be considered. All
responsive sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by
the agency.
Contact: Julie Creasy
Commander
U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-5326
December 12, 1989
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PURCHASE PORTABLE DATA TERMINALS
The Defense Supply Service-Washington intends to purchase, on behalf of
the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), 64 PDT Plus 64kb-V23-L
portable data terminals, 64 Laserscan 8110 wand emulator infrared
scanners and many other assorted and related peripherals from Symbol
Technologies GSA Schedule GS00K89AGS6400. The equipment will be used
in conjuction with the Cate Corp.'s "Katie" property management data
base management dBASE III software to collect data during physical
inventory for the DCAA Automated Inventory system (DAISY). Vendors who
can provide equal equipment are invited to submit a proposal which
shall be considered. No solicitation document exists, therefore,
requests for such documents will be considered invalid responses. Oral
communications will not be accepted and will not be honored. If no
responses are received within 15 days of this publication, a delivery
order shall be awarded to Symbol Technologies.
Contact: Debbie Smith
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 693-5011
December 13, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE MICRO COMPUTERS
NASA Lewis Research Center intends to procure, under the terms and
conditions of Contract GS00K88AFS6206, from Dell Computer Corp., ten
80386 Based Micro Computers with 80387 Math Coprocessors and other
assorted peripherals. Suppliers of identical or equivalent items may
submit data to demonstrate their ability to satisfy this requirement.
All responsible sources may submit written responses within 15 days
from the date of this notice. All responses received will be
considered. No contract award will be made on the basis of any
response to this notice. Solicitation documents are not available.
Inquiries concerning this requirement should reference 3-417607.
Contact: Ronald Matthews
Contracting Officer
Mail Stop 500-309
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2767
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE MACINTOSH PERSONAL COMPUTERS
Under solicitation RFQ-28787/095, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
plans to acquire four M5361 MacIntosh SF/30s and many other related
peripherals. The equipment must be fully compatible with an existing
network of MacIntosh personal computers and laser printers.
Compatibility with the existing Apple equipment is required to
facilitate the timely review and editing of technical papers and to
allow existing figures, equation, tables and test to be shared without
re-typing. Any firms desiring consideration are requested to fully
identify, in writing, their capability to provide this equipment within
15 days from the date of the publication of this synopsis. No collect
calls or telephone requests will be accepted.
Contact: Vivian Smith
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-6164
No relevant RFPs for December 14-15, 1989.
|
| 20.65 | Aerospace Industry News Week of December 18, 1989 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Dec 28 1989 10:17 | 484 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009730
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 27-Dec-1989 09:34pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@MRGATE@DELOS@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News Week of December 18, 1989
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of December 18, 1989
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADDLINES FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 18, 1989
GENERAL:
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL ADVISES ENERGY DEPT. ON WASTE CLEAN-UP
DEFENSE:
PENTAGON TO SCALE BACK ACTIVITY IN NATO REFORGER EXERCISE
CRS WARNS U.S. CARRIER AIRCRAFT QUALITY MAY BE REDUCED
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AGREES TO PAY TECHNOLOGY COSTS ON FSX FIGHTER
NAVY COMPLETED TECHNICAL EVALUATION PHASE OF SLAM MISSILE
SOURCES BELIEVE NO DECISION WILL BE MADE ON B-2 NOW
NASAA:
LAUNCH OF THE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA DELAYED UNTIL AFTER THE NEW YEAR
NASA AND SOVIETS TO SHARE MEDICAL DATA OF ASTRONAUTS AND COSMONAUTS
NASA TO RELEASE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ON ULYSSES PROBE
NASA DETAILS NEW FY 1990 OPERATING PLAN IN LIGHT OF $155.2 MILLION CUT
INTERNATIONAL:
PRESIDENT BUSH APPROVES SALE OF THREE SATELLITES TO CHINA
SOVIETS LAUNCH ROCKET WITH U.S. SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT ON BOARD
LUFTHANSA BUYS COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS FROM ALLIED-SIGNAL AEROSPACE
THOMSON-CSF CREATES NEW CRYOTECHNOLOGIES SA UNIT
FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTRY TO UPDATE CRUSADER FIGHTERS
BUSINESS:
BOEING ANNOUNCES WORK FORCE WILL BE CUT IN 1990
HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPLETES PURCHASE OF ELECTRO-OPTICS TECHNOLOGY
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO MOVE T-45 NAVY JET TRAINER PROGRAM TO ST. LOUIS
UNISYS PRESIDENT FORECASTS 1990 YEAR
UTC GIVES $500,000 TO THAI CHARITY WHILE VYING FOR JET ENGINE ORDER
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEROJET ELECTROSYSTEMS ISSUED INCREASE TO AIR FORCE CONTRACT
CARNEGIE MELLON GIVEN COMPUTER SOFTWARE RESEARCH CONTRACT
DELTA AND KEY AIRLINES AWARDED AIR-TRANSPORATION SERVICES CONTRACTS
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AWARDED $37.6 MILLION IN NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACTS
LTV RECEIVED $198.7 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED THREE-YEAR EXTENSION ON NASA CONTRACT
MCDONNELL AIRCRAFT WON INCREASE TO COMPUTING AIR-TO-AIR WEAPON CONTRACT
RAYTHEON GIVEN $47.1 MILLION FOR CORPS CONTRACTS
SCIENCE APPLICATIONS ISSUED AIR FORCE STRATEGIC STUDIES CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
December 18, 1989
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE 4D/25 PERSONAL IRIS COMPUTERS
No relevant RFPs for December 19, 1989.
December 20, 1989
JSC SEEKING SOURCES FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM TO REPLACE CONCURRENT COMPUTER
December 21, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR IMAGE SUBSYSTEM
No relevant RFPs for December 22, 1989.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL ADVISES ENERGY DEPT. ON WASTE CLEAN-UP
A panel from the National Research Council told the Department of
Energy that plans to construct a $1.35 billion plant to refine
plutonium, a key component of nuclear weapons, should be abandoned; and
instead, the department should concentrate on cleaning up extensive
radioactive and toxic-waste contamination at its 17 existing weapon
plants. The panel suggested, "because plutonium is costly, long-lived,
toxic and must be carefully safeguarded, it is not sensible to produce
more...than is reasonably needed."
DEFENSE:
PENTAGON TO SCALE BACK ACTIVITY IN NATO REFORGER EXERCISE
Pentagon spokesperson Pete Williams said that the U.S. would drop 1,200
main battle tanks from the annual NATO Reforger (Return of Forces to
Germany) exercise, but Mr. Williams said the recent political changes
in East Germany did not influence the decision. Along with fewer
tanks, only 57,500 troops will take part in Reforger, down from the
88,700 planned as late as October 24 of this year. Mr. Williams did
say, however, that the Pentagon decided to downscale the exercise in
order to make it less intrusive on West Germans and less damaging to
their territory.
CRS WARNS U.S. CARRIER AIRCRAFT QUALITY MAY BE REDUCED
A Congressional Research Service (CRS) issue brief on naval carrier
aviation concluded that the lessening Soviet threat may permit the
quality of U.S. carrier aircraft to be reduced. According to the CRS
report, since the Pentagon is considering reducing the size of the
carrier fleet, the quantity of carrier aircraft may be reduced if there
is a new generation aircraft of higher quality to make up for the lost
quantity of the older types.
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AGREES TO PAY TECHNOLOGY COSTS ON FSX FIGHTER
The Japanese government stepped in to resolve a contract dispute
delaying development of the FSX fighter plane. The dispute involves
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., the prime contractor on the aircraft,
which has maintained that General Dynamics Corp., the main
subcontractor, should pay for technology developed by the Japanese-led
project. However, the Japanese government has now agreed to pay the
costs of any compensation to Japanese companies for technology
transfers. The U.S. is most interested in gaining access to the
advanced composite-material wings that are to be developed for the FSX
fighter.
NAVY COMPLETED TECHNICAL EVALUATION PHASE OF SLAM MISSILE
The Navy has completed the technical evaluation phase of a 10-flight
series of tests of the Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) and will now
move onto operational tests of the Harpoon derivative, according to
McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co. which built the missile. A SLAM
launched from an F/A-18 was controlled by the pilot of a second F/A-18
to hit a target more than 50 nautical miles from the launch point in a
test at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The SLAM is designed for
precision attack on high value land, sea and in-port targets from
carrier-based aircraft over ranges in excess of 60 nautical miles.
Based on the Harpoon anti-ship missile, the SLAM incorporates a Hughes
imaging infrared seeker and other off-the-shelf hardware to permit
controlled flight.
SOURCES BELIEVE NO DECISION WILL BE MADE ON B-2 NOW
According to Congressional sources tracking the B-2 Stealth bomber
program, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney's request of five B-2s in FY
1991 means that a major decision on the program will not be made now.
Also, the numbers crunching on the 1992-1994 buy will probably take
place in between April and June of next year.
NASA:
LAUNCH OF THE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA DELAYED UNTIL AFTER THE NEW YEAR
NASA reported that mission managers have delayed the launch of the
space shuttle Columbia for more than two weeks, or no earlier than
January 8, to allow workers at Kennedy Space Center, FL to validate
systems on Launch Complex 39A and modify the launch processing system.
The delay will allow more time to complete testing and validation of
the launch pad system used to load cryogenic liquid hydrogen and oxygen
into the electricity-generating fuel cells in Columbia's power reactant
storage and distribution (PRSD) system. The delay will not affect the
crew's ability to retrieve the Long Duration Exposure Facility, or
change any launch schedules in 1990.
NASA AND SOVIETS TO SHARE MEDICAL DATA OF ASTRONAUTS AND COSMONAUTS
NASA officials said that 12 astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts will be
tested for changes in heart, bones and muscles while in space to
develop databases of information available to U.S. and Soviet
researchers studying the effects of long duration spaceflight on
humans. Samuel Keller, associate deputy administrator at NASA said
that the databases will be used to diagnose medical problems while
crews are still in space. Mr. Keller said, "use of this kind of data
will be of operational value, as opposed to just research value, and I
think the fact that we're doing anything that leads to operational
support is a change from what we've done in the past." Though all
plans are not confirmed, a NASA team will go to the Soviet Union in
January to train Soviet technicians to use a Holter heart monitor and
ultrasound equipment used to measure heart size. The equipment will
then be installed on the Mir space station sometime in February or
March. The agreement was negotiated by a life sciences joint working
group which met in the Soviet Union in early December.
NASA TO RELEASE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ON ULYSSES PROBE
In January, NASA plans to release a draft environmental impact
statement on the solar probe Ulysses and environmental groups who
oppose launching radioactive material into space are beginning to mount
an international effort to insist on non-radioactive power sources for
spacecraft. Activists oppose the Ulysses because it is powered by a
single radioisotope thermoelectric generator, similar to those used on
the Jupiter probe Galileo.
NASA DETAILS NEW FY 1990 OPERATING PLAN IN LIGHT OF $155.2 MILLION CUT
NASA has put the finishing touches on a FY 1990 operating plan that
details how programs will absorb the $155.2 million budget cut Congress
imposed. The plan is expected to go before Congress early this week.
INNTERNATIONAL:
PRESIDENT BUSH APPROVES SALE OF THREE SATELLITES TO CHINA
President Bush approved the sale of three U.S.-made satellites to be
launched on Chinese rockets and waived restrictions on Export-Import
Bank financing for China. The President's decision was criticized in
Congress due to the economic and military sanctions that the U.S.
placed on China after the Beijing massacre last summer. The
satellites, made by Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors
Corp., will be launched by China but used by Australian and Hong Kong
companies for commercial use.
SOVIETS LAUNCH ROCKET WITH U.S. SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT ON BOARD
The Soviets launched a rocket carrying the first U.S. scientific
experiment to the Mir space station. According to Tass reports, the
Progress M-2 cargo rocket lifted off on schedule and was functioning
normally. The experiment, developed by Payload Systems, Cambridge, MA,
is designed for growing protein crystals in space. The rocket also
carries food, water and New Year's presents for the Soviet cosmonauts
aboard the Mir station.
LUFTHANSA BUYS COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS FROM ALLIED-SIGNAL AEROSPACE
Allied-Signal Aerospace Co., a division of Allied-Signal Inc.,
announced that Lufthansa German Airlines purchased a collision
avoidance system for its entire fleet of aircraft for almost $20
million. The German airlines bought over 130 sets of Allied's Bendix/
King Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems, which operates
independently of ground-based radar stations. The U.S. government has
ordered all aircraft carrying more than 30 passengers flying in U.S.
airspace to be equipped with collision avoidance systems by the end of
1993.
THOMSON-CSF CREATES NEW CRYOTECHNOLOGIES SA UNIT
France's Thomson-CSF created a new unit, Cryotechnologies SA, to
provide purified air generators and cryogenic coolers for the defense
industry. The new unit, an expansion of Thomson's former Cryogenics
Department, will develop a new generation of coolers for airborne
infrared sensors.
FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTRY TO UPDATE CRUSADER FIGHTERS
The French Defense Ministry announced it will update the obsolete
Crusader fighters that defend its aircraft carriers rather than buying
F-18 Hornets made by McDonnell Douglas Corp. The decision means that
the Crusaders will remain in service until 1996, when the French navy
will start receiving the first Rafale fighters made by France's Avions
Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation S.A. The Defense Ministry had
originally planned to purchase the F-18 Hornets in order to tide them
over until they receive the Rafale fighters.
BUSINESS:
BOEING ANNOUNCES WORK FORCE WILL BE CUT IN 1990
Boeing Co. announced it will cut its work force in 1990 because of the
shrinking U.S. military budget and the evolution of its 747-400 jumbo-
jet line. Boeing will not say how many of the 165,000 employees world-
wide will lose their jobs, however there has been speculation that
about 1,200 workers will be cut. A Boeing spokesperson said the
announcement should come, following company analysis, by the second or
third week of January.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPLETES PURCHASE OF ELECTRO-OPTICS TECHNOLOGY
Hughes Aircraft Co., a division of General Motors Corp., said it
completed the previously announced purchase of Perkin-Elmer Corp.'s
Electro-Optics Technology division, which provides electro-optical
systems for specialized scientific and military applications. The new
Hughes division has been renamed Hughes Danbury Optical Systems Inc.,
Danbury, CT. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO MOVE T-45 NAVY JET TRAINER PROGRAM TO ST. LOUIS
McDonnell Douglas Corp. said it will move the T-45 Navy jet trainer
program, now in Long Beach, CA, to its St. Louis Aircraft division.
The Long Beach operation has grown too large, while the St. Louis
division currently has very little work. According to the company, the
1,800 Long Beach employees working on the T-45 project will be absorbed
by the unit's other projects, all of which have large backlogs. The T-
45 is a modification of the British Aerospace Hawk attack aircraft and
will provide ground and flight training for up to 600 new carrier-
qualified Navy pilots each year, beginning in 1990. The move is
expected to begin in January.
UNISYS PRESIDENT FORECASTS 1990 YEAR
Unisys Corp. president James Unruh said the company expects "no
substantive revenue growth" in 1990, but he expects Unisys to make a
"significant" 1990 profit anyway, mostly due to cost-cutting measures
initiated this year. Analysts expect the company to report a loss of
about $650 million, including third-quarter layoffs of $380 million
related to layoffs and the slowing of its defense industry business.
It is company policy not to make public its revenue or profit estimates
and Mr. Unruh refused to supply figures to his forecast.
UTC GIVES $500,000 TO THAI CHARITY WHILE VYING FOR JET ENGINE ORDER
United Technologies Corp. (UTC), whose Pratt & Whitney division is
bidding on a multi-million-dollar jet engine order from Thailand's
national airline, donated $500,000 to a charity typhoon-relief fund run
by the Thai royal family. A UTC spokesperson said "there were no
conditions attached to the donations. Given the magnitude of the
typhoon, we felt it was appropriate."
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AEROJET ELECTROSYSTEMS ISSUED INCREASE TO AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Aerojet Electrosystems Co. was issued a $5,350,532 face value increase
to a fixed price incentive (firm)/award fee/performance incentive fee/
cost plus award fee type Air Force contract for hardware and software
for gathering and processing data at ground level and varying higher
altitudes for the Air Force Global Weather and Fleet Numerical
Oceanography Centers. The contract is scheduled to be completed in
October 1994.
CARNEGIE MELLON GIVEN COMPUTER SOFTWARE RESEARCH CONTRACT
Carnegie Mellon University was given a $156.4 million Air Force
contract for computer software research.
DELTA AND KEY AIRLINES AWARDED AIR-TRANSPORATION SERVICES CONTRACTS
Delta Air Lines and Key Airlines were awarded Air Force contracts for
air-transportation services with values of $11.1 million and $19.9
million, respectively.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AWARDED $37.6 MILLION IN NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACTS
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp. was awarded a $37.6
million Navy contract for spacecraft tests and Army missile-seeker
components.
LTV RECEIVED $198.7 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
LTV Corp. received a $198.7 million Army contract for multiple-launch
rocket systems.
MCDONNELL AIRCRAFT WON INCREASE TO COMPUTING AIR-TO-AIR WEAPON CONTRACT
McDonnell Aircraft Co., a division of McDonnell Douglas Corp., won a
$16,854,269 face value increase to a cost plus incentive fee contract
for developing and demonstrating technologies capable of computing air-
to-air weapon launch solutions to enable a force of fighters to engage
and defeat an even larger force of threats. The contract is scheduled
to be completed in September 1992. Aeronautical Systems Div. is the
contracting activity.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED THREE-YEAR EXTENSION ON NASA CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. received a three-year extension on a NASA
Kennedy Space Center contract valued at $192.1 million.
RAYTHEON GIVEN $47.1 MILLION FOR CORPS CONTRACTS
Raytheon Co. was given $47.1 million for Army technical assistance,
Navy helicopter countermeasures receivers and Air Force approach
radars.
SCIENCE APPLICATIONS ISSUED AIR FORCE STRATEGIC STUDIES CONTRACT
Science Applications International Corp. was issued a $24 million Air
Force contract for strategic studies.
RFP UPDATE:
December 18, 1989
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE 4D/25 PERSONAL IRIS COMPUTERS
NASA Langley Research Center, under solicitation 3410.0348, intends to
place a delivery order against a Non-Mandatory GSA Schedule contract
with Silicon Graphics, reference document GS00K89AFS5586, for two 4D/25
Personal Iris computers with many assorted peripherals. Vendors who
can furnish the required equipment or its equivalent are invited to
submit, in writing, a substantive statement clearly stating the ability
to fill this requirement. Vendors responding to this notice with a GSA
schedule contract should include contract number and expiration date.
No solicitation will be issued. Responses should be submitted, in
writing, within 15 calendar days of this notice. Inquiries concerning
this procurement should reference 1-075-3410.0348. No telephone
inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Gale Poulson
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2433
No relevant RFPs for December 19, 1989.
December 20, 1989
JSC SEEKING SOURCES FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM TO REPLACE CONCURRENT COMPUTER
Under solicitation 9BG4125010P, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is
seeking sources for a computer system that is intended to replace a
Concurrent 8/23 computer system complex used for real time simulation.
These existing 8/23 computers interface with other Concurrent computers
via a shared memory system. The computer being sought will be required
to support a computer-to-computer random access memory interface
capable of supporting a 5 Mb/sec transfer rate over a 1 kilometer
distance. The computer must be able to interface with existing
Concurrent 3280 MPS with minimal hardware and software impact to
existing systems and support internal data formats compatible with
Concurrent 3280. All responses should be accompanied by the earliest
firm delivery schedule and a Not-To-Exceed estimated cost. This is a
sources sought synopsis and a contract will not be awarded.
Information and inquiries should be received no later than 30 days from
the date of publication of this notice.
Contact: Al Wylie
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG 41
FS 92
Houston, TX
(713) 483-4714
December 21, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR IMAGE SUBSYSTEM
NASA Lewis Research Center issued solicitation IFB3-359452 for an Image
subsystem to serve a bridge between concurrent (Masscomp) 5600S
computer and Xybion ISG24OUX3 camera. Delivery will be to Cleveland,
Ohio and the delivery schedule is 60 calendar days after contract
award. Estimated period of performance is 12 months. All responsible
sources may submit a bid which will be considered by the agency. To
obtain a copy of the solicitation, interested vendors may call the
number below.
Contact: Karin Huth
NASA Lewis Research Center
Mail Stop 500-309
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-6616
No relevant RFPs for December 22, 1989.
#
*** CSP Associates, Inc. ***
|
| 20.66 | Aerospace Industry News, Weeks of 12/25 & 01/01/9 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jan 09 1990 20:13 | 621 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009857
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 09-Jan-1990 07:01pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Weeks of 12/25 & 01/01/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Weeks of December 25, 1989 & January 1, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry News
Service (INS) VTX Infobase. INS is located on Access under "Target
Industries" and Corporate VTX under "Sales and Marketing".
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 25, 1989 & JANUARY 1, 1990
GENERAL:
AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE PRIMES IN UPWARD SURGE ON NYSE
DEFENSE:
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE NEARLY READY FOR ATF PROTOTYPES
SOVIET NEWSPAPER SAID WEST POINT AND SOVIET CADETS TO VISIT EACH OTHER
NORTHROP WILL NEGOTIATE WITH AIR FORCE BEFORE SLOWING ATF PROGRAM
B-2 BOMBER CAN NO LONGER ACCOMMODATE CSRL WITHOUT MODIFICATIONS
PENTAGON WHITE PAPER ON DOD-CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS THREE MONTHS LATE
NASA:
NASA WORKERS SWITCH COLUMBIA'S POWER BACK ON AFTER HOLIDAYS
NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN BETWEEN OAST AND OSSA TO DETERMINE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE
NASA ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF COMMANDER FOR STS-42 MISSION
NASA TO AWARD CONTRACTS FOR PHASE B WORK ON ATDRSS SATELLITE SYSTEM
JPL OPERATIONS OFFICIALS HAVE ISOLATED ERROR IN VENUS PROBE COMPUTERS
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS LAUNCH SATELLITE BELIEVED TO BE FOR MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT VOTED TO CUT $220 MILLION FROM DEFENSE BUDGET
BAE CHAIRMAN SAYS U.K. SHOULD NOT JOIN EMS YET
ARIANESPACE TO SET NEW DATE FOR LAUNCH OF THE SPOT 2 SATELLITE
BUSINESS:
DELTA AIR LINES ARRESTS MAN IN DUBLIN, IRELAND
NORTHROP ELECTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SIII FORMED TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS SUBSIDIARY
CONISTON NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE NEW EMPLOYEE-LED BID TO UAL
UNISYS EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO OPERATION ILL WIND CHARGES
ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS DROPPED PROTEST AGAINST UNISYS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED DEFENSE CONTRACTS TOTALING $367.1 MILLION
GE AEROSPACE GIVEN $309.8 MILLION MODIFICATION TO NAVY CONTRACT
GRUMMAN AWARDED DATA SYSTEMS CONTRACT WORTH $60.7 MILLION
HUGHES AIRCRAFT GOT AN ALMOST $185 MILLION INCREASE TO AMRAAM CONTRACT
LTV ISSUED ARMY TACTICAL ROCKETS CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED $138 MILLION IN ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTS
NORTHROP DIVISION GOT MOBILE MX MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT
RAYTHEON GIVEN $344.8 MILLION IN AIR FORCE WORK
ROCKWELL ISSUED $167.6 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS WON $297.3 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
TRW DEFENSE SYSTEMS AWARDED $13 MILLION INCREASE TO AIR FORCE CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
December 26, 1989
AMES TO PROCURE MAC II CX 80/4 AND OTHER RELATED PERIPHERALS
No relevant RFPs for December 27, 1989.
December 28, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH TO PROCURE HIGH-PERFORMANCE WORKSTATION
December 29, 1989
AMES RESEARCH CENTER SOLICITS FOR ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEM
Due to the New Years Day holiday no RFPs were issued on January 1.
January 2, 1990
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE THREE PERSONAL IRIS WORKSTATIONS
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE TEN PERSONNEL IRIS WORKSTATIONS
JSC SEEKING SOURCES FOR REPLACEMENT COMPUTER SYSTEM
No relevant RFPs for January 3, 1990.
January 4, 1990
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PURCHASE MACINTOSH MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for January 5, 1990.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE PRIMES IN UPWARD SURGE ON NYSE
Aerospace and defense primes continued their upward surge on the New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE) this week, adding $170 million in market
capitalization by Thursday's closing bell and continuing the strong
recovery from the November defense stock crash. Among the strongest
performers were Boeing, which gained 1-1/2 to close at 63, General
Dynamics, up 3/4 to 46-1/8, and Raytheon was up 1/4 at 70. In
November, Aerospace and defense stocks fell to 15-year record lows,
losing more than $2 billion in real value.
DEFENSE:
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE NEARLY READY FOR ATF PROTOTYPES
The Air Force announced that Edwards Air Force, CA, is nearly ready to
begin flight testing of Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) prototypes,
with one prototype already on hand and the other set to fly in after
assembly is completed. Special hangar facilities are ready to receive
the four ATF prototypes and most of the 40-50 personnel billets needed
for the program have been filled. The test force will be made up of
five pilots, each will come from the Tactical Air Command, the Air
Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) and from the
Edwards 6511th test squadron. An additional two pilots will be
provided by the contractors.
SOVIET NEWSPAPER SAID WEST POINT AND SOVIET CADETS TO VISIT EACH OTHER
The Soviet army newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda, said that West Point and
Soviet army cadets will visit each other's military academies this
winter. In a effort to expand the two nations' military exchanges, ten
Soviet cadets and two officers will stay in at West Point on February
7-14, and an undisclosed number of Americans will stay at the Moscow
Higher Military School March 10-18.
NORTHROP WILL NEGOTIATE WITH AIR FORCE BEFORE SLOWING ATF PROGRAM
A Northrop spokesperson said the company will not make good on its
threat to slow its efforts on the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) team
program until negotiations with the Air Force have been concluded. The
spokesperson said that until negotiations are finished on how the Air
Force will pay for a six-month extension of the ATF's demonstration/
validation phase, Northrop will not reduce its AFT effort to "the
minimum required under the contract." The company threatened the
cutbacks in a November 29 letter to the Air Force, which stated that
unless the Northrop-McDonnell Douglas team received a prompt
reassurance of the corps' financial commitment to the program, it would
be forced to slow production.
B-2 BOMBER CAN NO LONGER ACCOMMODATE CSRL WITHOUT MODIFICATIONS
An Air Force spokesperson said even though the B-2 Stealth bomber was
originally designed to fit the Common Strategic Rotary Launcher (CSRL)
wing, the B-2 would now require "significant modifications" to
accommodate it. The B-2 now carries a similar rotary launcher
optimized for its mission as a penetrating bomber that can handle both
nuclear and conventional weapons. The CSRL, built by Boeing Military
Airplanes, was originally designed to allow B-52 bombers to carry AGM-
86B Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs) internally, and to fit both
the B-1 and Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB), as the B-2 was then
designated as well. The B-2 now carries two newer devices, designated
the Advanced Applications Rotary Launcher (AARL) that are also built by
Boeing.
PENTAGON WHITE PAPER ON DOD-CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS THREE MONTHS LATE
The Pentagon missed the October 1, 1989 deadline to turn in a white
paper on Defense Department-congressional relations. The white paper,
intended to support Congress' efforts to reduce its demands on the
Pentagon bureaucracy, is in the final stages of preparation and should
be sent to President Bush soon. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney promised
the report by October 1 in his July 1989 defense management report to
the White House.
NASA:
NASA WORKERS SWITCH COLUMBIA'S POWER BACK ON AFTER HOLIDAYS
NASA workers switched Columbia's power back on as they readied the
space shuttle for its scheduled January 8 launch. The shuttle had been
dormant for over two weeks as Kennedy Space Center workers were on
holiday.
NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN BETWEEN OAST AND OSSA TO DETERMINE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE
Negotiations began between NASA's director of life sciences programs
and the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST) to determine
how the two offices will divide development of life support technology
following the recent reorganization of the Life Sciences Div.
Negotiators hope to avert a conflict over which office will lead
development of life support technology for the space station and
missions to the moon and Mars. A source within the organization was
quoted: "Technology development has been a sensitive subject since OSSA
(Office of Space Science and Applications) is viewed outside OSSA as
the science part of NASA and (OAST) is viewed as the technology part."
OAST will also merge with the Office of Exploration in a separate
reorganization.
NASA ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF COMMANDER FOR STS-42 MISSION
NASA announced its selection of Air Force Col. Ronald J. Grabe to
command STS-42, a nine-day mission using the International Microgravity
Laboratory aboard the space shuttle Columbia in December 1990. Also,
Stephen S. Oswald was named as pilot and William F. Readdy was assigned
as mission specialist for the mission. Mr. Grabe flew as a pilot on
mission STS-51J in October 1985, and again on mission STS-30 in May
1989, however this will be his first flight as commander. The STS-42
mission will involve five astronauts and two mission specialists who
will conduct materials processing and life sciences studies and
experiments.
NASA TO AWARD CONTRACTS FOR PHASE B WORK ON ATDRSS SATELLITE SYSTEM
NASA announced that it expects to award two or more contracts for phase
B work on an advanced tracking and data relay satellite system (ATDRSS)
and related ground systems by September 15. RFP responses are due by
February 20. The ATDRSS will eventually replace the three-satellite
tracking and data relay satellite system (TDRSS) used by space shuttle
and satellite data transmission. The Hubble Space Telescope, the space
station and the Earth Observation System will also use the ATDRSS. In
1987, Goddard Space Flight Center issued contracts to Ford Aerospace
and Communications Group, General Electric Astro-Space, Hughes Space
and Communications Group, Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. and TRW Space
and Technology Group for 18-month design feasibility studies of the
satellite system. NASA said it expects the ATDRSSS constellation to be
operational by 2001.
JPL OPERATIONS OFFICIALS HAVE ISOLATED ERROR IN VENUS PROBE COMPUTERS
Operations officials at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have
isolated an error detected December 31 in the Venus probe's onboard
command and data system (CDS) computers and are now working on the
problem. The error is believed to be an oxide problem in one of the
primary computer's memory cells. The probe automatically switched to
its backup CDS computer when the error was detected, the telemetry link
was switched from the high gain to the medium gain antenna and the
command link switched from high gain to the low gain antenna.
Operations teams at JPL and Martin Marietta plan to reinstate standard
cruise operations on the primary computer beginning January 15, but
will continue another series of safing operations, including weekly
star calibrations.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS LAUNCH SATELLITE BELIEVED TO BE FOR MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS
The Soviet Union's Cosmos 2054, believed to be a geosynchronous
military communications satellite, was launched on a Proton booster
from Tyuratam, Tass news agency reported. The satellite appears to be
similar to Cosmos 1961, launched in August 1988, which also carried
equipment to relay telegraph and telephone signals in the centimeter
wave range.
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT VOTED TO CUT $220 MILLION FROM DEFENSE BUDGET
The Israeli government voted to cut $220 million from its defense
budget, approving a $5.3 billion defense spending package. The Israel
Defense Forces (IDF) are still working on how the budget will be
allocated, but senior defense sources said they expect the IDF's size
to shrink, many projects to be postponed and training to be curtailed.
Israeli defense industry executives believe the cuts will lead to
further declines in orders from prime defense contractors. The budget
cuts will also probably mean additional layoff. Syria has cut its
defense outlays in recent years and therefore Michael Burno, governor
of Israel's central bank, has pressured the government to cut its own
defense budget.
BAe CHAIRMAN SAYS U.K. SHOULD NOT JOIN EMS YET
British Aerospace (BAe) Chairman Roland Smith said during a British
television interview that he wants the U.K. to wait before joining the
European Monetary System (EMS), since once the pound is added into the
EMS marketbasket of currencies it would be very difficult to devalue.
Mr. Smith said it would be a change of about one cent on the dollar-
pound relationship which could seriously affect the U.K. business
profit and loss this year.
ARIANESPACE TO SET NEW DATE FOR LAUNCH OF THE SPOT 2 SATELLITE
Arianespace officials in Kourou, French Guiana, said they plan to set a
new launch date soon for the Spot 2 remote sensing satellite after a
problem was detected in the gimbal inertial platform on its Ariane 40
booster. The launch was set for January 10, but technicians detected
the anomaly during final calibration checkout of the platform on the
launch pad.
BUSINESS:
DELTA AIR LINES ARRESTS MAN IN DUBLIN, IRELAND
Delta Air Lines in Dublin, Ireland arrested a man for allegedly making
a general threat against the airline's trans-Atlantic flights. The
man, who was not identified, was taken into custody and charged with
making a threat. Last week, Delta increased security and began
notifying passengers at check-in that they could choose other flights
due to several threats made against their 66 trans-Atlantic flights.
NORTHROP ELECTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Northrop Corp. president Kent Kresa was elected chief executive officer
(CEO) of the company by the Northrop board of directors. He succeeds
Thomas V. Jones, who has served as CEO since 1959. Mr. Jones will
continue as chairman of the board of directors after Mr. Kresa assumes
his new post.
SIII FORMED TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS SUBSIDIARY
Space Industries International Inc. (SIII) formed a telecommunications
and electronics subsidiary to develop advanced communication and
interaction systems for education and other applications. The new
Space Industries Telecommunications and Electronics Co. (SITEC)
division will be directed by Bartus H. Batson and based in Houston, TX.
SITEC will design and develop telecommunications systems and
interactive applications focussing initially on design and engineering
of interactive educational networks and development of
telecommunication products and services. SITEC will also support the
spaceflight electronics development efforts of SIII.
CONISTON NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE NEW EMPLOYEE-LED BID TO UAL
Company sources believe that a January 8 deadline set by Coniston
Partners for a new employee-led bid for United Airlines parent UAL
Corp. will pass without a new offer. Coniston, a New York investment
firm that owns 11.8% of UAL stock, will instead probably begin working
with the UAL board on another transaction, such as the recapitalization
that would deliver a special dividend to UAL shareholders. Ever since
Coniston acquired its stake last October of UAL following the collapse
of a $300-a-share, $6.79 billion labor-management buy-out, it has
pressed for a new transaction. Coniston has threatened to seek votes
to oust the UAL directors if they try to block them.
UNISYS EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO OPERATION ILL WIND CHARGES
Very soon, Unisys Corp. is expected to plead guilty to criminal charges
in a military fraud settlement as part of the Operation Ill Wind
investigation. The company acknowledged that it is negotiating with
the Justice Dept. but declined to give further details. Industry
sources close to the investigation expect that it will be the largest
settlement to date in the Ill Wind probe. The settlement is expected
to be somewhere between $130 and $175 million. The investigation
focuses on former Navy research chief Melvyn Paisley. When Unisys
pleads guilty to the charges, it is likely to spell out how Mr. Paisley
and perhaps other Pentagon officials helped the company obtain work on
the Navy's Aegis cruiser, an air-traffic control system for the Marine
Corps or other lucrative weapons systems contracts.
ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS DROPPED PROTEST AGAINST UNISYS
Zenith Data Systems dropped its protest against the Air Force's
decision to award a major personal-computer contract to Unisys Corp.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED DEFENSE CONTRACTS TOTALING $367.1 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. received $367.1 million in contracts for four F-
16 aircraft for the Air Force and for Navy cruise-missile maintenance.
GE AEROSPACE GIVEN $309.8 MILLION MODIFICATION TO NAVY CONTRACT
General Electric Aerospace was given a $309.8 million modification to a
fixed-price-incentive Navy contract to manufacture AN/SPY-1D antenna
arrays and signal processors for the Aegis weapon systems of five
Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class destroyers. GE will also integrate and
test associated SPY 1-D transmitter groups and MK 99 fire control
systems. The work is scheduled to be completed in December 1993.
Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity.
GRUMMAN AWARDED DATA SYSTEMS CONTRACT WORTH $60.7 MILLION
Grumman Corp. was awarded a $60.7 million Defense Logistics Agency
contract for data systems.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT GOT AN ALMOST $185 MILLION INCREASE TO AMRAAM CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co., Missile Systems Group, got a $184,928,649 face
value increase to a firm fixed price Air Force contract for 534
advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM). The contract is
expected to be completed in September 1991. This contract includes the
purchase of missiles for the Air Force, Navy and the Federal Republic
of Germany under the Foreign Military Sales program. Munitions Systems
Div. is the contracting activity.
LTV ISSUED ARMY TACTICAL ROCKETS CONTRACT
LTV Corp. was issued a $30.2 million Army contract for tactical
rockets.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED $138 MILLION IN ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTS
McDonnell Douglas received a $138 million contract for Army helicopter
tests and for Navy aircraft equipment.
NORTHROP DIVISION GOT MOBILE MX MISSILE SUPPORT CONTRACT
Northrop Corp.'s Northrop Electronics division got a $48.9 million Air
Force contract for mobile MX missile support.
RAYTHEON GIVEN $344.8 MILLION IN AIR FORCE WORK
Raytheon Co. was given a $344.8 million contract for Air Force advanced
air-to-air missiles and communications satellite equipment.
ROCKWELL ISSUED $167.6 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. was issued a $167.6 million Air Force
contract for communications satellite equipment.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS WON $297.3 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Texas Instruments Inc. won a $297.3 million Navy contract for anti-
radiation missiles.
TRW DEFENSE SYSTEMS AWARDED $13 MILLION INCREASE TO AIR FORCE CONTRACT
TRW Defense Systems Group, a unit of TRW Inc., was awarded a
$13,719,707 face value increase to a fixed price incentive firm Air
Force contract for equipment, support, installation and checkout of the
Test, Development and Training Center at the Cheyenne Mountain complex
in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The contract is scheduled to be
completed in July 1993. Electronic Systems Div. is the contracting
activity.
RFP UPDATE:
December 26, 1989
AMES TO PROCURE MAC II CX 80/4 AND OTHER RELATED PERIPHERALS
NASA Ames Research Center placed solicitation IFB2-34293 (JWS) as a
notification to change the procurement method from GSA Nonmandatory ADP
Schedule Contract to a Brand Name or Equal requirement. The Items to
be procured are 11 Mac II cx 80/4 and other related peripherals.
Published date in the Commerce Business Daily estimated at December 15,
1989. Delivery is required no later than 30 days after contract award
to Ames Research Center.
Contact: John Sherman
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 241-1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 694-3007
No relevant RFPs for December 27, 1989.
December 28, 1989
LEWIS RESEARCH TO PROCURE HIGH-PERFORMANCE WORKSTATION
NASA Lewis Research Center, under solicitation RFP3-405052 due February
15, 1990, intends to procure a high-performance scientific-engineering
workstation equipped with 32-bit RISC CPU, 32-bit single-precision (64-
bit double-precision) floating point unit, capable of at least 15 MIPS
and 2.4 MFLOPS. Multiple awards are possible. Options for maintenance
for five years. Delivery schedule is 60 calendar days after contract
award. Contract duration is five years. The date set for receipt of
proposals is approximate.
Contact: Katherine Martin
NASA Lewis Research Center
MS 500-309
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2753
December 29, 1989
AMES RESEARCH CENTER SOLICITS FOR ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEM
NASA Ames Research Center placed solicitation IFB2-34271(JLB) for a
robotic vision system, Perceptics Nu Vision Systems, Brand Name or
Equal. Delivery will be 30-60 days after the award of the contract.
All responsible sources may submit a bid which shall be considered by
the Agency.
Contact: Jackie Bendall
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 241-1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 694-4386
Due to the New Years Day holiday no RFPs were issued on January 1.
January 2, 1990
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE THREE PERSONAL IRIS WORKSTATIONS
NASA Lewis Research Center intends to procure, under the terms and
conditions of contract GS00K89AGS5586 with Silicon Graphics, three (3)
Personal Iris workstations and other assorted peripherals. Suppliers
of identical or equivalent items may submit data to demonstrate their
ability to satisfy this requirement. All responsible sources may
submit written responses within 15 days from the date of this notice.
All responses received will be considered. No contract award will be
made on the basis of any response to this notice. Inquiries concerning
this requirement should reference 365755.
Contact: Dianne Corso
NASA Lewis Research Center
MS 500-309
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2755
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE TEN PERSONNEL IRIS WORKSTATIONS
Solicitation IFB3-345415 was placed by Lewis Research Center in order
to procure ten (10) Personnel Iris workstations and many related
peripherals. All responsible sources may submit a bid which will be
considered by the Agency. The delivery must be made to Cleveland, Ohio
within 90 calendar days after contract award.
Contact: Ronald Matthews
NASA Lewis Research Center
MS 500-309
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2767
JSC SEEKING SOURCES FOR REPLACEMENT COMPUTER SYSTEM
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is seeking sources for a computer
system that is intended to replace a Concurrent 8/32 computer system
complex used for real time simulation. These existing 8/32 computers
interface with other Concurrent computers via a shared memory system.
The computer being sought will be required to support a computer-to-
computer random access memory interface capable of supporting a 5 Mb/
sec transfer rate over a 1 kilometer distance. The computer must be
able to interface with existing Concurrent 3280 MPS with minimal
hardware and software impact to existing systems and support internal
data formats compatible with Concurrent 3280. All responses should be
accompanied by the earliest firm delivery schedule and a Not-To-Exceed
estimated cost. This information should be received no later than 30
days from the publication date.
Contact: David Schultz
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG 41
Houston, TX
(713) 483-4714
No relevvant RFPs for January 3, 1990.
January 4, 1990
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PURCHASE MACINTOSH MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS
Wright-Patterson Headquarters, under solicitation F33600-90-R-0061,
intends to purchase nine (9) MacIntosh II CX microcomputer systems,
compatible color print stations and many assorted peripherals. All
responsible sources may submit a bid to be considered by Wright-
Patterson. Please submit requests for the solicitation in writing, no
telephone calls will be accepted.
Contact: Debby Dowty
HQ Wright-Patterson Contracting Center
Specialized Equipment Support Branch
Specialized Contracting Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433
(513) 257-2698
No relevant RFPs for January 5, 1990.
|
| 20.67 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 01/08/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jan 16 1990 09:40 | 560 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 009947
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 16-Jan-1990 00:24am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 01/08/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 8, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
----------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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For the latest 3 months of news on the industry, use the Industry
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Marketing Information and #13 Computer Industry News and on ACCESS
under #18 Target Industries.
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Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 8, 1990
GENERAL:
U.S. BOOSTER AND SATELLITE BUILDERS WILL STILL DOMINATE IN 1990s.
1990 R&D WILL REACH $138.7 BILLION IN THE U.S.
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER WHAT MAY BE YOUNGEST NEWBORN STAR
U.S. PURCHASES ACCOUNTED FOR 65% OF AEROSPACE IMPORTS IN 1989
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER A NEW CLASS OF GALAXIES
DEFENSE:
DARPA SOLICITS PROPOSALS AND HOLDS CONFERENCE FOR SO/LIC TECHNOLOGIES
CHENEY ORDERS REVIEW OF PENTAGON'S FOUR MOST EXPENSIVE PROGRAMS
JEC CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT IS CAUTIOUS ABOUT FUTURE DEFENSE CUTS
FOUR ARMY SOLDIERS KILLED BY UH-60 BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER CRASH
NATO REPORT BELIEVES SOVIET DEFENSE FIGURES ARE INACCURATE
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHENEY ANNOUNCES NEW PENTAGON MANAGEMENT CHANGES
CHENEY ANNOUNCES FURTHER DEFENSE BUDGET CUTTING PLANS
NASA:
COLUMBIA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED AFTER FOUR UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS
NASA PLANS TEN SHUTTLE FLIGHTS IN 1990
NASA APPOINTED THOMAS UTSMAN AND JAMES THOMAS TO NEW POSITIONS
DAN QUAYLE CALLS FOR MORE VERSATILE SPACE PROGRAM IN U.S.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS AND U.S. TO STUDY BALLOON PROBES FOR SOVIET MISSION
MBB POSTS 11% BETTER SALES AT THE END OF 1989
PHILIPS SIGNED AGREEMENT TO SELL INTERESTS TO THOMSON-CSF
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE FEARS STRIKE AT BAe-OWNED PLANT
SINGAPORE AIRLINES TO BUY AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES WORTH $5.29 BILLION
AIR FRANCE TO BUY CONTROLLING STAKE OF FRENCH CARRIER UTA
STUDY FINDS JAPANESE COMPUTER COMPANIES CONTINUE TO GAIN ON U.S.
BUSINESS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL GOT FIRST-PHASE CERTIFICATION ON DEE HOWARD TR5020
BOEING TO FORM PARTNERSHIP TO SELL OFF AIRCRAFT FINANCING
FORD MOTOR CO. MAY BE CONSIDERING SELLING FORD AEROSPACE DIVISION
MCDONNELL AIRCRAFT NAMES JAMES CALDWELL AS VICE PRESIDENT OF KFP
SANDERS REPORTS HIGH POWERED PROJECTOR PASSED NAVY QUALIFICATIONS
FBI CONFIRMED THIOKOL INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AND UTC TEAM RECEIVED $123.1 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
GRUMMAN GIVEN DEFENSE LOGISTIC CENTER CONTRACT
IBM WON $18.5 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT RADAR
MARTIN MARIETTA TO OPERATE AIR COMMAND AND CONTROL SIMULATION FACILITY
AIR FORCE GIVES PRATT & WHITNEY AND GENERAL ELECTRIC ENGINE CONTRACTS
RAYTHEON RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT FOR AN/SQQ-32 MINE-HUNTING SONARS
TRW GIVEN FAA CONTRACT VALUED AT $139 MILLION
VITRO TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF DOD'S UAV JOINT PROJECT OFFICE
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for January 8, 1990.
January 9, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE NINE IBM GRAPHICS COMPUTER TERMINALS
No relevant RFPs for January 10-12, 1990.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
U.S. BOOSTER AND SATELLITE BUILDERS WILL STILL DOMINATE IN 1990s.
A study released by the Paris, France consulting firm Euroconsult,
found that U.S. booster and satellite builders will maintain their
dominance in the world commercial space market through the 1990s, but
demand will probably peak around 1994, followed by a pattern of
replacement launches once the market is saturated. The report, "World
Space Industry Survey: 10 Year Outlook," found that six European
companies share about one-fourth of the world telecommunications
satellite market and are expected to increase their production over the
next decade. The Survey reports that the three largest U.S. launch
companies, General Dynamics, Martin Marietta and McDonnell Douglas,
along with Europe's Arianespace, will continue to dominate the
commercial launch market as well as military and government contracts.
1990 R&D WILL REACH $138.7 BILLION IN THE U.S.
The non-profit Battelle Institute forecast that 1990 research and
development (R&D) spending will reach $138.7 billion in the U.S.;
however, defense and overall R&D spending will slow down due to federal
budget-cutting and political changes in Eastern Europe. Battelle
predicts that increases in R&D funding will be directed toward tactical
programs, advanced technology and manufacturing development. About 60%
of all R&D funds will go to the Pentagon this year. Also, the
Department of Health and Human Services will spend about 12%, mostly on
AIDS research, NASA will spend about 10.8% and the Energy Department
will get just under 9% of the total U.S. R&D funds.
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER WHAT MAY BE YOUNGEST NEWBORN STAR
Astronomers have discovered what they believe to be the youngest
newborn star ever seen. The newborn star is twice the size of the sun
and is the type of star that might be expected to form a system of
planets. The discovery was made by combining information from an
infrared telescope in Hawaii with data from a huge radio telescope in
New Mexico called the Very Large Array. The star is about 12,000 light
years, or 72 billion miles away from Earth. Scientists hope that the
discovery will help confirm theories of how stars and planets are
formed.
U.S. PURCHASES ACCOUNTED FOR 65% OF AEROSPACE IMPORTS IN 1989
In the U.S., 65% of aerospace imports in 1989 consisted of U.S.
purchases of aircraft engines and parts, according to the Commerce
Dept. Complete turbine engines, both new and used, totaled
approximately $1.6 billion and are expected to reach $1.7 billion in
1990. Engine parts accounted for about $1.85 billion and are expected
to be as high as $2.15 billion this year.
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER A NEW CLASS OF GALAXIES
Astronomer David Helfand of Columbia University reported that a 28-
year-old mystery may have been solved with the discovery of a new class
of galaxies; vast, dusty hatcheries in which millions of stars are
born, which are responsible for a uniform, sky-filling "flow" of X-
rays. This discovery could help answer many questions about how stars
and galaxies form. According to Mr. Helfand, only two kinds of
radiation seem to exist at uniform levels throughout the sky:
microwaves, a type of radio wave believed to be the residual glow from
the Big Bang, the explosion that created the universe; and X-rays, for
which there has been no satisfactory explanation since the discovery of
their presence in 1962. However, Mr. Helfand and his colleagues
believe they have found the explanation for the background radiation
composed of X-rays. They believe millions of faint, new-born galaxies
spread throughout space may be producing the X-rays, which could help
astronomers find these elusive galaxies.
DEFENSE:
DARPA SOLICITS PROPOSALS AND HOLDS CONFERENCE FOR SO/LIC TECHNOLOGIES
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) placed a notice
in the Commerce Business Daily soliciting proposals from industry "in
areas which can significantly improve the performance of U.S.
organizations involved in special operations and low intensity conflict
(SO/LIC) and drug interdiction." Innovative research, developmental
hardware and software prototypes and devices to extend technological
capabilities are the categories the Agency wishes to explore. DARPA is
holding a classified pre-proposal conference in Alexandria, VA on
January 16 to explore the subject of SO/LIC.
CHENEY ORDERS REVIEW OF PENTAGON'S FOUR MOST EXPENSIVE PROGRAMS
Senior defense officials said that Defence Secretary Dick Cheney has
ordered an urgent review of the Pentagon's four most expensive aircraft
programs in light of the changing military environment and domestic
budget cuts. Mr. Cheney asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior
deputies to challenge the fundamental assumptions underlying the $70
billion B-2 Stealth bomber, the $37.5 billion C-17 transport, and the
Air Force and Navy fighter planes still under development.
JEC CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT IS CAUTIOUS ABOUT FUTURE DEFENSE CUTS
Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-IN), chairman of the Joint Economic Committee
(JEC) said in his annual report that the reduced East-West tensions and
a declining need for rapid mobilization capability in Europe may reduce
defense spending, but these changes and cuts are unlikely to be large
enough in the near or medium term to help solve the deficit problem.
Rep. Hamilton pointed out that less than 30% of defense outlays are for
weapons systems and strategic forces, excluding research and
development, which accounts for less than 10% of the budget. He added
that saving money in the weapons area is also difficult because so much
of procurement is under long-term contracts. His report went on to say
that the U.S. has many global defense responsibilities, including the
recently declared war on drugs, and these factors also make it
difficult to cut costs.
FOUR ARMY SOLDIERS KILLED BY UH-60 BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER CRASH
Four Army soldiers were killed when an Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter
crashed during desert exercises. The crash occurred about 14 miles
east of the Mojave Desert base near Fort Irwin, California.
NATO REPORT BELIEVES SOVIET DEFENSE FIGURES ARE INACCURATE
A North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) report said that the Soviet
defense figures are inaccurate, but there are signs that the country is
scaling back its huge military outlays. "While NATO remains highly
skeptical regarding Soviet claims for their defense expenditures, it
appears that the Soviet Union is indeed beginning to trim its defense
outlays," the report said. The Soviets said that military expenditures
for 1989 totaled $131.4 billion and that it would cut that figure by
more than 8% this year.
DEFENSE SECRETARY CHENEY ANNOUNCES NEW PENTAGON MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney announced Pentagon management changes
that he believes will save $39 billion over the next five years. The
Defense Department (DoD) has been working on the plan for nearly a
year. Mr. Cheney said the budget plan proposes extensive closings of
military bases beyond those shut down amid much controversy last year.
The plan also includes changes in logistics: personnel cuts, reductions
in spending on clothes and transportation and cut-backs in repair
depots and shipyards. Over 42,000 positions in the weapons procurement
bureaucracy will be eliminated over the next five years: 18,000
civilian and 24,000 military. Rep. Les Aspin (D-WI), chairman of the
House Armed Services Committee, expressed skepticism about the plan.
The plan "offers no blueprint for implementation," according to Rep.
Aspin, "That's where reform efforts have failed in the past."
CHENEY ANNOUNCES FURTHER DEFENSE BUDGET CUTTING PLANS
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney announced further defense budget cuts,
suggesting an immediate hiring freeze affecting nearly all civilian
Defense Department positions. Mr. Cheney said he now expects to leave
approximately 50,000 civilian jobs vacant world-wide by October. The
hiring freeze covers all civilian positions, with the exception of a
limited number considered essential to national security.
NASA:
COLUMBIA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED AFTER FOUR UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS
The Columbia space shuttle was successfully launched after four
unsuccessful attempts. The shuttle is scheduled to deploy a Navy
communications satellite and retrieve the Long Duration Exposure
Facility (LDEF), a satellite containing 57 experiments. Columbia, with
crew Daniel Brandenstein as commander, James D. Wetherbee as pilot,
Bonnie Dunbar, Marsha S. Ivins and G. David Low as mission specialists,
is scheduled to stay aloft for nearly 10 days in the second-longest
mission since the program began in 1981. The Navy communications
satellite, SYNCOM, will link military aircraft, vessels and submarines
to land stations around the world. The shuttle is scheduled to land on
January 19, at 5:32 am EDT at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
NASA PLANS TEN SHUTTLE FLIGHTS IN 1990
NASA has ten planned space shuttle flights in 1990, making it the
busiest year in the program's nine years. The mission this week is the
33rd since 1981. In February, Atlantis is scheduled to deploy a
classified mission for the Defense Department. Discovery will deploy
the long-delayed Hubble Space Telescope in March. Then, in August,
Columbia will deploy a life-science laboratory. In October, Atlantis
will deploy the Ulysses space probe, which will circle the sun to study
solar wind and interstellar space. In all, over 35 scientific missions
are planned through 1994. There are currently three shuttles:
Columbia, Atlantis and Discovery. The Endeavour is being built for
over $1.3 billion and is expected to be ready in 1992.
NASA APPOINTED THOMAS UTSMAN AND JAMES THOMAS TO NEW POSITIONS
Thomas E. Utsman was appointed deputy associate administrator for space
flight management and James A. Thomas as deputy director of Kennedy
Space Center (KSC). Mr. Utsman will be responsible for assisting
William B. Lenoir, associate administrator for space flight, in the
daily oversight management of the space flight program. He will
oversee procurement activities, assess program management performance
and conduct long range operational planning. Mr. Thomas will serve
under KSC Director Forrest S. McCartney.
DAN QUAYLE CALLS FOR MORE VERSATILE SPACE PROGRAM IN U.S.
Speaking before the 175th meeting of the American Astronomical Society
in Crystal City, VA, Vice President Dan Quayle said the U.S. needs a
more versatile space program that would not depend solely on NASA and
the Defense Department. Mr. Quayle, who is also chairman of the
National Space Council, said that NASA should look to universities,
federal laboratories and private business for new ideas and new
technology. He also suggested expanding international cooperation with
Japan, West Germany and the Soviet Union. Dr. John M. Logsdon, head of
the Space Policy Institute of George Washington University explained
Mr. Quayle is calling for "a new voice and new ideas rather than
continuing the monopoly by a single agency and its contractors." Mr.
Quayle did not suggest that NASA be replaced; instead, he asked the
agency to look for outside help and assistance, especially on the Moon
and Mars missions currently being planned.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS AND U.S. TO STUDY BALLOON PROBES FOR SOVIET MISSION
The Babakin Center, the Spacecraft design arm of the Soviet space
agency Galvkosmos, and the U.S. Planetary Society established a joint
study center to review designs and missions for the balloon probe
portion of the Soviet Mars 94 mission planned for 1994. According to
Planetary Society director Louis Friedman, IBM-compatible computers
have been installed at the Babakin Center at Khimki to communicate by
electronic mail and to analyze balloon models and their interaction
with the Martian atmosphere. Mr. Friedman said that the program would
be too costly and therefore would not get proper political backing if
either country tried to do it alone. The study will focus on balloon
flight dynamics, mission analysis and balloon system design.
MBB POSTS 11% BETTER SALES AT THE END OF 1989
The West German aerospace and defense company Messerschmitt-Boelkow-
Blohm (MBB) posted 11% better sales of 7.9 billion marks ($4.67
billion) on strong orders for 1989. MBB's order volume was up to 15.9
billion marks ($9.4 billion) at the end of 1989, compared with 12
billion marks ($7.09 billion) at the end of 1988.
PHILIPS SIGNED AGREEMENT TO SELL INTERESTS TO THOMSON-CSF
Dutch NV Philips signed an agreement to sell interests in three units
to Thomson-CSF, France, for an undisclosed sum. Thomson-CSF gained an
80% stake in Hollandse Signaalapparaten BV, a 49% stake in the defense
activities of Philips' Belgian subsidiary MBLE and a 99% stake in the
defense activities of TRT in France. In August, Philips announced
plans to sell-off some interests to Thomson due to rising development
costs and the mounting pressure to cut defense budgets.
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE FEARS STRIKE AT BAe-OWNED PLANT
Airbus Industrie Chief Executive Jean Pierson said a strike at a plant
owned by British Aerospace PLC (BAe), which makes wings for Airbus
commercial jets, will force Airbus to shut down its production lines.
Mr. Pierson also predicted that thousands of workers at plants in
Britain, France, Spain and West Germany would be temporarily laid off
due to the strike. Airbus had a very good year, booking firm orders
for a record 421 aircraft worth $34 billion in 1989.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES TO BUY AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES WORTH $5.29 BILLION
Singapore Airlines plans to buy aircraft and engines worth $5.29
billion. The airline hopes to start delivery in 1994. Singapore has
begun talks will several major airlines to negotiate the purchase. The
airline intends to replace older aircraft, increase flight schedules
and operate more non-stop flights.
AIR FRANCE TO BUY CONTROLLING STAKE OF FRENCH CARRIER UTA
Air France said it will buy a controlling stake in the largest private
French carrier, Union de Transports Aeriens (UTA), from owner Chargeurs
S.A. Air France plans to pay 3.8 billion francs ($664.2 million) for
54.6% of UTA. This will also boost Air France's 36.5% stake in
domestic carrier Air Inter because UTA itself owns $35.8% of Air Inter.
This move would leave Air France as the dominant carrier in France.
However, the EC Commission is studying the deal and has already raised
some objections to the route-swapping accord between Air France and Air
Inter, forcing the airlines to amend their agreement.
STUDY FINDS JAPANESE COMPUTER COMPANIES CONTINUE TO GAIN ON U.S.
A study by Arthur D. Little, Inc., found that Japanese computer
companies continue to gain on their U.S. counterparts, especially in
the semiconductor markets. According to the study, Toshiba and
Matsushita have joined Fujitsu, NEC and Hitachi on the top-20-list of
the largest information systems and services companies in the world.
BUSINESS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL GOT FIRST-PHASE CERTIFICATION ON DEE HOWARD TR5020
Allied-Signal Aerospace received first-phase certification from the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for their Dee Howard TR5020
thrust reversers. The units are an option for installation on
Dassault-Breguet Falcon 20 business jet aircraft modified with the
Garrett TFE731-5AR turbofan engine.
BOEING TO FORM PARTNERSHIP TO SELL OFF AIRCRAFT FINANCING
Boeing Co. announced plans to form a partnership with two other
companies, Spectrum Capital and Mitsubishi Trust & Banking Corp., to
serve as a vehicle for selling off some aircraft financing that it now
owns. The company, BC Capital Partners, will be 50% owned by Boeing,
40% owned by Spectrum and Mitsubishi will own 10%. A Boeing official
said that BC Capital Partners is being formed to seek new business and
is not intended to allow the company to sell customer financing it
already owns.
FORD MOTOR CO. MAY BE CONSIDERING SELLING FORD AEROSPACE DIVISION
Ford Motor Co. is considering putting its Ford Aerospace and
Communications division up for sale and getting out of the defense
business, according to industry sources. Ford neither confirmed nor
denied the reports. According to a report in the Washington Post, Ford
has distributed a prospectus describing the aerospace unit to potential
buyers such as Boeing Co., Martin Marietta Corp., McDonnell Douglas
Corp. and TRW Inc. Ford Aerospace has annual sales of about $1.6
billion, including sales of subsidiary BDM Corp.
MCDONNELL AIRCRAFT NAMES JAMES CALDWELL AS VICE PRESIDENT OF KFP
McDonnell Aircraft named James P. Caldwell to the newly created
position of vice president of the company's just won Korean Fighter
Program (KFP). In addition to overall responsibility for KFP, Mr.
Caldwell will help South Korea build up its aerospace industry under
its Aerospace Industry Development Plan. He has been with McDonnell
Aircraft for 21 years and most recently served as McDonnell Aircraft
vice president for international program development and was
instrumental in the company's F/A-18 sales to Canada, Australia, Kuwait
and Switzerland.
SANDERS REPORTS HIGH POWERED PROJECTOR PASSED NAVY QUALIFICATIONS
Sanders Associates, Inc. reported that their low frequency active
acoustic source to detect submarines has met all Navy qualification
milestones during recent testing in Lake Seneca, NY. The device, known
as the High Powered Projector, will continue advanced array tests and
hydrodynamic performance assessment at sea.
FBI CONFIRMED THIOKOL INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has confirmed that a Utah
investigation of fraud allegations against Thiokol Corp. is closed.
Thiokol manufactured the solid-rocket motors for the space shuttle
Challenger, which exploded in 1986.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AND UTC TEAM RECEIVED $123.1 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
The team of Boeing Co. and United Technologies Corp. (UTC) received a
$123.1 million Navy contract for development of the V-22 aircraft.
GRUMMAN GIVEN DEFENSE LOGISTIC CENTER CONTRACT
Grumman Corp. was given a contract worth a potential $60.7 million to
modernize a computer-based information system at the Defense Logistics
Center, Battle Creek, MI. The new system will replace older ones in
the Defense Integrated Data System, providing growth capability and
easier access to information.
IBM WON $18.5 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT RADAR
International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. won an $18.5 million Army
contract for aircraft radar.
MARTIN MARIETTA TO OPERATE AIR COMMAND AND CONTROL SIMULATION FACILITY
Martin Marietta was chosen to operate and maintain the Air Force
Theater Air Command and Control Simulation Facility at Kirtland Air
Force Base, NM. The contract, awarded by the Air Force Tactical
Warfare Center, is worth just over $2 million. Martin Marietta
Simulation Systems, Colorado Springs, CO, will transition the system
from the development phase to an operational system designed to enhance
war games scenarios for Air Force support of grand troops. The
simulator will be used to test air defense concepts, strategies and
tactics for U.S. and NATO forces. The one year contract has four one
year options worth a total of about $15 million.
AIR FORCE GIVES PRATT & WHITNEY AND GENERAL ELECTRIC ENGINE CONTRACTS
The Air Force gave Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies
Corp., contracts for 113 engines and 114 engines from General Electric
Co. for F-15 and F-16 jet fighter engines for the fiscal year beginning
October 1. The Air Force did not specify the amount of the contracts,
but Pratt & Whitney said its contract for 113 engines was valued at
$400 million.
RAYTHEON RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT FOR AN/SQQ-32 MINE-HUNTING SONARS
Raytheon's Submarine Signal Div. received a $125.6 million Navy
contract to build two AN/SQQ-32 mine-hunting sonars for the Japanese
Maritime Self-Defense Force. The Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of low-
frequency, high-resolution sonar, will be the first to a foreign
government. The sonar was originally developed for the Navy's MCM
Avenger-class oceangoing mindhunters and coastal MHC Osprey-class
coastal anti-mine vessels. A Raytheon spokesperson said the contract
is a follow-on to a $46.6 million contract for two of the AN/SQQ-32
systems issued in February 1989.
TRW GIVEN FAA CONTRACT VALUED AT $139 MILLION
TRW Inc. was given a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contract
valued at $139 million for technical support in managing the FAA's air-
traffic-control automation project. Under the contract, TRW will help
the FAA solve technical problems that arise in connection with the $3.5
billion automation projection.
VITRO TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF DOD'S UAV JOINT PROJECT OFFICE
Vitro Corp. won a competition to support development of the Pentagon's
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) Joint Project Office. The contract is
worth $941,195.
RFP Update:
No relevant RFPs for January 8, 1990.
January 9, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE NINE IBM GRAPHICS COMPUTER TERMINALS
NASA Ames Research Center placed solicitation IFB2-343 6 (JEP) for up
to nine IBM Graphics computer terminals, brand name or equal. Ames
anticipates a Firm-Fixed Price Requirements contract to cover a basic
one-year period of performance and a one-year First Option Period of
Performance.
Contact: Joyce Pidgeon
NASA - Ames Research Center
M/S 241-1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 694-3004
No relevant RFPs for January 10-12, 1990.
|
| 20.68 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 01/15/90 NH | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jan 24 1990 16:54 | 583 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010076
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 24-Jan-1990 04:09pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 01/15/90 NH
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 15, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY **
***************************************************************************
************************* SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ***************************
***************************************************************************
The Industry News Service has changed its name to better reflect the
broadening content. The new name of the database is The Industry Marketing
and Sales Information Service (IMSIS). Keyword access from the '$' prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS' (although some systems will accept the previous keyword for
a few more weeks). The IMSIS database is still located under the same VTX
and ACCESS menu options - Marketing Information and Computer Industry News
on the VTX menu and Target Industries under the ACCESS Menu. IMSIS
contains at least the last three months worth of news.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 15, 1990
GENERAL:
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT PREDICTS SPACE COMMERCE TO INCREASE 20% IN 1990
DEFENSE:
TRIDENT II MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED FROM SUBMERGED USS TENNESSEE
AIR FORCE WILL NOT MERGE SYSTEMS AND LOGISTICS COMMANDS
PENTAGON PROPOSES TO DEFER OVER $2 BILLION IN SPENDING
REP. ASPIN CALLS FOR CONTINUED RESEARCH ON HIGH-TECHNOLOGY WEAPONS
AIR FORCE AND DARPA OPTED FOR THIRD CAPTIVE FLIGHT TEST OF PEGASUS
NASA:
GODDARD TO WITHDRAW FROM MOST OF THE SPACE STATION PROGRAM
NASA TO DRAFT SURVEY TO FIND NEW IDEAS FOR LUNAR AND MARS MISSIONS
COLUMBIA SPACE SHUTTLE LANDS SAFELY AFTER 11 DAY MISSION
INTERNATIONAL:
BRITAIN'S VICKERS PLC FEARS HOSTILE BID
ARIANESPACE DECLARES SPOT 2 SATELLITE FLIGHTWORTHY
FRENCH GOVERNMENT APPROVED THOMSON-CSF/BAe JOINT COMPANY
SOVIET COSMONAUTS INSTALL NEW EQUIPMENT ON MIR STATION
JAPAN MAY PARTICIPATE IN SOVIET MARS MISSION SCHEDULED FOR 1994
FRANCE'S THOMSON WILL NOT BID FOR BRITAIN'S FERRANTI
BUSINESS:
BOEING TO CUT 5,000 EMPLOYEES FROM SEATTLE AREA PLANT
FLOW GENERAL TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO GRC INTERNATIONAL
GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES DIVISION TO OFFER NEW ENGINE FOR BOEING'S 777
LORAL ACQUIRES HONEYWELL DIVISION FOR $54 MILLION IN CASH
RAYTHEON POSTED 7.6% RISE IN NET INCOME FOR FOURTH QUARTER
TRW AND RATIONAL TO CREATE UNIVERSAL-HOST NETWORK COMPUTER SYSTEM
WESTINGHOUSE REPORTS ALL 23 BUSINESS UNITS PROFITABLE IN FOURTH-QUARTER
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL UNIT WON IBERIA AIR LINES CONTRACT
BELL-BOEING TEAM RECEIVED $117.9 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON $64.6 MILLION IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
GE'S JET-ENGINE DIVISION SAID LUFTHANSA PLACED $1.5 BILLION ORDER
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RECEIVED $22.6 MILLION IN NAVY CONTRACTS
LOCKHEED GIVEN $82.8 MILLION CONTRACT FOR C13OH AIRCRAFT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED AV-8B AIRCRAFT COMPUTERS CONTRACT
ROCKWELL AWARDED TWO FIVE-YEAR JSC CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
UNISYS GERMANY GIVEN CONTRACT FROM WEST GERMAN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
RFP UPDATE:
Due to the Federal Holiday, no RFPs were issued on January 15, 1990.
January 16, 1990
GOVERNMENT SOLICITS INDUSTRY COMMENTS FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM
January 17, 1990
NOTICE PLACED FOR ADP EQUIPMENT AGAINST FALCON MICRO SYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for January 18, 1990.
January 19, 1990
TRADOC TO CHANGE ADP TO NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
AFGWC PROJECT 294 WENT TO UNISYS FOR $36,267,917
LANGLEY'S CAD/CAM WORKSTATIONS/FILESERVERS CONTRACT WENT TO TEKTRONIX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT PREDICTS SPACE COMMERCE TO INCREASE 20% IN 1990
A U.S. Commerce Department study found that space commerce should
increase by 20% to $3.3 billion in 1990. This includes satellite
communications, remote sensing, commercial launch services, materials
research and processing and space-based industrial facilities. The
report, "U.S. Industrial Outlook," also predicts the U.S. aerospace
industry as a whole will increase by 3.5% this year.
DEFENSE:
TRIDENT II MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED FROM SUBMERGED USS TENNESSEE
The Navy reported that a Trident II (D-5) missile was launched from the
submerged submarine USS Tennessee off the coast of Florida and that the
launch was characterized as successful. This marks the seventh
submerged launch of the D-5 from the Tennessee, the fourth since the
missile's thrust-vectoring system was redesigned. The Navy plans two
more underwater launches before the Trident II can be certified for
initial operating capability.
AIR FORCE WILL NOT MERGE SYSTEMS AND LOGISTICS COMMANDS
Air Force Secretary Donald B. Rice announced the service will not merge
the Systems and Logistics commands, as had been suggested, because they
are too dissimilar. Mr. Rice said a merger is possible in the future,
but the first goal is to streamline the organization as much as
possible. He said of the two commands, "They really have quite
different missions. One of them is focused on science and technology
and new systems development. The other is focused on all of the
functions associated with supporting systems that we already have."
PENTAGON PROPOSES TO DEFER OVER $2 BILLION IN SPENDING
The Pentagon challenged Congress appropriations committees by proposing
to defer over $2 billion in spending added by lawmakers for assorted
weapon and construction projects. Though the final total has not yet
been made public, a related budget document listed nearly $1.3 billion
in FY 1990 appropriations to be deferred indefinitely, as well as
nearly $850 million more that would be delayed in most cases until
specific projects can be evaluated this spring.
REP. ASPIN CALLS FOR CONTINUED RESEARCH ON HIGH-TECHNOLOGY WEAPONS
In a speech to a private military-research group in Chicago, House
Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Les Aspin (D-WI) called for
continued research rather than production of many high-technology
weapons in light of budget deficit pressures and Soviet military
cutbacks. He criticized both the Navy's plan to build more submarines
and Air Force plans to build a new generation of expensive fighters and
troop-transport planes. President Bush and defense contractors are
sure to oppose any moves to delay or kill many of the multibillion-
dollar programs Rep. Aspin has in mind.
AIR FORCE AND DARPA OPTED FOR THIRD CAPTIVE FLIGHT TEST OF PEGASUS
The Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
have opted for a third captive flight test of the Pegasus air-launched
booster to evaluate fixes installed after the second flight. A Defense
Department spokesperson made the announcement and said that the flight
is tentatively scheduled for January 30. The flight will also validate
upgrades made to the data transfer and communications system between
the aircraft and ground control.
NASA:
GODDARD TO WITHDRAW FROM MOST OF THE SPACE STATION PROGRAM
NASA Administrator Richard Truly approved Goddard Space Flight Center's
withdrawal from most of the space station program, leaving only three
of the eight NASA centers involved in the $20 billion effort to build
the permanently manned base. Congress must now approve the withdrawal
in the upcoming budget cycle. The change would end Goddard's role in
building a key part of the station, and place the center's emphasis on
the Earth Observing System (EOS) environmental initiative.
NASA TO DRAFT SURVEY TO FIND NEW IDEAS FOR LUNAR AND MARS MISSIONS
At the direction of Vice President Dan Quayle, NASA will draft a plan
to obtain ideas from universities, federal research centers and the
aerospace industry on advanced technology and alternative mission
scenarios that could help them carry out lunar and Mars exploration.
The survey is expected to include eight 18-month contracts asking for
highly detailed exploration proposals. NASA Headquarters is planning
the survey.
COLUMBIA SPACE SHUTTLE LANDS SAFELY AFTER 11 DAY MISSION
After nearly 11 days, the longest mission in the history of the shuttle
program, Columbia landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base, CA at about
1:35 a.m. (4:35 a.m. EST). The shuttle delivered a sharp double sonic
boom as it landed. This was the second night landing in the history of
the shuttle program. Night landings are difficult because dust kicks
up into the brilliant arc lights and reduces visibility. While in
space, a switch on one of Columbia's backup computers malfunctioned and
caused the crew to delay reentry for one orbit. The switch transfers
information within the ship's computers and affects the system's flight
data. Upon landing, Columbia was 28,000 pounds heavier than any
previous flight, largely because it carried the schoolbus-sized Long
Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) satellite. During the mission, the
satellite crew launched a Navy communications satellite and
accomplished the LDEF retrieval.
INTERNATIONAL:
BRITAIN'S VICKERS PLC FEARS HOSTILE BID
Executives at Vickers PLC, Britain's only tank manufacturer and the
maker of Rolls-Royce cars, are concerned that its largest shareholder,
Sir Ron Brierley, may launch a hostile bid. Sir Ron Brierley, a New
Zealand financier, owns 17.25% of Vickers, a stake that has increased
from 5.2% since March 1988. Many analysts, however, believe that the
aerospace, defense and automotive conglomerate is virtually bid proof
because the British government would not allow its tank business and
the Rolls-Royce auto operation to fall into the hands of foreigners.
ARIANESPACE DECLARES SPOT 2 SATELLITE FLIGHTWORTHY
The Arianespace Spot Image technicians have replaced a faulty tape
recorder on the Spot 2 remote sensing satellite and the new launch date
has been set for January 20. According to a company spokesperson,
repeated tests of the Ariane 40's gimbal inertial platform detected no
anomalies and the booster has been declared flightworthy. The launch
of the Spot 2 satellite will take place from Arianespace's Kourou,
French Guiana launch site.
FRENCH GOVERNMENT APPROVED THOMSON-CSF/BAe JOINT COMPANY
The French government approved Thomson-CSF's creation of a joint
company with British Aerospace (BAe) for the development of tactical
missiles. The joint company will be called Eurodynamics.
SOVIET COSMONAUTS INSTALL NEW EQUIPMENT ON MIR STATION
Geoffrey Perry of the Kettering Group in England reported two Soviet
cosmonauts left the Mir space station to conduct a three hour space
walk and install new equipment that will be used the help the station
better maintain its orbital position. The two pieces of equipment are
devices called star trackers, that determine the station's position
more accurately. The star trackers are also believed to feed
information into gyroscopic systems on board that automatically keep
Mir in its proper orbit. According to Mr. Perry, the improvements
reflect the Soviet policy to gradually expand Mir's size and
capabilities.
JAPAN MAY PARTICIPATE IN SOVIET MARS MISSION SCHEDULED FOR 1994
The director of Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science,
Jun Nishimura, said that Japan may contribute observational equipment
to a Soviet space mission to Mars scheduled for 1994. Mr. Nishimura
said that his country has sent several instrument proposals for the
mission to Albert Galeev, a director of the Soviet Union's Space
Research Institute. Mr. Nishimura added that participation in the
project would depend on further improvement in political relations
between the two nations.
FRANCE'S THOMSON WILL NOT BID FOR BRITAIN'S FERRANTI
France's Thomson-CSF SA decided against bidding for the ailing British
Ferranti International PLC. Ferranti had been hoping for Thomson's bid
to help it recover from an alleged $355.3 million accounting fraud that
battered its finances. Thomson's announcement sent Ferranti's stock
price down, where shares fell 11 pence, to 26 pence on the London
market. This leaves Ferranti with no immediate prospects for a bidder
and means months of financial difficulties. Thomson did not say
exactly why it backed out, however analysts speculate that as a state-
owned company, Thomson may have had political difficulty raising cash
for the failing Ferranti.
BUSINESS:
BOEING TO CUT 5,000 EMPLOYEES FROM SEATTLE AREA PLANT
Boeing Co. announced it expects to cut about 5,000 employees from its
Puget Sound, WA plant this year. A Boeing spokesperson said the cuts
will come mostly from blue-collar ranks, and attrition is expected to
account for about half of the reduction.
FLOW GENERAL TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO GRC INTERNATIONAL
Flow General Inc., which provides defense-related technical services,
will change its name to GRC International Inc. Its symbol for its
common stock and its 14.30% subordinated debentures will change to GRH
from FGN.
GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES DIVISION TO OFFER NEW ENGINE FOR BOEING'S 777
General Electric Co.'s GE Aircraft Engines division announced plans to
offer a new and more powerful engine for Boeing Co.'s planned 777 and
other wide-body planes in the mid-1990s. The plan assumes that Boeing
will follow through on its plans to build the 767-X in 1995, which
would then be called the 777. The 777 is a twin-engine jet that would
carry over 300 passengers. It would also be larger than the company's
767-300 twin-jet, but smaller than its 767-400 jumbo. GE's new engine,
the GE-90, will compete with existing engine versions from United
Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney division and Britain's Rolls-Royce
PLC. Over the next 20 years, this engine market has an estimated value
of between $50 billion to $100 billion. GE believes development costs
for the engine will be between $1.2 billion and $2 billion.
LORAL ACQUIRES HONEYWELL DIVISION FOR $54 MILLION IN CASH
Loral Corp. acquired Honeywell's Electro-Optics Div. for $54 million in
cash. The division's products include the ARR-47 missile warning set,
EO components for the Maverick missile, Flight and ground-vehicle
thermal imaging systems. Loral hopes the new division, Loral Infrared
and Imaging Systems, will improve its all-weather, high-resolution
imaging capabilities.
RAYTHEON POSTED 7.6% RISE IN NET INCOME FOR FOURTH QUARTER
Raytheon Co. posted a 7.6% rise in net income and a 1.6% revenue gain
in the fourth quarter. Net income was up to $137 million from $127.3
million during the same quarter last year. Revenue grew to $2.24
billion from $2.21 billion. Improvement in its non-defense businesses
was cited as the reason for the gain. For the year, Raytheon had a net
income of $528.8 million, or $8.01 a share, up from $489.6 million, or
$7.35 a share in 1988. Revenue was up to $8.50 billion from $8.20
billion.
TRW AND RATIONAL TO CREATE UNIVERSAL-HOST NETWORK COMPUTER SYSTEM
TRW Inc. will team with Rational, a computer-aided software engineering
firm, to create a universal-host network product for real-time,
embedded computer systems. TRW will expand its Network Architecture
Services (NAS) system to run on the Rational R1000 Development System.
TRW used NAS to develop the Air Force's Command Center Processing and
Display System-Replacement that is part of the ballistic missile
warning system at Cheyenne Mountain, WY. The NAS system allowed
software engineers to build more than 300,000 lines of Ada source code
using NAS building blocks.
WESTINGHOUSE REPORTS ALL 23 BUSINESS UNITS PROFITABLE IN FOURTH-QUARTER
Westinghouse Electric Corp. reported fourth-quarter net income was up
30% despite flat revenue of $3.65 billion. A $123 million
restructuring charge taken in the quarter largely offset a gain from an
asset sale. Net for the company was $270 million, compared with
restated net of $208 million. For last year's fourth-quarter,
Westinghouse originally reported net income of $249 million, but those
numbers were restated downward to reflect a higher tax provision.
Chairman and chief executive John C. Marous said all of the company's
23 business units were profitable.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL UNIT WON IBERIA AIR LINES CONTRACT
An Allied-Signal Inc. unit won a contract from Iberia Air Lines of
Spain to outfit the 45 plane fleet with an independent collision-
avoidance system. The cost of such systems, which operate independent
of ground-based radar, was estimated at $100,000 - $125,000 apiece; on
this basis, the transaction with the Spanish airline is valued at about
$5 million.
BELL-BOEING TEAM RECEIVED $117.9 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
The Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office received a $117.9 million
modification to a fixed price incentive Navy contract for Research and
Development of the V-22 aircraft. The work is scheduled to be finished
in June 1992. This contract combines purchases for the Navy, Marine
Corps and Air Force. The Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC, is
the contracting activity.
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON $64.6 MILLION IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
General Dynamics Corp. won $64.6 million in contracts for Army M-1 tank
improvements and Air Force F-16 aircraft computers.
GE'S JET-ENGINE DIVISION SAID LUFTHANSA PLACED $1.5 BILLION ORDER
General Electric Co.'s jet-engine division said Lufthansa German
Airlines ordered about $1.5 billion of CF6-802C engines for 41 Boeing
Co. 747-400 planes the carrier plans to buy. Lufthansa has not ordered
the planes yet, but a GE spokesperson said the airline agreed to the
engine purchase in anticipation of exercising options to buy 15 of the
four-engine, wide-body planes and plans to order 26 additional
aircraft.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RECEIVED $22.6 MILLION IN NAVY CONTRACTS
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., received $22.6
million in Navy contracts for a new UHF satellite and F-14 aircraft
targeting systems.
LOCKHEED GIVEN $82.8 MILLION CONTRACT FOR C13OH AIRCRAFT
Lockheed Corp.'s Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. was given a $62.8
million face value increase to a firm fixed price Air Force contract
for C13OH aircraft. The contract is scheduled to be completed in July
1991. The Aeronautical Systems Div., Wright Patterson Air Force Base,
OH is the contracting activity.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED AV-8B AIRCRAFT COMPUTERS CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was awarded a $15 million Navy contract for AV-
8B aircraft computers.
ROCKWELL AWARDED TWO FIVE-YEAR JSC CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
Rockwell International Corp. was awarded two five-year contract
extensions to provide systems integration and operations support to
Johnson Space Center (JSC). Under a $580 million cost-plus-award-fee
contract extension for 8.3 million man hours of work, Rockwell's Space
Transportation Systems Div. will provide systems integration for the
space shuttle program. The systems integration work will include
flight and ground systems engineering maintenance and analysis; safety,
quality assurance and reliability analysis; configuration and
information management, and integration of systems within the orbiter.
The company will configure the hardware for each orbiter flight. The
second contract awarded by JSC is a $605 million contract extension for
orbiter operations support involving 9.3 million man hours of work.
The work includes engineering support from launch through landing,
ground support for checkout and turnaround of orbiters and updating the
Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory.
UNISYS GERMANY GIVEN CONTRACT FROM WEST GERMAN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
Unisys Germany GMBH, a Unisys Corp. subsidiary, was given a $47 million
contract from the West German Air Traffic Control Organization. Under
the contract, Unisys will provide seven large-scale Unisys 2200/600
processors to improve the ability of the West German system to keep
track of flight plans.
RFP UPDATE:
Due to the Federal Holiday no RFPs were issued on January 15, 1990.
January 16, 1990
GOVERNMENT SOLICITS INDUSTRY COMMENTS FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM
It is the government's intent to issue a draft solicitation for
industry's comments, questions and input for the purchase of a High
Performance Scientific Computer System. The contractor shall provide
the design, site prep, hardware, software, installation, hardware
maintenance, training and software analyst support. This will be an
evaluated procurement with a requirement to perform a Benchmark
demonstrating the majority of the proposed system's capabilities and
design. Both technical and total price will be evaluated to determine
the best value to the government. Written requests for the draft RFP
number DAAH03-90-R-0029 must be received in the U.S. Army Mission
Command office within 30 calendar days after publication of this
notice.
Contact: Bobbie Jenkins
Commander
U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Attn: AMSMI-PC-FAA
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-5875
January 17, 1990
NOTICE PLACED FOR ADP EQUIPMENT AGAINST FALCON MICRO SYSTEMS
HQ Electronic Systems Division placed a notice of intent to purchase
automated data processing equipment (ADPE) from GSA ADPE Schedule
contract No. GS00K89AFS6383 with Falcon Micro System for two (2)
MacIntosh IICIs and other assorted peripherals. ADP equipment
scheduled firms may submit comparable price quotes for consideration
within 15 calendar days of the date of this advertisement. Interested
parties are invited to identify their interest and capability to
respond to the requirement. Interested parties shall submit a written
response including GSA contract number, if applicable, prices and
technical data sufficient to determine capability to meet the
requirement. The response must also state that neither the Requestor
nor Principal Corporate Officials and Owners are currently suspended,
debarred or otherwise ineligible to receive contracts from any Federal
Agency. Responses to this notice will be used to determine whether a
bonafide competition exists and whether a formal solicitation is
appropriate. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. All responsible
sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the Electronic
Systems Div.
Contact: Carole Tessler
HQ Electronic Systems Division
Directorate of Operational Contracting
Specialized Contracting (PKUB)
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731
(617) 377-2236
No rellevant RFPs for January 18, 1990.
January 19, 1990
TRADOC TO CHANGE ADP TO NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) uses automated
data processing (ADP) products from a wide variety of sources.
TRADOC's Deputy Chief of Staff for Information Management (DCSIM) has
begun planning the command's transition from its existing ADP
environment to one that conforms to the guidance of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology. The TRADOC DCSIM would like
vendors to identify their strategies for providing TRADOC's existing
equipment-base with products that conform to Federal Information
Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUB) and the Department of
Defense Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (DOD 5200, 28-STD).
Relative to the security issue the vendors should, at a minimum,
address their ability to fulfill the security requirements at the
Division C, Class C2 level as defined by DOD 5200, 28-STD. This is not
a solicitation for equipment or services, only the identification of
strategies and product offerings of vendors working in these product
areas. No telephone responses will be honored. When submitting
responses, please refer to MKS0001.
Contact: M.K. Spencer
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Building 1748
Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4005
AFGWC PROJECT 294 WENT TO UNISYS FOR $36,267,917
Contract F19630-90-D-0002 issued for the Air Force Global Weather
Central (AFGWC) Project 294, by the Air Force Computer Acquisition
Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, went to Unisys Corporation, Federal
Information Systems, for $36,267,917.
Contact: Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8634
LANGLEY'S CAD/CAM WORKSTATIONS/FILESERVERS CONTRACT WENT TO TEKTRONIX
NASA Langley Research Center's contract NASA1-19067 for CAD/CAM
workstations/fileservers went to Tektronix Inc. for $2,630,323.
Contact: NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 144
Industry Assistance Office
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2537
|
| 20.69 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 01/22/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Feb 01 1990 10:46 | 604 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010185
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 01-Feb-1990 05:58am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 01/22/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 22, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
---------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY **
***************************************************************************
************************* SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ***************************
***************************************************************************
The Industry News Service has changed its name to better reflect the
broadening content. The new name of the database is The Industry Marketing
and Sales Information Service (IMSIS). Keyword access from the '$' prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS' (although some systems will accept the previous keyword [VTX
INS] for a few more weeks). The IMSIS database is still located under the
same VTX and ACCESS menu options - Marketing Information and Computer
Industry News on the VTX menu and Target Industries under the ACCESS Menu.
IMSIS contains at least the last three months worth of news.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 22, 1990
GENERAL:
SCIENTISTS CONFIRM THERE ARE FIVE RINGS AROUND NEPTUNE
DEFENSE:
BILL INTRODUCED TO CUT OFF FUNDS FOR THE B-2 BOMBER AFTER FIRST 15
BETTI WITHHELD FUNDS FOR LRIP OF NAVY'S VERTICAL LAUNCH ASROC
NASP CONTRACTORS SUBMIT TEAMING ARRANGEMENT TO NASP JPO
PENTAGON TO SELL MISSILES TO TURKEY AND EGYPT
AIR FORCE LAUNCHED SIXTH NAVSTAR GPS FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
DOD HOPES TO SAVE BY IMPROVING MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTER RESOURCES
PENTAGON TO LAUNCH SECRET SHUTTLE PAYLOAD
NASA:
LDEF EXPERIMENTS TO BE STUDIED BY AIR FORCE AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS
PLAN TO SHIFT MANAGEMENT OF POLAR ORBITING PLATFORM TO OSSA APPROVED
NASA PICKED ESA AND CSA RESEARCHERS AS FLIGHT SPECIALISTS ON IML-1
NASA SELECTS 23 NEW ASTRONAUTS AS MISSION SPECIALISTS AND PILOTS
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS LAUNCH TWO RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITES
SPOT2 AND SIX OTHER MICROSATELLITES LAUNCHED FROM KOUROU, FRENCH GUIANA
SOVIET COSMONAUTS TO TEST YMK MANNED MANEUVERING UNIT
ISRAELI AIR FORCE TO RECEIVED APACHE HELICOPTER IN SEPTEMBER
FERRANTI REACHES TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TO SELL UNITS TO GEC
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS CHAIRMAN SELECTED TO RECEIVE JAMES FORRESTAL AWARD
GE TO CUT AEROSPACE DIVISION WHILE EXPANDING AIRCRAFT ENGINE UNIT
LORAL POSTS LOW EARNINGS FOR THIRD-QUARTER DUE TO ILL WIND SETTLEMENT
NORTHROP WILL ACCEPT AIR FORCE'S SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF ATF PROGRAM
RAYTHEON'S MISSILE SYSTEMS DIV. PURCHASED WANG'S WIIS SYSTEM
UTC REPORTS RECORD EARNINGS AND STRONG SALES FOR 1989
UNISYS ANNOUNCED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BLUMENTHAL WILL RETIRE
CONTRACT AWARDS:
COMPUTER SCIENCES WON $53 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC AWARDED $95.2 MILLION IN ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTS
HONEYWELL GOT $44.1 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
HONEYWELL AND TRW SELECTED FOR AIR FORCE CONTRACT
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RECEIVED $16 MILLION MODIFICATION TO NAVY CONTRACT
ITT GIVEN $44.3 MILLION CONTRACT FOR NAVIGATION PAYLOADS FOR NAVSTAR
LOGICON SELECTED TO WRITE SOFTWARE FOR DSP SATELLITE NETWORK
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED $70 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT ISSUED $15 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON SCOUT HELICOPTER CONTRACT
TRW GIVEN DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS
WESTINGHOUSE ISSUED DEFENSIVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
January 22, 1990
CSC TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST CONTRACT WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for January 23 - 25, 1990.
January 26, 1990
JSC PROPOSES TO PLACE CONTRACT WITH SILICON GRAPHICS COMPUTER SYSTEMS
AFCAC TO MODERNIZE JOINT STAFF NETWORK OF MINICOMPUTERS AT THE PENTAGON
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE MASS DATA STORAGE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
SCIENTISTS CONFIRM THERE ARE FIVE RINGS AROUND NEPTUNE
Upon closer inspection of the photographs sent from Voyager 2 of
Neptune, scientists have confirmed that there are five continuous rings
around the planet. Scientists previously thought Neptune had only four
rings. Larry W. Esposito, a member of the Voyager 2 scientific team,
explained the rings are made up of "clumps" of materials. Scientists
believe the rings are formed when small moons are hit by meteors or
comets and shattered into small pieces that disperse to become rings.
Mr. Esposito said the rings are "complex, long-term phenomena that are
a bit like the weather on Earth - there won't be one simple equation to
explain them."
DEFENSE:
BILL INTRODUCED TO CUT OFF FUNDS FOR THE B-2 BOMBER AFTER FIRST 15
A bill was introduced by Senators Alan Cranston (D-CA) and Patrick
Leahy (D-VT) to cut off funds for the B-2 bomber after the first 15
aircraft that are now in production are completed. Sen. Cranston
estimates the cost of the 132-aircraft program to be $140 billion
including operational and support costs. He called the issue "a guns-
and-butter debate of historical proportions," and vowed to offer the
amendment repeatedly during the year until it is successful.
BETTI WITHHELD FUNDS FOR LRIP OF NAVY'S VERTICAL LAUNCH ASROC
The Pentagon said that acquisition chief John A. Betti withheld funds
for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the Navy's Vertical Launch
ASROC. Mr. Betti cited design problems as the reason for not releasing
funds and said that an operational evaluation must be successfully
completed before he agrees to the program.
NASP CONTRACTORS SUBMIT TEAMING ARRANGEMENT TO NASP JPO
An Air Force spokesperson said the five aerospace contractors working
independently on the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) program submitted
an interim teaming arrangement to the government whereby they would
jointly develop an X-30 test aircraft. The five contractors, General
Dynamics Corp., McDonnell Douglas Corp., Pratt & Whitney, Rocketdyne
and Rockwell International Corp., citing funding priorities and a need
to focus the program, submitted the proposal to the NASP joint program
office (JPO) as it was preparing to release a request for proposals
that would call for the contractors to develop a similar arrangement.
Any final decisions will be made by John Better, under secretary of
defense for acquisition, and James R. Thompson Jr., NASA deputy
administration. Rockwell was chosen to lead a national contractor
program office with Barry Weldon as program director.
PENTAGON TO SELL MISSILES TO TURKEY AND EGYPT
The Pentagon announced plans to sell AIM-9S Sidewinder air-to-air
missiles to Turkey and AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles to Egypt.
According to the Pentagon, Turkey will get 310 AIM-9S missiles, plus
technical support, containers, logistics support and training missiles
for $30 million. Egypt will purchase 29 Harpoons, plus training
missiles, training and contractor support for $69 million.
AIR FORCE LAUNCHED SIXTH NAVSTAR GPS FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
The Air Force launched the sixth Navstar Global Positioning System
(GPS) satellite on a McDonnell Douglas Delta II from Cape Canaveral,
FL. The launch was postponed two weeks because of a problem with the
booster's second stage.
DOD HOPES TO SAVE BY IMPROVING MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTER RESOURCES
The deputy Defense Department (DoD) comptroller for information
resources management said the Pentagon has estimated it can save $4.3
billion in FY 1991-1995 by improving the management of its computer
resources, however it must await action by a number of study teams
before it knows exactly how it will be done. Cindy Kendall, assistant
comptroller, said the details will not be released until the defense
budget is sent to Congress. The DoD estimates first year savings of
$30 million growing to $4.3 billion at the end of FY 1995. Ms. Kendall
believes the savings will come from better information management and
an acceleration of 10 Navy Computer Aided Logistics Support (CALS)
initiatives for which the technology already exists. An advisory
council has been formed, made up of high-level corporate executives and
assistant secretaries of defense, that will report to Deputy Defense
Secretary Donald Atwood.
PENTAGON TO LAUNCH SECRET SHUTTLE PAYLOAD
The Pentagon will launch a secret shuttle mission scheduled for
February 16 to carry a 37,300 lb. advanced reconnaissance satellite to
be used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the national
Security Agency. The spacecraft, designated AFP-731, will carry both
digital imaging reconnaissance cameras and signal intelligence
receivers. The space shuttle Atlantis will carry the payload into
orbit.
NASA:
LDEF EXPERIMENTS TO BE STUDIED BY AIR FORCE AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS
The experiments taken from the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF),
which was retrieved by the space shuttle last week, will be examined to
determine the effects of space exposure on various materials. Four
laboratories under Air Force Aeronautical Systems Div. will use some of
the 57 LDEF experiments to determine the effects of space exposure on
potential stealth materials and solar cells for future spacecraft. One
Avionics Laboratory experiment is expected to show the effects of space
on radar camouflage materials and electro-optical signature coatings.
Another Flight Dynamics Laboratory experiment will determine structural
changes to advanced composites. The Materials Laboratory will study
thermal control samples that could be used to maintain constant
temperatures on future spacecraft, as well as review all 57 experiments
for potential applications to Strategic Defense Initiative advanced
systems.
PLAN TO SHIFT MANAGEMENT OF POLAR ORBITING PLATFORM TO OSSA APPROVED
NASA Administrator Richard Truly approved a plan shifting management of
the polar orbiting platform development program from the Office of
Space Flight to the Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA).
William B. Lenoir, associate administrator for space flight, explained
that the plan shifts the polar platform out of the space station
development program and places it closer to the NASA office that will
oversee the Earth Observing System (EOS). "In a management sense, it
puts the development and operation of the platform closer to the users
of the platform," he said. Goddard Space Flight Center will retain
management responsibility for developing the platform with prime
contractor General Electric Astro Space. The transition will take
place during FY 1990.
NASA PICKED ESA AND CSA RESEARCHERS AS FLIGHT SPECIALISTS ON IML-1
NASA chose a European Space Agency (ESA) researcher and one with the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as prime flight payload specialists for the
first International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-1) mission planned for
December aboard the space shuttle Columbia. Ulf D. Merbold of ESA and
Roberta L. Bondar of CSA were selected, along with Kenneth Money of CSA
and Roger Crouch of NASA as backup payload specialists. Messrs. Money
and Crouch will serve as principle communicators with the laboratory
during the mission for the Payload Operations Control Center at
Marshall Space Flight Center. The ILM-1 is the first of a series of
microgravity research missions using the Spacelab module. Over 200
investigators worldwide will use the data collected from the materials
and life science experiments.
NASA SELECTS 23 NEW ASTRONAUTS AS MISSION SPECIALISTS AND PILOTS
NASA has selected 23 new astronauts to carry the U.S. manned space
program into the space station era. The group includes seven pilot
astronauts, including the first woman pilot in NASA history. The
remaining 16 are mission specialist astronauts. All 23 will be
considered astronaut candidates until completing training in mid-1991.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS LAUNCH TWO RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITES
The Soviet Union launched two satellites, Cosmos 2055 and 2056,
believed by Western observers to be a third generation reconnaissance
satellite and a store-dump military communications satellite. Cosmos
2055 was launched from Plesetsk on a Soyuz booster. Cosmos 2056 was
launched from Plesetsk on a Cosmos booster.
SPOT2 AND SIX OTHER MICROSATELLITES LAUNCHED FROM KOUROU, FRENCH GUIANA
The Spot2 remote sensing satellite was launched on an Ariane40 booster
and could begin producing imagery next week. However the satellite
will not be declared operational until it completes a two-month series
of commissioning tests. The Spot2 and six other microsatellites were
launched from Kourou, French Guiana and have been turned on by their
ground stations and will undergo several weeks of health checks before
being declared operational for use by amateur radio operators.
SOVIET COSMONAUTS TO TEST YMK MANNED MANEUVERING UNIT
Soviet news agency Tass reported that Cosmonauts Aleksandr Viktorenko
and Aleksandr Serebrov will test a manned maneuvering unit during
extravehicular activity from the Mir space station planned for February
4 and 5. The YMK manned maneuvering unit is used with the Orlan-DMA
space suit and has an independent operation time of six hours. The YMK
moves up to 30 meters per second and can operate up to 100 meters away
from the space station.
ISRAELI AIR FORCE TO RECEIVED APACHE HELICOPTER IN SEPTEMBER
Israeli Defense Ministry sources said the Israeli Air Force (IAF)
expects to receive its first McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache attack
helicopter in September but has decided against acquiring four Bell OH-
58D scout helicopters for budgetary reasons. The Apaches will carry
avionics systems comparable to those of F-16 fighters, with the
capability to fire anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. IAF officials
reported feel that maintenance costs on the OH-58s in the Army
Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP) configuration would be excessive.
FERRANTI REACHES TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TO SELL UNITS TO GEC
Ferranti International and the U.K.'s General Electric Co. (GEC)
reached a tentative agreement for Ferranti to sell its Edinburgh,
Scotland-based Defense Systems Group and part of the Ferranti
International interest in Italy to GEC for 310 million pounds ($508
million) in cash. Ferranti shareholders must approve the agreement,
but no government approvals are necessary.
BUSINESS::
GENERAL DYNAMICS CHAIRMAN SELECTED TO RECEIVE JAMES FORRESTAL AWARD
Chairman and chief executive officer of General Dynamics Corp. Stanley
C. Pace was selected by the National Security Industrial Association to
receive the 1989 James Forrestal award. The award will be presented at
a dinner in Washington, DC on March 22.
GE TO CUT AEROSPACE DIVISION WHILE EXPANDING AIRCRAFT ENGINE UNIT
General Electric Co. announced that it will cut its Aerospace division,
based in King of Prussia, Pa., work force, and launch a $187 million
expansion of its aircraft engine division, based in Evendale, Ohio.
The GE Aerospace unit has about 40,000 employees and makes aircraft
control, radar and guidance systems. The company plans to cut about
6,000 jobs over the next three years in anticipation of continued
defense budget cuts. About 4,000 positions were eliminated last year,
through attrition, sell-offs and layoffs. The unit had an operating
profit last year that was flat with the year-earlier operating profit
of $640 million, on revenue of $5.3 billion. However, from 1984
through 1988, GE's Aircraft Engines division's revenue climbed to $6.5
billion from $3.8 billion.
LORAL POSTS LOW EARNINGS FOR THIRD-QUARTER DUE TO ILL WIND SETTLEMENT
Loral Corp. had a third-quarter earnings gain of 1.75% after a pre-tax
charge of $10.5 million to settle outstanding charges against the
company resulting from the Operation Ill Wind probe of procurement
fraud. Third-quarter net income from continuing operations came to $16
million, compared with $15.7 million in the same period 1988, on 3%
lower revenues of $301.2 million in the quarter. The company expects
fourth-quarter sales to be strong and many analysts believe Loral will
continue a strong performance for at least the next two years.
NORTHROP WILL ACCEPT AIR FORCE'S SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF ATF PROGRAM
Northrop Corp. said it will accept the Air Force's six-month extension
of the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) demonstration and validation
program at the price of $13 million per month. Northrop still plans to
fly by March 31, however. Competitor Lockheed Corp. accepted the
extension earlier this month.
RAYTHEON'S MISSILE SYSTEMS DIV. PURCHASED WANG'S WIIS SYSTEM
Raytheon's Missile Systems Div. purchased a Wang Integrated Image
System (WIIS) to handle quotes received from suppliers. According to a
Raytheon spokesperson, digitizing the documents and storing them for up
to ten years on the WIIS will reduce the time it takes to prepare a
proposal. Raytheon's unit procurement department handles 250,000
incoming documents per year.
UTC REPORTS RECORD EARNINGS AND STRONG SALES FOR 1989
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) reported record earnings and strong
sales for 1989. The company, lead by continued gains in commercial
aircraft engines and building systems and increasing expansion into
exports and international business, posted 6.52% better net income of
$702.1 million on $19.8 billion in sales in 1989, compared with $659.1
million earned on $18.52 billion in 1988. UTC's Pratt & Whitney
division's commercial aircraft engine orders more than doubled to $11
billion against $5 billion booked in 1988.
UNISYS ANNOUNCED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BLUMENTHAL WILL RETIRE
Unisys Corp. announced that W. Michael Blumenthal will retire as chief
executive officer in April. Mr. Blumenthal will be succeeded by James
Unruh who has been president since last summer. Mr. Blumenthal will
remain chairman in a limited role. Mr. Blumenthal served as Treasury
secretary under President Jimmy Carter.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
COMPUTER SCIENCES WON $53 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Computer Sciences Corp. won a $53 million Air Force contract for
managing test ranges.
GENERAL ELECTRIC AWARDED $95.2 MILLION IN ARMY AND NAVY CONTRACTS
General Electric Co. was awarded $95.2 million in contracts for Army
helicopter engines and Navy missile-engineering services.
HONEYWELL GOT $44.1 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Honeywell Inc. got a $44.1 million Army contract for aircraft
ammunition.
HONEYWELL AND TRW SELECTED FOR AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Honeywell and TRW were selected to design, develop and serve as dual
sources for a high performance, radiation hardened processor with a
capacity of 20 million instructions per second for use in spacecraft
and aircraft, the Air Force announced. Rome Air Development Center,
which awarded the two $8 million contracts, said that potential
applications of the Radiation Hardened 32-bit (RH-32) processor include
the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's Space Surveillance
Tracking System (BSTS), the Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF)
and NASA's space station. Honeywell and TRW were selected over teams
of Unisys and United Technologies, and IBM, which competed alone.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RECEIVED $16 MILLION MODIFICATION TO NAVY CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co., Space and Communication Group, received a $16
million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price Navy
contract for incremental funding for the launch of the protoflight
spacecraft, a new UHF satellite. The work is scheduled to be completed
Sept. 30, 1996. This contract was competitively procured. Thirty bids
were solicited and three offers were received. The Space and Naval
Warfare Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.
ITT GIVEN $44.3 MILLION CONTRACT FOR NAVIGATION PAYLOADS FOR NAVSTAR
ITT Defense Communications Div. was given a $44.3 million contract with
General Electric's AstroSpace Div. to develop and produce as many as 26
navigation payloads for the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System. ITT
Defense will replenish navigation payloads for the system over the next
10 years. A company spokesperson said the initial phase of the
contract, scheduled to run through late 1990, includes payload design
and development. The production phase is then expected to begin in
early 1991.
LOGICON SELECTED TO WRITE SOFTWARE FOR DSP SATELLITE NETWORK
Logicon Inc. was selected to write software to control ground stations
and communications for the classified Defense Support Program (DSP)
satellite network under a $2.4 million subcontract from IBM's System
Integration Div. IBM is the prime contractor for developing a
replacement set of DSP software written in the ADA computer language.
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED $70 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. received a $70 million Air Force contract for an
equipment management system.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT ISSUED $15 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s McDonnell Aircraft Co., was issued a
$15,040,385 modification to a fixed-price Navy contract for non-
recurring engineering services and associated software for an enhanced
storage management computer for the AV-8B Harrier II aircraft. The
contract is expected to be completed in August 1990. The Naval Air
Systems Command is the contracting activity.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON SCOUT HELICOPTER CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. won a $16.3 million Army contract for 22 Scout
helicopters.
TRW GIVEN DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS
TRW Inc. was given a $20.2 million contract for Air Force display
systems and Army software development.
WESTINGHOUSE ISSUED DEFENSIVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES CONTRACT
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was issued a $24.2 million Air Force
contract for defensive electronic devices.
RFP UPDATEE:
January 22, 1990
CSC TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST CONTRACT WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS
Computer Sciences Corp. proposes to place a delivery order against GSA
ADP Schedule Contract No. GS00K88GS5897 with Sun Microsystems Corp. for
Sun 4 Microsystem workstations and other assorted peripherals. Vendors
who can furnish the required Sun equipment are invited to submit a
written substantive statement clearly stating their ability to fill
this requirement. Written response must be submitted within 7 days of
this notice. If no written responses are received an order shall be
placed in accordance with the terms of the above referenced schedule
contract. When a response is received from a non-Schedule vendor that
meets the requirement and an analysis indicated that a competitive
acquisition would be more advantageous to the Computer Sciences Corp.,
a formal solicitation will be issued. Please request a copy of the
solicitation by FAX, the number is listed below. No telephone requests
will be honored.
Contact: Glory Allahverani
M14
Computer Sciences Corp.
16511 Space Center Blvd.
Houston, TX 77058
FAX: (713) 282-1790
No relevant RFPs for January 23 - 25, 1990.
January 26, 1990
JSC PROPOSES TO PLACE CONTRACT WITH SILICON GRAPHICS COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Under solicitation 89347004, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) proposes
to place a contract with Silicon Graphics Computer Systems for one IRIS
4D/70 GTB workstation, five IRIS 40/20 G workstations and assorted
peripherals. This acquisition is part of the Mission Operations
Directorate Payload Deployment and retrieval System (PDRS). The
Silicon Graphics workstations are the only available workstations which
are compatible with existing PDRS software packages and are able to
run, without modification, software applications developed by Mission
Planning and Analysis Division of the Mission Support Directorate on
their primary development system. Vendors who can furnish the required
hardware and peripherals are invited to submit a written substantive
statement clearly stating the ability to meet the requirements.
Vendors responding to this notice with GSA Schedule Contracts should
include the number and expiration date. Written responses must be
submitted within 15 days of publication of this notice. It is
anticipated that the solicitation will be published 15 days after
release of this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer
that will be considered by the agency. No telephone inquiries will be
accepted.
Contact: Larry Kenyon
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG 41
Houston, TX
(713) 483-4146
AFCAC TO MODERNIZE JOINT STAFF NETWORK OF MINICOMPUTERS AT THE PENTAGON
The Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCAC), in accordance with
the joint staff automation for the nineties (JSAN), plans to modernize
and/or replace the existing Joint Staff network of minicomputers and
peripherals located at the Pentagon. Government requirements fall into
the following major areas: system integration support; hardware to
include a communications backbone, LANS, processors, workstations,
printers, etc.; system software and other related peripherals. A draft
specification will be provided to industry during the February
timeframe requesting information which will allow for an assessment of
industry capability to fulfill these requirements. It is anticipated
that the formal RFP will be released in third quarter FY 1990.
Qualified firms may request, in writing, a copy of the RFI for AFCAC
Project 303 (JSAN), within 15 days of the date of this notice.
Contact: Stephen M. Meehan
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting/PKA
Building 1302F
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8636
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE MASS DATA STORAGE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
Goddard Space Flight Center intends to issue RFP 5-29577/041 to acquire
a Mass Data Storage and Delivery System (MDSDS) to provide significant
new capabilities for the storage, management, analysis and delivery of
massive quantities of data in support of NASA Space and Earth Sciences
research programs. This contract will consist of two phases. The
first phase is the fixed price portion and includes hardware, software
and related support for the basic year. The second phase will be the
fixed price indefinite quantity portion and include peripherals. The
RFP is anticipated to be released in March 1990, with delivery of the
initial system scheduled for December 1990. The Mass Data Storage and
Delivery System is required to be installed at Goddard. All
responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by
the agency. All requests must be received in writing, no telephone
inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Janet Weisenfeld
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-3596
|
| 20.70 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 01/29/90 @ | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Feb 08 1990 14:13 | 575 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010322
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 08-Feb-1990 00:43am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 01/29/90 @
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 29, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
--------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY **
***************************************************************************
************************* SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ***************************
***************************************************************************
The Industry News Service has changed its name to better reflect the
broadening content. The new name of the database is The Industry Marketing
and Sales Information Service (IMSIS). Keyword access from the '$' prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS' (although some systems will accept the previous keyword for
a few more weeks). The IMSIS database is still located under the same VTX
and ACCESS menu options - Marketing Information and Computer Industry News
on the VTX menu and Target Industries under the ACCESS Menu. IMSIS
contains at least the last three months worth of news.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 29, 1990
GENERAL:
COMMERCE DEPT. INVITES COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN TRADE MISSIONS
DEFENSE:
PRESIDENT BUSH CALLS FOR U.S. AND SOVIET TROOP REDUCTIONS IN EUROPE
CHENEY ORDERS CUTS IN OSD STAFF AND CONTRACT SERVICES BUDGET
SANDIA NATIONAL LABS HAS DEVELOPED SOFTWARE TO AID IN SPACE STATION
LOGISTICS AREA SOURCE OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAVINGS IN FY 1991
AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND TO SHUT DOWN BSD AND MSC
KUTYNA NOMINATED AS COMMANDER OF NO. AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND
NASA:
SPACE STATION PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW RESCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER
LENOIR WOULD LIKE A FIFTH ORBITER AFTER ENDEAVOUR IS DELIVERED
CONCERNS EXPRESSED OVER COMMERCIAL LAUNCH SERVICES CONTRACTS
NASA URGES U.S. TO COORDINATE STUDIES TO EXAMINE LUNAR SPACE POWER
NASA CONDUCTING DRESS REHEARSALS FOR SECRET DOD ATLANTIS MISSION
NASA PROPOSES MOVING UP ESA'S APM LAUNCH
NASA NAMES PAYLOAD COMMANDERS ON FOUR SHUTTLE MISSIONS IN 1990-1991
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIET COSMONAUTS TAKE THIRD SPACE WALK FROM MIR SPACE STATION
JAPAN LAUNCHES SPACECRAFT TO LUNAR ORBIT
SOVIETS TO HOST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF SPACE NUCLEAR POWER
JAPANESE TO DEVELOP SPACECRAFT TO EXAMINE EARTH'S OZONE LAYER
WEST GERMANY EXPERIENCING OPPOSITION TOWARD EFA PROJECT
BUUSINESS:
BOEING POSTS 56% DECLINE IN FOURTH-QUARTER EARNINGS
GENERAL DYNAMICS SUFFERS DROP IN PROFITS FOR FOURTH QUARTER
GE AEROSPACE TO CUT WORKFORCE BY 14% BY THE END OF 1991
GENERAL ELECTRIC TO PAY ABOUT $2.5 MILLION TO SETTLE PENTAGON CASE
LOCKHEED PROPOSED COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT NORTON
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS REPORTED NET EARNINGS DOWN 37.4% FOR THE YEAR
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINERS PLANS TO ORDER 10 MD-11 JETLINERS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING ISSUED NAVY COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND AF ADVANCED TESTING CONTRACTS
GENERAL DYNAMICS GOT $294.7 MILLION IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO BUILD FUSELAGE SECTION FOR SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER
GE RECEIVED NUCLEAR-PROPULSION PARTS AND JET FIGHTER ENGINES CONTRACTS
GRUMMAN AWARDED A $218.9 MILLION F-14D AIRCRAFT CONTRACT
HUGHES AIRCRAFT GOT $107.7 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
LORAL GIVEN AIRCRAFT RADAR-WARNING RECEIVERS CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $363.4 MILLION IN NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
RAYTHEON ISSUED $110.1 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
ROCKWELL GOT AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT COMPUTER CONTRACT
WESTINGHOUSE AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $139.2 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
January 29, 1990
AIR FORCE CONTRACTING OFFICE TO PURCHASE MAPP COMPUTER SYSTEM
No rellevant RFPs for January 30, 1990.
January 31, 1990
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE MACINTOSH WORKSTATIONS
AIR FORCE SEEKING SOURCES FOR STANDARDIZED SUPER-MINICOMPUTERS
No relevant RFPs for February 1-2, 1990.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
COMMERCE DEPT. INVITES COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN TRADE MISSIONS
U.S. Aerospace companies have been invited by the Commerce Dept. to
participate in trade missions to India and the Middle East this spring.
According to the Commerce Dept., the India trip, scheduled for April 23
to May 4, is directed at markets for aviation services, avionics,
ground support, and air traffic control equipment. The Middle East
trip, planned for May 14 to May 28, will include Egypt, Saudi Arabia
and Iraq but no specific market areas were identified. Each trip will
be limited to ten companies.
DEFENSE:
PRESIDENT BUSH CALLS FOR U.S. AND SOVIET TROOP REDUCTIONS IN EUROPE
In his State of the Union address, President Bush called for new
reductions in the number of Soviet and U.S. troops in Europe. The
President said he offers this proposal in light of recent changes in
Central Europe. He proposed cutting each side's European combat forces
to 225,000, of whom 195,000 could be stationed in Central Europe. That
would constitute the U.S. reducing 80,000 troops and the Soviets
removing 370,000 to 380,000 troops.
CHENEY ORDERS CUTS IN OSD STAFF AND CONTRACT SERVICES BUDGET
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney ordered a 12% cut over the next three
years in the support staff of the Pentagon's top leadership and a
reduction in money available for contract services. Under the plan,
the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) staff will be cut 4% in
each of the fiscal years 1991 - 1993 for a total reduction of 250
personnel from the existing staff of 2100 full-time employees. The OSD
contract services budget will also be cut $15 million per year, for a
$45 million cut over three years. Mr. Cheney said he expects to save
$107 million through FY 1993 with these cuts.
SANDIA NATIONAL LABS HAS DEVELOPED SOFTWARE TO AID IN SPACE STATION
Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, has developed a
prototype computer software program for a robot capable of adapting and
reprogramming itself while conducting mechanical assembly work.
Scientists at Sandia believe the advancement could reduce the need for
humans to do assembly work in space. The software, named Archimedes
for the ancient Greek physicist, engineer and mathematician, was
developed by David Strip of Sandia's Computer Sciences Dept. Mr. Strip
developed the software for use in the nuclear weapons production
complex, but believes it could also be used in the fabrication of the
space station.
LOGISTICS AREA SOURCE OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAVINGS IN FY 1991
According to a new Defense Department document, released with the FY
1991 budget request, about half of the $39 billion in savings through
FY 1995 seen by the Pentagon under the defense management initiative
will come from cuts in the logistics area. While the savings from the
logistics area could amount to about $21 billion, with about half of
that savings coming from reductions in supply costs, there will also be
savings in administration ($4.2 billion); base operations and facility
management ($21 million); automated support and information systems
($4.3 billion); consolidations ($5.6 billion), and finance, procurement
and contract management ($3.9 billion). The Pentagon also expects to
reduce civilian and military workforces by about 43,000 between FY 1991
and 1995.
AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND TO SHUT DOWN BSD AND MSC
The Air Force Systems Command said they will shut down the Ballistic
Systems Div. (BSD) and Munitions Systems Divisions (MSD) and in the
process cut 8300 employees. BSD's program management responsibilities
will be transferred to the just-created Program Executive Officer for
Strategic Programs. A test center at Elgin Air Force Base, FL, will be
established to conduct MSD's "important test missions," but major
program management responsibility will be assumed by the Program
Executive Officer to Tactical Strike Systems.
KUTYNA NOMINATED AS COMMANDER OF NO. AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND
Lt. Gen. Donald J. Kutyna was nominated to become commander in chief of
North American Aerospace Defense Command and head of the U.S. Space
Command. Gen. John L. Piotrowski currently holds the position but
plans to retire April 1. Lt. Gen. Kutyna, currently commander of Air
Force Space Command, will also take up the post of Defense Department
manager for space transportation system contingency support operations.
Maj. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman Jr. has been nominated to fill Lt. Gen.
Kutyna's previous position.
NASA:
SPACE STATION PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW RESCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER
Space station program director Richard Kohrs announced a preliminary
design review of the space station has been pushed back six months
until December. According to Mr. Kohrs this was done in order to allow
extra time for subsystem level reviews to be completed. He added that
the extra time will not postpone the first element launch scheduled for
the first quarter of 1995.
LENOIR WOULD LIKE A FIFTH ORBITER AFTER ENDEAVOUR IS DELIVERED
NASA did not include money for a fifth space shuttle orbiter in its FY
1991 budget request, which was sent to Congress this week; however,
associate administrator for space flight, William B. Lenoir believes it
would be a good idea. Mr. Lenoir would like to continue the production
line after Endeavour is delivered in May 1991 because a fifth orbiter
would reduce wear and tear on the existing fleet and would allow
continued operations through 2010.
CONCERNS EXPRESSED OVER COMMERCIAL LAUNCH SERVICES CONTRACTS
Some NASA officials expressed concerns about whether commercial launch
services contracts will give them the amount of control needed to
insure the safety of their one-of-a-kind payloads. The agency in
general, though, is committed to buying as many commercial services as
possible, with the exception of payloads built to fly on the shuttle or
that require a manned presence during deployment and those that will
not fit on commercial ELVs.
NASA URGES U.S. TO COORDINATE STUDIES TO EXAMINE LUNAR SPACE POWER
A NASA report urges the government to coordinate studies between the
agency and the Energy Dept. to examine the space power options that
could draw on lunar materials. The report stated the moon "must play a
role in long-term terrestrial electricity supply matters." According
to the report, a NASA task force has examined three lunar energy case
studies that could be commercially viable in the future, including
mining a form of helium found on the moon, using lunar materials to
build solar power collecting satellites in Earth orbit that could beam
energy to Earth, and covering part of the moon with solar panels to
collect energy that could be transmitted to Earth. The Soviet Union
and West Germany have also been studying the energy opportunities that
the moon offers.
NASA CONDUCTING DRESS REHEARSALS FOR SECRET DOD ATLANTIS MISSION
NASA is conducting dress rehearsals for the next flight of the space
shuttle Atlantis, tentatively scheduled for February 22. NASA will not
identify the exact date until after February 10 and will not release
the time until nine minutes prior to the launch. U.S. Navy Corp. John
Creighton will command the secret mission for the Defense Dept. (DoD),
along with four additional astronauts.
NASA PROPOSES MOVING UP ESA'S APM LAUNCH
NASA has proposed launching the European Space Agency's attached
pressurized laboratory module (APM) to the space station about eight
months earlier than planned. ESA has said that they are seriously
considering NASA's offer. Though details of the proposal have not been
made available, ESA Director General Reimar Luest told the House
Science, Space and Technology Committee the change would mean less
power would be available to conduct experiments early on, but it offers
enough of a change from NASA's current position to warrant
investigation.
NASA NAMES PAYLOAD COMMANDERS ON FOUR SHUTTLE MISSIONS IN 1990-1991
NASA named payload commanders for four space shuttle missions in 1990
and 1991. All four were promoted from payload specialists and given
overall responsibility for planning, integration and on-orbit
coordination of payload and shuttle activities. Norman E. Thagard was
chosen as payload commander for STS-42, the first flight of the
International Microgravity Laboratory. Kathryn D. Sullivan was picked
to command STS-45, the first flight of the Atmospheric Laboratory for
Applications and Science (ATLAS-01). Jeffrey A. Hoffman was named
payload commander for STS-46, scheduled for 1991, which will include
the first flight of the European Retrievable Carrier. Air Force Lt.
Col. Mark Lee will command Spacelab-J on STS-27, a joint science
venture of NASA and the Japanese National Space Development Agency,
also planned for 1991.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIET COSMONAUTS TAKE THIRD SPACE WALK FROM MIR SPACE STATION
According to the Kettering Group in Great Britain, the two Soviet
cosmonauts living aboard the Mir space station took their third space
walk in 18 days. Alexander Viktorenko and Alexander Serebrov left the
station and attached television cameras to a platform on Kvant 2 for
Earth observation. According to Soviet news agency Tass, spacewalks
are also scheduled for February 4 and 5 in order to test a new manned
maneuvering unit, called the space motorcycle.
JAPAN LAUNCHES SPACECRAFT TO LUNAR ORBIT
Japan launched a spacecraft to lunar orbit, making it the third country
to do so, from the southern Japan launch site at Uchinoura. The
spacecraft is scheduled to enter a very elliptical Earth orbit that
will reach within 10,000 miles of the moon in March. The mother ship
will then release a smaller satellite, which will enter lunar orbit.
The satellite will transmit data to the larger spacecraft on
temperature variations and electrical fields surrounding the moon.
U.S. and Australian scientists will help provide tracking for the
flight. This is the first spacecraft to visit the vicinity of the moon
since the Soviets unmanned craft, the Luna 24, launched in 1976.
SOVIETS TO HOST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF SPACE NUCLEAR POWER
On May 15 through 18 the Soviet Union plans to host an international
symposium of space nuclear power and for the first time has invited
western physicists. The conference is being held to commemorate the
20th anniversary of the Topaz space nuclear reactor program in the
Soviet Union.
JAPANESE TO DEVELOP SPACECRAFT TO EXAMINE EARTH'S OZONE LAYER
The Japanese Institute of Space and Aeronautical Sciences has teamed
with the Institute of Public Health to develop and construct a $7
million small spacecraft that will examine the deterioration of the
ozone layer. According to plan, the ozone surveyor, which will include
a solar sensor and a spectroscope, will be launched on an expendable
launch vehicle, along with an observation satellite in 1995. The
spacecraft will then orbit the Earth looking for holes in the ozone,
which protects the planet's surface from intense ultraviolet rays.
NASA intends to contribute software for the spacecraft.
WEST GERMANY EXPERIENCING OPPOSITION TOWARD EFA PROJECT
In West Germany, political opposition is hardening toward the European
Fighter Aircraft (EFA), and many political and industry sources are
predicting the end of the project. A spokesperson from the minority
Free Democrat party, which went public with its opposition to EFA last
month, said the party is confident the project will end. An official
from the majority Christian Democrats said no decision on EFA will be
made until the research and development (R&D) phase is completed next
year. Many observers feel that since the whole political situation has
changed, the project should probably end.
BUSINESS:
BOEING POSTS 56% DECLINE IN FOURTH-QUARTER EARNINGS
Boeing Co. posted a 56% decline in fourth-quarter earnings, a
reflection of last fall's Machinists strike. The company reported a
profit of $77 million, down from $174 million a year earlier. Sales
were down to $4.85 billion from $4.87 billion. Boeing's defense and
space business posted a $474 million operating loss for the year, which
some analysts believe means that the worst is over.
GENERAL DYNAMICS SUFFERS DROP IN PROFITS FOR FOURTH QUARTER
General Dynamics Corp. suffered a 3% drop in profits in the fourth
quarter despite a slight rise in sales. Net income fell to $82.8
million, from $85.2 million a year earlier. However, sales for General
Dynamics were up to $2.64 billion from $2.49 billion. The company
attributes the drop in profit to changes in federal tax laws and
Pentagon procurement practices.
GE AEROSPACE TO CUT WORKFORCE BY 14% BY THE END OF 1991
General Electric Aerospace announced it will cut its workforce by about
14%, or about 5,600 employees, by the end of 1991. GE said the cuts
will be made through a combination of layoffs and attrition. GE
Aerospace produces satellites, the Aegis radar system and nuclear
warhead reentry systems.
GENERAL ELECTRIC TO PAY ABOUT $2.5 MILLION TO SETTLE PENTAGON CASE
General Electric Co. has agreed to pay the government about $2.5
million to settle a criminal case focusing on unauthorized use of
classified Pentagon documents. Federal prosecutors plan to file a
felony charge alleging that a GE unit illegally obtained sensitive
Pentagon budget and planning information during the mid-1980s. The
unit was part of RCA Corp. at the time, and was purchased by GE for
about $6.28 billion in 1986. According to people familiar with the
case, the charge will be filed against now-defunct RCA or one of its
former subsidiaries.
LOCKHEED PROPOSED COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT NORTON
Lockheed Corp. has proposed establishing a commercial aircraft
maintenance facility at Norton Air Force Base, CA, one of the 86
military bases scheduled to be shut down by 1994. Lockheed's proposal
involves utilizing the operations at two aircraft hanger complexes at
Norton in early 1990 under a joint-use agreement with the U.S. Air
Force. Then, the company would like to take over all four hangars by
1994 and expects to employ 970 personnel to perform maintenance and
modifications on Boeing 747 aircraft.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS REPORTED NET EARNINGS DOWN 37.4% FOR THE YEAR
McDonnell Douglas Corp. reported that net earnings were down 37.4% to
$219 million on 1% higher sales of $14.59 billion for 1989. The
company blamed overruns on fixed-price development contracts and
miscalculations in helicopter programs throughout the year.
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINERS PLANS TO ORDER 10 MD-11 JETLINERS
McDonnell Douglas Corp. announced that KLM Royal Dutch Airliners
intends to order 10 MD-11 jetliners valued at a total of $1.3 billion,
with options for five more and to also buy two Boeing Co. 747-400s for
$260 million. The carrier's supervisory board and its management,
staff and union council must approve the orders before they are
confirmed. However, according to a KLM official, approval by the two
groups is expected to be routine and could come within a month. The
airline is 38%-owned by the Netherlands government. Delivery of the
first MD-11 is expected in early 1991, and deliveries of KLM's order
would begin in 1993 and conclude in mid-1995.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING ISSUED NAVY COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND AF ADVANCED TESTING CONTRACTS
Boeing Co. was issued a $130.2 million contract for Navy computer
equipment and Air Force advanced testing.
GENERAL DYNAMICS GOT $294.7 MILLION IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
General Dynamics Corp. got $294.7 million in contracts for Army M-1
tanks and Air Force F-16 aircraft parts.
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO BUILD FUSELAGE SECTION FOR SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER
General Dynamics Corp. announced it was awarded a $30 million contract
by Rockwell International Corp. to build a fuselage section for the
space shuttle orbiter. General Dynamics has built six orbiter sections
since 1973. This latest contract is for a spare.
GE RECEIVED NUCLEAR-PROPULSION PARTS AND JET FIGHTER ENGINES CONTRACTS
General Electric Co. received $359.9 million in contracts for Navy
nuclear-propulsion parts and Navy and Air Force jet fighter engines.
GRUMMAN AWARDED A $218.9 MILLION F-14D AIRCRAFT CONTRACT
Grumman Corp. was awarded a $218.9 million Navy contract for F-14D
aircraft.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT GOT $107.7 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., got a $107.7
million Army contract for navigation equipment.
LORAL GIVEN AIRCRAFT RADAR-WARNING RECEIVERS CONTRACT
Loral Corp. was given a $46.5 million Air Force contract for aircraft
radar-warning receivers.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $363.4 MILLION IN NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
McDonnell Douglas Corp. won $363.4 million in contracts for Navy
aircraft parts and AV-8B aircraft and for Air Force C-17 aircraft
production.
RAYTHEON ISSUED $110.1 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was issued a $110.1 million Air Force contract for
missiles.
ROCKWELL GOT AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT COMPUTER CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. got an $18.1 million Air Force contract
for aircraft computers.
WESTINGHOUSE AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $139.2 MILLION
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was awarded a $139.2 million Navy contract
for nuclear-propulsion parts and Mark 48 torpedoes.
RFP UPDATE:
January 29, 1990
AIR FORCE CONTRACTING OFFICE TO PURCHASE MAPP COMPUTER SYSTEM
Under solicitation F49642-90-R9001, the Air Force District of
Washington Contracting Office plans the purchase of a computer system
to include hardware, networking and video teleconferencing (VTC)
hardware and associated system software acquisition, maintenance,
training, networking, and support for new and existing Modern Aids to
Planning Program (MAPP) analytical cells at the Joint Staff, the
unified and specific commands and other designated sites. All firms
interested in receiving the solicitation document must submit a written
request no later than 30 days from the date of this notice. No
telephone inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Deborah Dixon
Air Force District of Washington Contracting Office
Bldg. 3534/CNA
MAPP
Andrews Air Force Base, DC 20331-5320
No relevant RFPs for January 30, 1990.
January 31, 1990
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE MACINTOSH WORKSTATIONS
NASA Lewis Research Center intends to procure the following under the
terms and conditions of Contract GS-OOK-89AGS-6383, against Falcon
Microsystems, for six MacIntosh IIcx HD workstations and other assorted
software and peripherals. Suppliers of identical or equivalent items
may submit data to demonstrate their ability to satisfy this
requirement. All responsible sources may submit written responses
within 15 days from the date of this notice. All responses received
will be considered. No contract award will be made on the basis of any
response to this notice. Inquiries concerning this requirement should
reference 389409.
Contact: Robin Strohacker
Contracting Officer
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2768
AIR FORCE SEEKING SOURCES FOR STANDARDIZED SUPER-MINICOMPUTERS
Under solicitation F19630-90-R-0001, the Air Force Computer Acquisition
Center is seeking qualified sources who are capable of providing
standardized super-minicomputers for the Navy, Army, Defense Logistics
Agency (DLA), Coast Guard and other government agencies for worldwide
use. The equipment must support up to 256 concurrent, interactive
users. Quantity is estimated at 1000 systems. Location will be at
various worldwide sites. It is anticipated that a draft specification
will be issued in the March time frame. A five-year contract life is
anticipated for hardware and software licenses and a nine-year contract
life is anticipated for analyst/engineering support, maintenance,
software support, technical support and training. All firms interested
in receiving the draft specification must submit a written request no
later than 30 days from the date of this notice. No telephone requests
will be honored.
Contact: Deborah Davidson
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
PKB
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8640
No relevant RFPs for February 1-2, 1990.
|
| 20.71 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 2/05/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Feb 15 1990 13:33 | 586 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010419
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 14-Feb-1990 10:31pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 2/05/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of February 5, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry News
---------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
***************************************************************************
************************* SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ***************************
***************************************************************************
The Industry News Service has changed its name to better reflect the
broadening content. The new name of the database is The Industry Marketing
and Sales Information Service (IMSIS). Keyword access from the '$' prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS' (although some systems will accept the previous keyword for
a few more weeks). The IMSIS database is still located under the same VTX
and ACCESS menu options - Marketing Information and Computer Industry News
on the VTX menu and Target Industries under the ACCESS Menu. IMSIS
contains at least the last three months worth of news.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5, 1990
DEFENSE:
HASC CHAIRMAN LES ASPIN SAYS ARMS ARE NO LONGER BARGAINING CHIPS
MEMBERS OF HASC INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO KILL B-2 BOMBER
BRILLIANT PEBBLES DEFENSE WEAPON MAY NOT BE READY FOR SDIO LAUNCH
BUSH NOMINATES ADM. FRANK B. KELSO TO CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
SDIO LACE EXPERIMENT LAUNCH POSTPONED UNTIL AT LEAST FEBRUARY 14
REP. PANETTA TELLS CHENEY CONGRESS MAY CUT $10 BILLION FROM BUDGET
NASA:
KSC RECEIVED GAMMA-RAY OBSERVATORY
NASA BELIEVES CUTTING SPACE STATION FUNDS WOULD CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS
GALILEO RESUMES TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF PLANET VENUS
GAO FINDS NASA MUST IMPROVE INFORMATION ON PROJECT STATUS REPORTS
INTERNATIONAL:
DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE RESUMED NEGOTIATIONS ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS BAN
ARIANESPACE CHAIRMAN REPORTS A STRONG YEAR IN 1989
COSMONAUT MAKES FOUR SHORT MISSIONS FROM THE MIR SPACE STATION
MATRA PRESIDENT: MILITARY-SURVEILLANCE SATELLITES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED
SOVIET LAUNCH COSMOS 2058, BELIEVED TO BE RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITE
U.S. COMPANIES TO ATTEND SOVIET "USA PAVILION" AEROSPACE TRADE SHOW
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO SELL TURKEY 60 LANTIRN SYSTEMS
BUSINESS:
BOEING AGREED TO SETTLEMENT FROM CANADA FOR DE HAVILLAND PURCHASE
GE REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SP-100 SPACE NUCLEAR REACTOR
LOCKHEED SUFFERS LOSSES IN FOURTH QUARTER
LTV CORP. REPORTS BOTH LOSS AND EARNINGS FOR 1989
LYNX TO PROVIDE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SYSTEM FOR SPACE STATION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER TO LAY OFF 10% OF ITS WORKFORCE
DARPA STUDYING FLIGHT DATA FROM OSC'S PEGASUS TEST FLIGHT
RAYTHEON CHAIRMAN ASKED SECURITIES ANALYSTS TO STICK WITH COMPANY
FORMER UNISYS EMPLOYEE SENTENCED FOR PENTAGON PROCUREMENT FRAUD
CONTRACT AWAARDS:
FAIRCHILD ISSUED MISSION-PLANNING SYSTEMS CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC WON $49.1 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC AEROSPACE RECEIVED ORDERS FOR AIR DEFENSE RADARS
HARRIS GOT $9.1 MILLION CONTRACT FROM ARMY STRATEGIC DEFENSE COMMAND
HONEYWELL AND TRW SELECTED TO BUILD RADIATION RESISTANT COMPUTERS
LOCKHEED GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $28 MILLION
LTV RECEIVED TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT $194.4 MILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SPACE SYSTEMS AWARDED $49 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
RAYTHEON RECEIVED TWO AIR FORCE CONTRACTS TOTALING OVER $110 MILLION
ROCKWELL ISSUED MISSILE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
UNISYS AWARDED SOFTWARE CONTRACT WORTH $17.5 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for February 5-7, 1990.
February 8, 1990
JSC TO AWARD OPERATIONS AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING CONTRACT
February 9, 1990
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PURCHASE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFENSE:
HASC CHAIRMAN LES ASPIN SAYS ARMS ARE NO LONGER BARGAINING CHIPS
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Les Aspin (D-WI)
told Defense Secretary Dick Cheney that U.S. nuclear weapons programs
could no longer be sold to Congress by arguing that they are needed as
"bargaining leverage" in arms-control talks. He said that argument
used to be valid "in the old days" but no longer. Rep. Aspin believes
that Soviet leader Gorbachev now has economic problems that will bring
him to the negotiating table. Should others adopt Rep. Aspin's view,
several nuclear weapons systems will probably be killed.
MEMBERS OF HASC INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO KILL B-2 BOMBER
Members of the House introduced legislation to kill the B-2 bomber
after completion of the 15 aircraft now in various stages of
production. The bill would provide for flight testing and continued
development of stealth technology. The bill was sponsored by Reps. Ron
Dellums (D-CA), John Kasich (R-OH), John Rowlands (R-CT) and Jim
Slattery (D-KS). All but Rep. Slattery are members of the House Armed
Services Committee (HASC). Companion legislation was introduced in the
Senate by Sens. Alan Cranston (D-CA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) last
week.
BRILLIANT PEBBLES DEFENSE WEAPON MAY NOT BE READY FOR SDIO LAUNCH
According to a Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO)
official, an experiment aimed at testing sensors for a brilliant
pebbles defense weapon may not be ready in time to fly on a Delta 2
rocket to be launched for SDIO. The launch window has opened, and so
far, the satellite has not been shipped to Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, FL.
BUSH NOMINATES ADM. FRANK B. KELSO TO CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
President George Bush nominated Adm. Frank B. Kelso, chief of the U.S.
Atlantic Command to chief of naval operations. Adm. Kelso will succeed
Adm. Carlisle A.H. Trost, whose term expires on June 30. Adm. Kelso
was previously commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and commander of
the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean at the time of the Libyan air
strike.
SDIO LACE EXPERIMENT LAUNCH POSTPONED UNTIL AT LEAST FEBRUARY 14
An industry source reported the launch of a Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization (SDIO) experiment had to be postponed until at
least February 14 after a small tool fell into the spacecraft during
launch preparations. According to an SDIO spokesperson, the Low-power
Atmospheric Compensation Experiment (LACE) was being prepared for
launch on a Delta II booster at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, Florida,
when a tool fell into the spacecraft and could not be retrieved.
Mission managers had to remove half of the spacecraft fairing to
retrieve the tool, thus postponing the launch date. LACE consists of
an instrumented laser target that will measure the effectiveness of
atmospheric distortion compensation techniques on ground-based lasers.
REP. PANETTA TELLS CHENEY CONGRESS MAY CUT $10 BILLION FROM BUDGET
House Budget Committee Chairman Leon Panetta (D-CA) told Defense
Secretary Dick Cheney that he thought Congress was headed toward a $10
billion cut in the Bush Administration's $303.3 billion national
defense outlays figure. Two days earlier, Senate Budget Committee
Chairman Jim Sasser (D-TN) projected a "minimum" cut of $10 billion.
The Bush Administration requested $295.1 billion in Pentagon budget
authority and $292.1 billion in spending which, combined with Energy
Dept. nuclear weapons programs, amounts to $306.9 billion in authority
and $303.3 billion in outlays for the national defense functions.
NASA:
KSC RECEIVED GAMMA-RAY OBSERVATORY
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) received NASA's Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO),
which arrived on an Air Force C-5 Galaxy from TRW facilities in Redondo
Beach, CA. The spacecraft will undergo about six weeks of pre-launch
checkouts and testing at KSC's payload hazardous servicing facility.
In September, the probe will be moved to the vertical processing
facility where it will be placed in the space shuttle Atlantis's
payload bay. Atlantis is scheduled to be launched on November 1. GRO
will be deployed from the shuttle where it will collect gamma-ray data
that will be used to study the origins of the universe.
NASA BELIEVES CUTTING SPACE STATION FUNDS WOULD CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS
NASA officials told the House Science, Space and Technology Committee
that a substantial cut in the $2.6 million FY 1991 request for the
space station would likely force another rescoping and could result in
withdrawal of the international partners. "It would not be the space
station Freedom as we know it today today," Administrator Richard
Truly replied when asked what a $500 million cut would mean to the
station. Mr. Truly added that last summer's rescoping angered the
international partners and to placate them NASA offered to move up the
launch of the European Space Agency (ESA) laboratory module so it could
begin operating sooner. NASA's budget request of $15.1 billion is 23%
more that FY 1990 funding, most of it to support the station and an
increased shuttle flight rate.
GALILEO RESUMES TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF PLANET VENUS
NASA announced the Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft took more
photographs of the planet Venus after engineers repaired faulty
computer commands that had caused the shutter of the probe's camera to
snap continuously.
GAO FINDS NASA MUST IMPROVE INFORMATION ON PROJECT STATUS REPORTS
The General Accounting Office's report, "NASA Project Status Reports:
Congressional Requirements Can Be Met, But Reliability Must Be
Ensured," found the agency must improve the quality of information it
provides in its project status reports if congressional committees are
to use them to make budget decisions and maintain program oversight.
NASA regularly publishes the reports in March and July on all programs
costing over $200 million. However, the GAO found that information
supplied in a March 1988 report on the Magellan Venus probe was either
outdated or inaccurate. The report was prepared for four House and
Senate NASA oversight committees.
INTERNATIONAL:
DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE RESUMED NEGOTIATIONS ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS BAN
The 40-nations Disarmament Conference resumed negotiations on a
chemical weapons ban. Delegates said the talks have reached the "home
stretch" stage. It was also reported that U.S. and Soviet officials
are increasing their efforts to produce a joint draft treaty test to
present to the full conference.
ARIANESPACE CHAIRMAN REPORTS A STRONG YEAR IN 1989
Arianespace Chairman Frederic d'Allest said the company's 1989 revenues
were $657 million for a profit of $23 million. Mr. d'Allest expects
1990 revenues to exceed $700 million. In the last 26 months, excluding
the January launch of the SPOT satellite, Arianespace launched 26
geostationary satellites.
COSMONAUT MAKES FOUR SHORT MISSIONS FROM THE MIR SPACE STATION
Soviet news agency Tass reported Cosmonaut Aleksandr Serebrov made four
short missions from the Mir space station using a manned maneuvering
unit (MMU), upon a "space bicycle". The MMU is anchored to the station
by a cable attached to an electric winch. Also, Mr. Serebrov wore a
new spacesuit called Orlan, which is fitted with independent
communications, telemetry and power systems. Following tests, the MMU
will be used to service Mir, the space shuttle and other Soviet
payloads.
MATRA PRESIDENT: MILITARY-SURVEILLANCE SATELLITES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED
The president of Matra Espace, Toulouse, France, Claude Goumy said that
Europe should develop its own series of independent military-
surveillance satellites. Mr. Goumy said the Helios military-
surveillance satellite, scheduled for launch in 1993, should set an
example for pan-European cooperation in military space. Helios is
being developed by Matra for the French government. Italy and Spain
are minority partners in the program. Both civil and military uses for
remote sensing have become a major business sector for Matra. In 1989,
Matra reported 2.5 billion French francs ($438 million) in sales, of
which 1 billion francs ($175 million) came from Earth-observation
satellites.
SOVIET LAUNCH COSMOS 2058, BELIEVED TO BE RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITE
The Soviet Union launched Cosmos 2058, believed to be a two-week
reconnaissance satellite, on a Tsiklon booster.
U.S. COMPANIES TO ATTEND SOVIET "USA PAVILION" AEROSPACE TRADE SHOW
More than half the space planned for the upcoming "USA Pavilion"
aerospace trade show in Moscow has been reserved by U.S. companies,
according to one of the pavilion's U.S. organizers. The Soviet
organizers have expanded the scope of the Technika Aeroporta/Aerospace
Moscow trade show beyond a display of airport support equipment to
encompass other aerospace products. The show will be held September
21-26.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO SELL TURKEY 60 LANTIRN SYSTEMS
The Defense Department announced plans to sell Turkey 60 Low-Altitude
for Night Targeting Infrared Navigation (LANTIRN) systems, pilot and
maintenance training for integration with its F-16C/D aircraft for $205
million. Martin Marietta Corp. will be the prime contractor for the
LANTIRN systems.
BUSINEESS:
BOEING AGREED TO SETTLEMENT FROM CANADA FOR DE HAVILLAND PURCHASE
Boeing Co. agreed to a 161 million Canadian dollar ($134 million)
settlement of its claims against the Canadian government arising from
the company's purchase four years ago of a government-owned aircraft
maker, de havilland Aircraft of Canada, Ltd. The agreement included
Boeing's claims for the costs it incurred to correct alleged health and
safety hazards at de Havilland's main plant in Toronto's Downsview
area. Canadian Industry Minister Harvie Andre said the settlement
"closes the book" on all disputes arising from the sale.
GE REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SP-100 SPACE NUCLEAR REACTOR
General Electric Corp. (GE) reaffirmed its commitment to the SP-100
space nuclear reactor after a program review at the end of 1989 that
went all the way to the company's top officers and directors.
According to a GE official, a routine review of the company's aerospace
programs raised two primary concerns with the SP-100 project: uncertain
funding prospects and the potential for a consumer boycott of GE
products stemming from anti-nuclear sentiment. It seems GE officials
decided to stick with the program after NASA, the U.S. Strategic
Defense Initiative Organization and the U.S. Dept. of Energy agreed to
a new four-year funding plan in October.
LOCKHEED SUFFERS LOSSES IN FOURTH QUARTER
Lockheed Corp. reported an expected $300 million write-off in the
fourth quarter to cover projected overruns on the P-7A Long Range Air
ASW Capable Aircraft (LRAACA) program resulted in 1989 operating
earnings of $6 million, down 99%, on 5% lower sales of $9.89 billion.
Program profits at Lockheed were down 92% for the year to $53 million,
compared with $700 million in program profits in 1988. Net earnings
for Lockheed were down 100% to $2 million, compared with $624 million
earned in 1988. Lockheed amassed $736 million in fixed-price contracts
of all types between FY 1985 and 1988. The company has announced that
it will no longer accept fixed-price contracts.
LTV CORP. REPORTS BOTH LOSS AND EARNINGS FOR 1989
LTV Corp.'s Aircraft Products unit reported an operating loss for 1989
of $99.5 million, hurt by write-offs throughout the year to cover
projected overruns on the Boeing 747, YA-7F Corsair Plus demonstrator
and C-17 airlifter programs. Sales for the year were down 22% to $673
million for the division, compared with operating income of $28.5
million earned on $867 million sold in 1988. Sales for the company's
Missiles & Electronics unit grew 2.5% to $1.367 billion in 1989, led by
sales of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), and operating income
was up to $15 million compared with a loss of $5 million in 1988.
Overall, LTV earned $200 million on 13% lower sales of $6.36 billion
for 1989, compared with a loss of nearly $900 million on sales of
$7.324 billion in 1988.
LYNX TO PROVIDE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SYSTEM FOR SPACE STATION
Lynx Real-Time Systems Inc., Campbell, CA, will provide the computer
programming system that will manage the flow of data on the space
station Freedom. The hardware and software, called LynxOS, will manage
the space station's package of onboard computers, called the Data
Management System. They will fulfill critical computerized tasks, such
as communications and tracking, flight control and the monitoring of
life-support systems. LynxOS monitors incoming data and directs other
computer systems to complete their tasks effectively. The computers
were built at the IBM Systems Integration Division facility in Houston,
Texas.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER TO LAY OFF 10% OF ITS WORKFORCE
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co. announced plans to lay off 10% of its
workforce and defer expansion of its light helicopter plant in an
effort to hold down costs in light of slowed defense spending. A
company spokesperson said effective February 23, 400 employees from its
Culver City, CA manufacturing facility and about 400 more at its Mesa,
AZ facility will be laid off. Many of the cuts are directly due to the
Army-ordered slowdown in AH-64 Apache helicopter deliveries.
DARPA STUDYING FLIGHT DATA FROM OSC'S PEGASUS TEST FLIGHT
A spokesperson from Orbital Science Corp. (OSC) said the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is studying flight data from
the third captive test of Pegasus air-launched booster on January 30
and the first launch could occur as early as March. The two hour test
from Edwards Air Force Base, CA, simulated two launch cycles. The B-52
carrier aircraft reached an altitude of 43,000 feet about 50 miles off
the California coast. While minor anomalies were reported, none were
considered significant enough to have prevented a launch. DARPA, which
developed payloads for the first two flights, will determine the date
of the first orbital launch for OSC based on results of the flight test
and payload requirements.
RAYTHEON CHAIRMAN ASKED SECURITIES ANALYSTS TO STICK WITH COMPANY
Raytheon Corp.'s Chairman Thomas L. Philips asked securities analysts
not to underestimate the company's staying power in a declining defense
environment, despite the fact that Raytheon stock has hit its lowest
point in over a year. Raytheon has been popular with many Wall Street
analysts, with its three large air traffic control projects, military
programs and solid balance sheet. Many analysts are confused as to why
the company's stock, which was trading as high as $71 on January 4,
fell to $65 by the end of January and dipped to 60-3/4 in February.
Mr. Philips said the company will stay in its surveillance, sonar,
countermeasures, naval systems, arms verification and missile
technology areas, and will continue to expand commercially through
"internal investment and through strength-to-strength acquisitions."
FORMER UNISYS EMPLOYEE SENTENCED FOR PENTAGON PROCUREMENT FRAUD
John B.G. Roberts III, a former marketing manager for Unisys Corp., was
sentenced to one year in prison for conspiring to make illegal campaign
donations and obstructing the Federal Bureau of Investigation's inquiry
into Pentagon procurement fraud. Mr. Roberts pleaded guilty to
arranging for the submission of false claims to the Pentagon for
consultants' services when the money was actually funneled to members
of Congress who had influence over defense procurement. He also
admitted that he arranged for the filing of false statements with the
Federal Election Commission to conceal illegal corporate donations to
several lawmakers. U.S. District Court Judge Claude Hilton in
Alexandria, VA fined Mr. Roberts $10,000 and ordered him to serve a
two-year term of supervised release after completing the one year
prison term.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
FAIRCHILD ISSUED MISSION-PLANNING SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Fairchild Industries Inc. was issued a $14 million Air Force contract
for mission-planning systems.
GENERAL ELECTRIC WON $49.1 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
General Electric Co. won a $49.1 million Navy contract for Trident
missile fire-control systems.
GENERAL ELECTRIC AEROSPACE RECEIVED ORDERS FOR AIR DEFENSE RADARS
General Electric Aerospace received orders worth $130 million from
Italy and South Korea for AN/FPS-117 solid-state air defense radars.
Italy ordered four sets, while South Korea will buy another three
radars to add to the five it already operates.
HARRIS GOT $9.1 MILLION CONTRACT FROM ARMY STRATEGIC DEFENSE COMMAND
Harris Corp. got a five year, $9.1 million contract from the U.S. Army
Strategic Defense Command to design and develop seeker and guidance
electronics for the next generation of Strategic Defense Initiative
(SDI) terminal defense interceptor missiles. Technologies that Harris
will incorporate into the program include Silicon On Sapphire/Silicon
On Insulator (SOS/SOI), submicron Very High Speed Integrated Circuits
(VHSIC) and defect tolerant Wafer Scale Integration (WSI). The
system's signal processors will be designed to handle 10 billion
operations per second and its data processors are designed to perform
30 million instructions per second.
HONEYWELL AND TRW SELECTED TO BUILD RADIATION RESISTANT COMPUTERS
Honeywell Space Systems Group and TRW Electronic Systems Group were
each selected to build high performance computers that will be
resistant to the effects of radiations in space for the Air Force Rome
Air Development Center, Griffiss Air Force Base, NY. Honeywell's
contract is for $8.3 million and TRW received a contract for $8.1
million. The computers could be used in a variety of systems, such as
the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's space-based
interceptor and space-based surveillance and tracking system, the space
station and the Advanced Tactical Fighter. The computer system will
detect failures in itself and switch to backup systems.
LOCKHEED GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $28 MILLION
Lockheed Corp. was given a $28 million Air Force contract for
improvements to C-130 aircraft.
LTV RECEIVED TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
LTV Corp. received a $36.2 million Army contract for the tactical
missile system.
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT $194.4 MILLION
Martin Marietta Corp. was awarded an Air Force contract worth $194.4
million for targeting systems for fighter planes.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SPACE SYSTEMS AWARDED $49 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. was chosen to develop and integrate
an aero-assist flight experiment carrier for NASA under a $49 million
contract awarded by Marshall Space Flight Center. The carrier will be
built and integrated in Hunstville, AL, with an aerobrake provided by
Johnson Space Center (JSC) and a set of experiments provided by Ames
Research Center, Langley Research Center and JSC. The spacecraft is
scheduled to be launched, deployed, retrieved and returned by the space
shuttle Discovery in August 1994. The experiment involves determining
whether atmospheric friction, rather that braking rockets, can be used
to slow spacecraft from higher orbits to lower orbits.
RAYTHEON RECEIVED TWO AIR FORCE CONTRACTS TOTALING OVER $110 MILLION
Raytheon Co. received two Air Force Aeronautical Systems Div. contracts
totaling over $110 million to establish a second source for Northrop
Corp.s Tacit Rainbow air-launched anti-radiation missile and to develop
a ground-launched version for the Army. Raytheon's Missile Systems
Div. got $105.02 million to develop the ground-launched Tacit Rainbow
under a fixed-price incentive firm target contract. The other
contract, worth $5.05 million, will support transfer of the air-
launched version technology data package to the Raytheon division.
ROCKWELL ISSUED MISSILE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. was issued a $16 million Air Force
contract for missile guidance systems.
UNISYS AWARDED SOFTWARE CONTRACT WORTH $17.5 MILLION
Unisys Corp. was awarded a $17.5 million Navy contract for software.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for February 5-7, 1990.
February 8, 1990
JSC TO AWARD OPERATIONS AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING CONTRACT
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to award an indefinite-
delivery/indefinite-quality contract for Operations Automatic Data
Processing (OADP) equipment which will consolidate the acquisition of
commercial off-the-shelf computer systems, upgrades and peripherals
(printers, tape drives, direct access storage devices and controllers)
and support software for the operational systems of ground based
mission operations systems at JSC under solicitation 9BG4191815P. This
acquisition will require the contractor to provide, install, upgrade
and maintain the computer systems, the system software and certain
higher order languages including Ada. The computer systems to be
acquired are categorized into four performance classes to be determined
by benchmark tests. The duration of the contract will be eight years
with five one-year options for maintenance only. A draft Statement of
Work was released to industry on February 22, 1989 and an Industry
Briefing was held on May 5, 1989. The government plans to award this
contract on an all or none basis. Sources responding to this notice
must be capable of providing the total requirement. The tentative
schedule for RFP release is April 1990, and proposals are due 60 days
thereafter. All responsible sources are invited to submit a proposal
which will be considered by the agency.
Contact: Thomas Swindell
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG 41
Houston, TX
(713) 483-4149
February 9, 1990
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PURCHASE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
Wright-Patterson Contracting Center placed solicitation F33600-90-R-
0099 to competitively purchase Automatic Data Processing Equipment for
Aeronautical System Division (ASC/VLX) Lantirn Organization, Wright-
Patterson Air Force Base, OH. Brand name or equal to COMPU-ADD 316
(CompuAdd, Austin, TX), for fourteen (14) CompuAdd 316 computers and
assorted peripherals. Vendors requests for RFP must be in writing, no
telephone requests will be accepted.
Contact: Lois Sturgill
HQ Wright-Patterson Contracting Center
Specialized Services Support Branch
Specialized Contracting Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433
(513) 257-4871
|
| 20.72 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 02/12/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Feb 26 1990 13:00 | 582 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010546
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 22-Feb-1990 02:40pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 02/12/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of February 12, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-----------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY **
***************************************************************************
************************* SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ***************************
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The Industry News Service has changed its name to better reflect the
broadening content. The new name of the database is The Industry Marketing
and Sales Information Service (IMSIS). Keyword access from the '$' prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS' (although some systems will accept the previous keyword for
a few more weeks). The IMSIS database is still located under the same VTX
and ACCESS menu options - Marketing Information and Computer Industry News
on the VTX menu and Target Industries under the ACCESS Menu. IMSIS
contains at least the last three months worth of news.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12, 1990
GENERAL:
COMPOSITES SALES IN AEROSPACE MARKET UP IN 1989
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE REQUESTS $744 MILLION FOR MILSTAR PROGRAM IN FY 1991
SDIO LOSAT SPACECRAFT LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
GAO REPORTS DOD MAY ESTIMATE PROFITS ON CONTRACTS INCORRECTLY
DAB ISSUED FORMAL MILESTONE I APPROVAL FOR KINETIC-KILL ASAT
PENTAGON CONDUCTING REVIEW OF EXPORTABLE AND "SACRED" TECHNOLOGIES
NASA:
SPACE COUNCIL APPROVED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON LUNAR/MARS MISSIONS
SOVIETS CRITICIZE U.S. AND NASA ON USE OF SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS
COMPANIES TO RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIES IN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS PICKED
NASA OFFICIALS TO APPEAL REJECTION OF SPACE STATION EVOLUTION STUDY
INTERNATIONAL:
FRENCH, SINGAPORE AND CHINA COMPANIES AGREE TO DEVELOP HELICOPTER
JAL TO HOLD TALKS WITH EASTERN EUROPEAN AND SOVIET AIRLINES
CHINA LAUNCHED FIFTH DOMESTIC COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
CNES SEARCHING FOR ASTRONAUT TO FLY ABOARD THE MIR SPACE STATION
FRENCH, U.K. AND WEST GERMAN COMPANIES SIGN MOU FOR PAH-2 TIGRE
BUSINESS:
APPLE COULD LOSE AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $164 MILLION
CTAS SIGNED TEAMING AGREEMENT WITH AERITALIA FOR G222 TURBOPROP
FORD AEROSPACE DEVELOPED NEW INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAY TECHNOLOGY
LOCKHEED TO PAY CIVIL PENALTY OF $1 MILLION TO SETTLE AQMD VIOLATIONS
LOCKHEED IS DISCUSSING PROVIDING BOEING WITH PARTS FOR 767-X JET
UTC TO RESTRUCTURE AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE UNITS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
FAIRCHILD RECEIVED AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT MISSION PLANNING SYSTEMS CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC WON NAVY CONTRACT WORTH OVER $49 MILLION
LOCKHEED AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS AWARDED $28 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA GOT $194.4 MILLION LANTRIN CONTRACT
PLANNING RESEARCH GIVEN $20 MILLION CONTRACT TO CONTINUE OPERATING GOES
RAYTHEON ISSUED NAVY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS CONTRACT
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $13.4 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
February 12, 1990
GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
CONTRACT FOR EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO MARTIN MARIETTA
February 13, 1990
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO ACQUIRE SUN MICROSYSTEM SPARC STATION
AFCC CANCELS DRAFT FOR SUPER-MINICOMPUTERS, WILL BE REISSUED
AIR FORCE COMPUTERS ACQUISITION GAVE $7 MILLION CONTRACT TO UNISYS
No relevant RFPs for February 14-15, 1990.
February 16, 1990
ESD RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR ALL DOD AGENCIES TO PURCHASE ULANA CONTRACT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
COMPOSITES SALES IN AEROSPACE MARKET UP IN 1989
The Composites Institute of the Society of the Plastics Industry said
sales of composites to the aerospace market were up in 1989, despite an
overall industry downturn, and are expected to increase 2.2% in 1990
even as overall defense spending declines. According to the group,
aerospace sales of composites, including reinforced thermoset and
thermoplastic resin composites, reinforcements and fillers, grew 5.1%
in 1989, from 39.4 million pounds to 41.4 million pounds. Aerospace
sales accounted for 1.6% of the total composites market last year, up
from 1.5% in 1988. Composites applications in the aerospace market
include the Stealth bomber, the Stealth fighter, the Beech Starship,
non-magnetic minesweeper hulls and components for commercial aircraft
such as modular lavatories.
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE REQUESTS $744 MILLION FOR MILSTAR PROGRAM IN FY 1991
The Air Force requested $744 million for the Milstar program in FY
1991, a $344 million increase to what Congress awarded in FY 1990. The
first satellite is planned for launch aboard a Titan 4 in 1991, and the
additional money would be used to work on the fourth and fifth
satellites in a series. Defense Dept. officials are still having
difficulty convincing Congress that Milstar should be a top priority.
Many members of Congress see the Milstar program, a satellite
communications system designed to operate in the chaotic and severe
conditions of a nuclear war, as not worth the cost due to continued
cost overruns and schedule delays. Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. has
the contract to build the Milstar spacecraft.
SDIO LOSAT SPACECRAFT LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
A Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) spacecraft, the
Laser Orbiting Satellite (LOSAT), carrying two directed-energy
experiments, was launched from Cape Canaveral on a McDonnell Douglas
Delta II booster. This was the first commercial launch of a Defense
Department satellite. The two-element LOSAT consists of the Low-power
Atmospheric Compensation Experiment (LACE) and Relay Mirror Experiment
(RME). According to SDIO officials, it will take about a month for the
satellites to become operational. The total cost of LOSAT is $313
million: $130 million for the LACE package, $145 million for the RME
and $38 million for the booster.
GAO REPORTS DOD MAY ESTIMATE PROFITS ON CONTRACTS INCORRECTLY
A report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) found the Pentagon
may be broadly underestimating profits on some contracts and
overestimating profits on others as it assesses industry's working
capital requirements, potentially costing both the government and
industry several million dollars annually. For the first time, in the
fall on 1986, the Defense Dept. (DoD) developed a simplified
calculation to allow negotiators the ability to include an element
representing working capital in a contract's overall profit objective.
However, the GAO has found that on a contract-by-contract basis, the
overall formula does not completely recognize working capital costs,
and significant differences worth hundreds of millions of dollars each
year may emerge. The study was done for Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI),
chairman of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee. In the
report, "Working Capital Financing Costs," the GAO recommended the DoD
revise the way it determines the working capital profit factor. The
Pentagon disagreed with the findings in the report.
DAB ISSUED FORMAL MILESTONE I APPROVAL FOR KINETIC-KILL ASAT
The Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) issued formal Milestone I approval
for a ground-based kinetic-kill anti-satellite weapon and the anti-
satellite (ASAT) Joint Program Office issued a classified
demonstration/validation request for proposals with a potential value
of $222 million. According to an Army official, copies of the kinetic
kill ASAT RFP were shipped to about 150 contractors, and lists ten
tasks, eight of them funded, and allows two contractors per funded
tasks. If two contractors are selected for each of the eight funded
task, the total potential value of the contracts is $222 million, with
a maximum of $111 million per contractor.
PENTAGON CONDUCTING REVIEW OF EXPORTABLE AND "SACRED" TECHNOLOGIES
According to Deputy Defense Secretary Donald J. Atwood, the Pentagon
has begun a "comprehensive review" of defense technologies to determine
which are "sacred" and those which may be exported. Mr. Atwood said
the review, to be carried out by the Defense Trade Security
Administration (DTSA) and other defense offices, is aimed at helping
the U.S. defense industry remain strong even as the defense budget
shrinks.
NASA:
SPACE COUNCIL APPROVED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON LUNAR/MARS MISSIONS
The members of the White House National Space Council agreed to back
international cooperation in manned lunar and Mars missions, however
some participants are concerned that cooperation could threaten U.S.
national security and economic competitiveness. Officials representing
the U.S. Defense, Commerce and Transportation departments were
especially hesitant about the benefits of cooperation, while NASA and
State officials reacted more positively to cooperation alternatives.
President George Bush is expected to decide soon whether to approve the
plan to seek foreign partners in the lunar/Mars exploration programs he
endorsed last July.
SOVIETS CRITICIZE U.S. AND NASA ON USE OF SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS
Soviet Officials criticized the U.S. and NASA for its reliance on solid
rocket boosters, saying that reliance poses a threat to the Earth's
ozone layer. Alexander Dunayev, chief of Glavkosmos, the Soviet space
agency, said a single shuttle launch causes hundreds of thousands of
tons of ozone to be destroyed. A 1989 study by the U.S. Congress'
Office of Technology Assessment concluded that liquid boosters were
safer, cleaner, simpler and more efficient that solid rockets, however
there is a substantial cost difference. It would cost an estimated $3
billion over the next eight years to develop new boosters and another
$500 million in pad modifications. NASA officials agree with the
Soviets that the shuttle releases thousands of pounds of chemicals into
the atmosphere with every launch, but a 1987 NASA report concluded that
a launch rate of 60 shuttle flights a year would reduce the percentage
of ozone in the atmosphere by .25 percent. The report characterized a
reduction at the .25 percent level as "insignificant."
COMPANIES TO RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIES IN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS PICKED
NASA announced that eight companies have been chosen to research new
technologies in the satellite communications field. The contracts are
part of NASA's satellite communications applications research program.
The contracts went to Ball Aerospace Systems Group, Broomfield, CO,
Comsat Laboratories, Clarksburg, MD. (three contracts), Contel Federal
Systems, Chantilly, VA, National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, Boulder, CO, the University of Colorado
interdisciplinary telecommunications program, Boulder, CO, Rockwell
International, Anaheim, CA, Spectra Diode Laboratories Inc., San Jose,
CA and the University of California, San Diego, CA.
NASA OFFICIALS TO APPEAL REJECTION OF SPACE STATION EVOLUTION STUDY
NASA officials said they will appeal congressional rejection of a
request to allocate $9 million for studies planned in FY 1990 of
modifications to the baseline space station so it could be used as a
base to assemble and service spacecraft for trips to the moon and Mars.
Program officials feel that it is crucial to complete the studies
before the space station undergoes a preliminary design review in
December so that any modifications can be incorporated early in the
program. The House and Senate appropriations subcommittees that oversee
NASA's budget rejected the proposal in the agency's FY 1990 budget
request and again when NASA offered to reprogram money for the studies
in an FY 1990 operating plan.
INTERNATIONAL:
FRENCH, SINGAPORE AND CHINA COMPANIES AGREE TO DEVELOP HELICOPTER
France's Aerospatiale, Singapore's Singapore Aerospace Pte. Ltd. and
China's China Aeronautic Technical Industries Corp. have agreed to
develop a two-ton, four-or five-seat helicopter by 1993. Aerospatiale
will take the lead in designing the helicopter, ground and flight tests
of prototypes, certification and setting up the production line.
Singapore Aerospace is in charge of producing the upper fuselage, tail
boom and fins and China Aeronautic will produce the main structure.
With this breakdown, Aerospatiale will account for 54% of the work,
Singapore, 16% and China will be responsible for about 30% of the
production.
JAL TO HOLD TALKS WITH EASTERN EUROPEAN AND SOVIET AIRLINES
Japan Air Lines (JAL) will hold talks with East European carriers and
with the Soviet Union's Aeroflot on developing and maintaining
cooperative ties. JAL officials plan to meet with the East German
carrier Interflug first, then with officials from the Hungarian carrier
Malev. A JAL spokesperson said the talks are aimed at creating
cooperative relations with East European carriers, but current demand
for flights between Japan and Eastern Europe do not warrant
establishing direct flights. JAL's talks with Aeroflot will
concentrate on expanding the use of Moscow as a stop-over point for
flight to Eastern Europe.
CHINA LAUNCHED FIFTH DOMESTIC COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
China launched its fifth domestic communications satellite into orbit
on board a Long March 3 expendable rocket. The liftoff took place from
Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China's Sichuan province in the
southeastern region of the country. Three more Long March missions are
planned for 1990, according to the Great Wall Industry Corp. in
Beijing, the government organization responsible for marketing the
launchers.
CNES SEARCHING FOR ASTRONAUT TO FLY ABOARD THE MIR SPACE STATION
The Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency,
has begun searching for an astronaut who will spend 12 days aboard the
Soviet space station Mir in 1992. CNES has invited any interested
professional French pilots aged 25 to 40 to submit their names to
CNES's astronaut-selection bureau. According to CNES, at least eight
candidates will be selected for a battery of physical and psychological
tests beginning in June, then at least four will undergo further
testing in the Soviet Union in July. Two finalists will then train at
the Yuri Gagarin Center outside of Moscow. The 1992 Antares mission
will include a series of biomedical and physics experiments aboard the
Mir station.
FRENCH, U.K. AND WEST GERMAN COMPANIES SIGN MOU FOR PAH-2 TIGRE
France's Aerospatiale announced that they have signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with Westland Helicopters and Messerschmitt-
Boelkow-Blohm (MBB) covering a U.K. variant of the Franco-German PAH-2
Tigre (Tiger) attack helicopter.
BUSINESS:
APPLE COULD LOSE AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $164 MILLION
Apple Computer, Inc. may lose its sale of 10,000 to 80,000 PCs for the
Air Force's new Worldwide Military Command and Control System if the
service complies with a recent General Accounting Office (GAO) report
recommendation. The GAO report stated that Apple's computers did not
meet the Air Force's specifications for multitasking and recommended
that the bidding for the contract be reopened after a protest by losing
contractor Martin Marietta. The contract has a potential value of $164
million and represents Apple's first major entry into the government
computing market.
CTAS SIGNED TEAMING AGREEMENT WITH AERITALIA FOR G222 TURBOPROP
Chrysler Technologies Airborne Systems (CTAS) signed a teaming
agreement with Italy's Aeritalia to offer the G222 turboprop for the
Air Force's C-27A Intratheater Airlift medium transport competition.
CTAS will serve as prime contractor, acting as proposal and program
manager and conducting flight tests prior to delivery. They will also
be in charge of installing and integrating modifications converting the
G222 to the C-27A configuration, managing crew flight training and
logistics support after service introduction. Aeritalia will supply
the basic airframe and spares, conduct initial flight instruction for
Chrysler and Air Force pilots and train the first maintenance
personnel.
FORD AEROSPACE DEVELOPED NEW INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAY TECHNOLOGY
Ford Aerospace officials said the company has developed a new infrared
focal plane array technology that could significantly increase the
accuracy and reliability of infrared sensors and reduce costs. The
company has grown a mercury-cadmium-tellurium photosensor directly onto
a silicon chip containing the circuitry needed to process the signal.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory awarded Ford a $2.2 million contract
to demonstrate the new technology.
LOCKHEED TO PAY CIVIL PENALTY OF $1 MILLION TO SETTLE AQMD VIOLATIONS
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. (LASC) has agreed to pay a civil
penalty of $1 million to settle "multiple" violations of air pollution
rules by several LASC facilities in the Southern California area. LASC
signed a settlement agreement with the South Coast Air Quality
Management District (AQMD), that specifies they must immediately
acquire sophisticated paint spray equipment and revise its record-
keeping procedures to assure compliance with the anti-smog regulations
in Los Angeles County.
LOCKHEED IS DISCUSSING PROVIDING BOEING WITH PARTS FOR 767-X JET
Lockheed Corp. said it is engaged in detailed discussions to provide
Boeing Co. with major parts for the 767-X passenger jet. Lockheed
hopes to become a supplier to Boeing of major subassemblies for the new
twin-engine aircraft. These could include sections of the fuselage and
the empennage. This would be a boost to Lockheed, which is attempting
to have less dependence on Pentagon contracts. A Boeing spokesperson
declined to comment on the talks.
UTC TO RESTRUCTURE AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE UNITS
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) announced plans to restructure its
aerospace and defense units to consolidate space-related businesses
into a new organization called the Space Propulsion and Systems (SPS)
unit. SPS, to be based in West Palm Beach, FL., will combine UTC's
Chemical Systems Div., USBI space boosters business and the space-
related businesses of Pratt & Whitney as part of the Pratt & Whitney
Group. Also, UTC's Advanced Systems Div. (ASD) will be reorganized
under Sikorsky Aircraft, but will retain its identity and headquarters.
"By marshalling our resources, we focus our efforts in serving our
customers, both in government and industry," said Arthur E. Wegner, UTC
executive vice president and president of the company's Aerospace/
Defense segment.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
FAIRCHILD RECEIVED AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT MISSION PLANNING SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Fairchild Industries Inc. received an Air Force contract worth nearly
$14 million for mission planning systems and related data for various
aircraft. The Ogden Air Logistic Center, Hill Air Force Base, UT, is
the contracting activity.
GENERAL ELECTRIC WON NAVY CONTRACT WORTH OVER $49 MILLION
General Electric Co. won a $49,070,133 fixed-price-incentive Navy
contract for fire control systems for the Trident Missile Program. The
work is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 1994. The Strategic
Systems Program Office, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.
LOCKHEED AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS AWARDED $28 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Lockheed Corp.'s Aeronautical Systems Co. was awarded a $28 million
face value increase to a firm fixed price Air Force contract for
upgrades to C-130H aircraft for the Air Reserve. The contract is
scheduled to be completed in February 1991. The Aeronautical Systems
Div., Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting
activity.
MARTIN MARIETTA GOT $194.4 MILLION LANTRIN CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Orlando Aerospace, Orlando FL, got a $194.4 million
face value increase to a firm fixed price Air Force contract for Low
Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTRIN) system
targeting pods for tactical fighter aircraft. The contract is due to
be completed by December 1992. The Aeronautical Systems Div., Wright
Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
PLANNING RESEARCH GIVEN $20 MILLION CONTRACT TO CONTINUE OPERATING GOES
Planning Research Corp. was given a $20 million contract for one year,
with options for an additional four years, by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to continue operating the
computerized system that correlates and distributes weather data
generated by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites
(GOES). Under the contract, Planning Research will operate and
the GOES constellation. The information is distributed throughout the
U.S. from satellite receiver dishes.
RAYTHEON ISSUED NAVY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was issued an $83.7 million Navy contract for satellite
communications terminals.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $13.4 MILLION
Rockwell International Corp. received a $13.4 million Air Force
contract for missile radio receivers.
RFP UPDATE:
February 12, 1990
GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
It is the government's intent to acquire, under solicitation DAAH03-90-
R-0037, hardware and software to include AST Parallel Part for 2 Zenith
Model 286 PC's, 17 each, and assorted software and peripherals. All
responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered.
Contact: Dayle Rice-Young
Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Attn: AMSMI-PC-SD
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-8316
CONTRACT FOR EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO MARTIN MARIETTA
Contract F33600-90-C-0136 (F33600-89-R-0009) for an Air Force equipment
management system, dated December 3, 1990, went to Martin Marietta
Corp., Data Systems Division, for $18,704,984.
Contact: David Wallingford
HQ WPCC/PMYW
Bldg. 266, Area A
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
(513) 257-6365
February 13, 1990
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO ACQUIRE SUN MICROSYSTEM SPARC STATION
Wright-Patterson Contracting Center plans to acquire a computer
workstation system consisting of a Sun Microsystem Sparc Station 330,
with options GXP-2D-P9, 530A, 660L thin, SS1-01, SYSL2 and all media
and manuals. No solicitation document exists at this time. If it is
determined that a competitive acquisition will be more advantageous, a
formal solicitation may be issued. If no affirmative response is
received within 25 calendar days after publication of this synopsis, an
order will be placed with Sun Microsystems against their current GSA
schedule contract.
Contact: Bruce Johnson
HQ Wright-Patterson Contracting Center
Specialized Services Support Branch
(PMRP)
Specialized Contracting Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
45433-5320
(513) 257-6338
AFCC CANCELS DRAFT FOR SUPER-MINICOMPUTERS, WILL BE REISSUED
The Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCC) announced a draft RFP
will be issued in May in place of a draft specification for
solicitation F19630-90-R-0001, for the acquisition of super-
minicomputers for the Navy, Army, DLA, Coast Guard and other government
agencies for worldwide use. Reference to the draft specification
which was to be issued in March is rescinded.
Contact: Deborah Davidson
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
(AFCC)
Directorate of Contracting/PKB
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8640
AIR FORCE COMPUTERS ACQUISITION GAVE $7 MILLION CONTRACT TO UNISYS
Contract F19630-90-D-0003 for ADPE equipment for the Air Force Computer
Acquisition Center, went to Unisys Corp., Federal Information System
for $7,711,916.
Contact: Lt. Blake Robertson
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8638
No relevant RFPs for February 14-15, 1990.
February 16, 1990
ESD RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR ALL DOD AGENCIES TO PURCHASE ULANA CONTRACT
The Electronic Systems Division (ESD) of the Air Force Systems Command
has received GSA approval to allow all Dept. of Defense (DoD) agencies
to purchase components and services from the Unified Local Area Network
Architecture (ULANA) contracts. Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite
Quantity (ID/IQ) contracts to provide ULANA components and services
have been awarded to both Electronic Data Systems Federal Corp. and TRW
Inc., Information Networks Division. The ULANA contracts are being
modified to allow DoD agencies to procure ULANA-certified components
and services. For a component to be ULANA-certified that component
must have passed all required testing in accordance with the ULANA
specification, which is conducted by the ULANA program office. The
estimated date of contract modification is April 15, 1990.
Contact: Marian Cameron
HQ Electronic Systems Division
Directorate of Intelligence
CSCM and Support Systems Contracts
Deputy for Contracting (PKG)
Hanscom Air Force base, MA 01731-5000
(617) 377-6602
|
| 20.73 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 02/19/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Feb 28 1990 12:43 | 582 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010642
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 27-Feb-1990 11:25pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 02/19/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of February 19, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19, 1990
GENERAL:
AIA DRAFTS NATIONAL ROCKET PROPULSION PLAN FOR THE 1990s
BUSH SELECTS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL OF ADVISERS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEFENSE:
BETTI APPOINTS LAURIE BROEDLING AS DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR TQM
CHENEY DISAGREES WITH BENNETT OVER DDG-51 AEGIS FUNDING
GAO REPORT ACCUSES AIR FORCE OF MISMANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING ERRORS
AIR FORCE ACTIVATED A DETACHMENT TO TEST NAVSTAR SYSTEM
GAO SAYS CONGRESS SHOULD LIMIT B-2 STEALTH BOMBER PRODUCTION
CHENEY TELLS JAPAN U.S. WILL REDUCE MILITARY PRESENCE
ATWOOD SAYS PENTAGON TO STUDY "ABOUT TWELVE" NEW MAJOR PROGRAMS
NAVY MAKING FINAL PREPARATION TO PUT TRIDENT 2 INTO OPERATIONAL USE
NASA:
SHUTTLE CREW TO BE USED AS ROLE MODELS TO DRAW PEOPLE TO CIVIL SERVICE
NASA SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY CORP. FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
CBO REPORT SUGGESTS SAVING $20 BILLION BY CANCELING NASA PROGRAMS
SPACE STATION AS SPACECRAFT DEPOT WILL EFFECT MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH
INTERNATIONAL:
AEROSPATIALE TO FILE CLAIMS FOR FINANCIAL DAMAGES AGAINST BAE
ESA COUNCIL VOTES JEAN-MARIE LUTON AS DIRECTOR-GENERAL
SOVIETS SEND NEW CREW TO MIR AND OLD CREW SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO EARTH
MITTERRAND APPROVES SALE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO PAKISTAN
ARIANE ROCKET EXPLODES AFTER TAKE-OFF
SOVIETS CONSIDERING 18 MONTH MISSIONS TO MIR SPACE STATION
BUSINESS:
FORMER HEAD OF ALLIED-SIGNAL AEROSPACE MADE PRESIDENT OF CSX
HUGHES AIRCRAFT OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOT LAY OFF WORKERS
LOCKHEED MAKES MOVES TO BLOCK PROXY FIGHT WITH SIMMONS
MITSUBISHI AND GENERAL DYNAMICS REACH BASIC AGREEMENTS ON FSX
ORBITAL SCIENCES HAS COMPLETED INITIAL TEST FLIGHT OF NEW BOOSTER
PAYLOAD SYSTEMS'S CRYSTAL GROWTH EXPERIMENT TO COME HOME
TEXTRON REPORTS PROFITS IMPROVED IN 1989 DESPITE LOWER SALES
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BEECH AIRCRAFT GIVEN AIR FORCE TRAINING PLANE CONTRACT
CACI INC. INTERNATIONAL RECEIVED $70.8 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
COMPUTER ENGINEERING ISSUED AIR FORCE COMPUTER SUPPORT CONTRACT
CRAY RESEARCH RECEIVED ORDER FROM NASA FOR TWO SUPERCOMPUTERS
GENERAL ELECTRIC AWARDED $44.4 MILLION DARPA CONTRACT
HARRIS COMPUTERS CHOSEN BY MCDONNELL AIRCRAFT FOR USE IN A-12 AIRCRAFT
IBM AND HONEYWELL AWARDED AIR FORCE SPACE TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTS
LMSC GIVEN CONTRACT TO DEVELOP MATERIAL AND CONCEPTS FOR SDIO SYSTEMS
UNISYS RECEIVED A $16 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
Due to the federal holiday, no RFPs were issued on February 19, 1990.
February 20, 1990
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DIVISION TO PURCHASE ADP MACINTOSH EQUIPMENT
Febbruary 21, 1990
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO ACQUIRE LAPTOP COMPUTERS
AIR FORCE TO PROCURE ALLEN COMMUNICATIONS CAREER INFORMATION SYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for February 22-23, 1990.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIA DRAFTS NATIONAL ROCKET PROPULSION PLAN FOR THE 1990s
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has drafted a national
rocket propulsion plan for the 1990s. The plan, called "National
Strategic Plan for Rocket Propulsion," recommends that government and
industry jointly fund a 10-year, $5 billion research and technology
project on rocket propulsion. AIA found that U.S. supremacy in the
launch vehicle business is fading due to increased foreign competition.
The plan calls for investment in new rocket propulsion technology to
reduce costs and increase the efficiency of American rockets.
BUSH SELECTS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL OF ADVISERS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
President George Bush named the scientists and engineers who will
comprise the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology.
D. Allen Bromley was chosen as chairman of the council and as assistant
to the President for science and technology, as well as director of the
office of science and technology policy. Twelve others were selected
to form the council that will report directly to the President and
advise him on science and technology issues.
DEFENSE:
BETTI APPOINTS LAURIE BROEDLING AS DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR TQM
Defense acquisition chief John A. Betti appointed Laurie A. Broedling
as deputy under secretary for total quality management (TQM), a new
position which does not require Senate confirmation. Ms. Broedling has
served as executive secretary to Mr. Betti's Acquisition Streamlining
Task Force, and has also worked as an advisor to the Secretary of the
Navy on TQM.
CHENEY DISAGREES WITH BENNETT OVER DDG-51 AEGIS FUNDING
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney reportedly disagreed with House Armed
Services seapower subcommittee Chairman Charles E. Bennett, who
suggested that funding for the DDG-51 Aegis guided missile destroyer be
held up until the Pentagon submits a certification to satisfy critics
of the program's cost and performance. Mr. Cheney said the system is
needed and that he will not support a certification requirement. The
Pentagon requested $3.68 billion in FY 1991 for five destroyers.
GAO REPORT ACCUSES AIR FORCE OF MISMANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING ERRORS
Pointing to the potential multibillion-dollar cost overruns to build
the full fleet of B-2 Stealth bombers, a General Accounting Office
(GAO) report accused the Air Force of mismanagement and numerous
accounting problems. The GAO report also used the fact that lax
financial controls resulted in a $2.4 billion accounting discrepancy
for some of the Air Force's space-related activities two years ago and
then the Air Force balanced the books by resorting to "unsupported and
arbitrary adjustments" as an example of the service's poor accounting
procedures. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell
(D-MI) released the draft report, which is the first full-scale GAO
audit of a military service.
AIR FORCE ACTIVATED A DETACHMENT TO TEST NAVSTAR SYSTEM
The Air Force activated a detachment at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, FL, in order to provide pre-launch services for satellites in
the Navstar Global Positioning System. Detachment 1 of the 1002nd
Space Systems Squadron is to test the navigation satellites before they
are launched. The Navstar system will consist of a constellation of 24
satellites which will broadcast navigation information continually to
military and civilian users.
GAO SAYS CONGRESS SHOULD LIMIT B-2 STEALTH BOMBER PRODUCTION
The General Accounting Office (GAO) said Congress should limit spending
on the B-2 Stealth bomber because of doubts about the aircraft's
ability to pass critical tests and a likely increase in the program's
spending. The GAO added, however, that Defense Secretary Dick Cheney
and Northrop Corp. should be involved in determining the cost of a
delay in production. According to Northrop, a one-year slowdown could
cost as much as $4.2 billion.
CHENEY TELLS JAPAN U.S. WILL REDUCE MILITARY PRESENCE
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney told Japanese officials that the U.S.
will reduce its military presence in Japan by about one-tenth. Mr.
Cheney also said the U.S. remains committed to a "forward-deployed"
strategy in Japan.
ATWOOD SAYS PENTAGON TO STUDY "ABOUT TWELVE" NEW MAJOR PROGRAMS
Deputy Defense Secretary Donald J. Atwood, testifying before the Senate
Appropriations defense subcommittee said "about twelve" major programs
will be studied this year because the Pentagon is reconsidering its
need for five to seven big-ticket weapons beyond the four major
aircraft programs already being scrutinized. The programs will be
considered to see if they are still needed despite the seemingly
reduced threat from the Soviet bloc. Mr. Atwood said the Pentagon will
furnish Congress with results of the major aircraft review before the
budget is marked up, sometime in late spring.
NAVY MAKING FINAL PREPARATION TO PUT TRIDENT 2 INTO OPERATIONAL USE
The Navy announced it is making final preparations to put the Trident
2 D5 missile/submarine system into operational use following the
successful launch of two of the missiles from the USS Tennessee off the
coast of Florida. The Trident 2 test series has been under way since
January 1987 and has suffered setbacks due to necessary fixes to
strengthen the first-stage nozzle area. The Navy wants to buy 899
Trident 2s, with Mk. 4 and 5 warheads. Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.
builds the Trident 2 missile system.
NASA:
SHUTTLE CREW TO BE USED AS ROLE MODELS TO DRAW PEOPLE TO CIVIL SERVICE
The exemplary five member crew of NASA's recent 11-day shuttle mission
will be used by the U.S. government as role models as part of a
campaign to draw people into civil service. Constance Berry Newman,
director of the Office of Personnel Management said the crew "are
outstanding public servants - the kind of federal employees who every
day make a difference for their country."
NASA SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY CORP. FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
NASA signed an agreement to allow the University Corp. for Atmospheric
Research, Boulder, Colo., access to five space shuttle external tanks
in orbit. The tanks will be used by the consortium of 58 universities
as platforms for research experiments in zero gravity.
CBO REPORT SUGGESTS SAVING $20 BILLION BY CANCELING NASA PROGRAMS
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in consultation with the Senate
and House budget committees, released a report, "Reducing the Deficit:
Spending and Revenue Options," which found the government could save
nearly $20 billion over the next five years by canceling the
international space station, the national aerospace plane and a major
NASA space science project. The study also cautions that the lunar and
Mars exploration efforts could triple the NASA budget by 2000 to over
$30 billion. The CBO suggested that NASA could save $1 billion through
1995 by canceling one of its three major programs: the Advanced X-Ray
Astrophysics Laboratory, the Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby and
Cassini mission or the Earth Observing System. According to Senate
sources, the report will not have much effect on the NASA 1991 budget
proposed by the administration.
SPACE STATION AS SPACECRAFT DEPOT WILL EFFECT MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH
Robert J. Bayuzick, director of the Center for the Space Processing of
Engineering Materials at Vanderbilt University and a member of NASA's
space station advisory committee, said NASA's current plans to use the
space station as an assembly and refurbishment depot for spacecraft
bound for the moon and Mars could hamper space-based microgravity
research. Mr. Bayuzick believes changes in the station's center of
gravity and resulting vibrations from using it as a "transportation
node" for other spacecraft would disturb the microgravity environment
that materials processing researchers require. He also believes that
station program officials are not properly advising potential users as
changes evolve. Plans to conduct further studies on space station
microgravity conditions were stalled when Congress denied NASA's
request for $9 million for advanced studies.
INTERNATIONAL:
AEROSPATIALE TO FILE CLAIMS FOR FINANCIAL DAMAGES AGAINST BAE
Officials from France's Aerospatiale, British Aerospace PLC's (BAe)
partner in the Airbus jetliner consortium, said they will file claims
for financial damages arising from the continuing strike by BAe
workers, which has severely crippled Airbus production. The French
officials also accused BAe management and unions of sabotaging the
Airbus program. Aerospatiale fears the entire program may be in
jeopardy if the 17 week strike does not end soon.
ESA COUNCIL VOTES JEAN-MARIE LUTON AS DIRECTOR-GENERAL
The European Space Agency's (ESA) council voted unanimously to name
Frenchman Jean-Marie Luton as director-general of the 13 nation agency.
The normally routine vote was controversial this year because Italian
space officials, hoping to gain more power within ESA, submitted their
own candidate and threatened to protest should a Frenchman be voted in.
In order to avert a fight, an Italian will be appointed director of
ESA's technology center in the Netherlands. Mr. Luton is currently
director-general of the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). He
will succeed the retiring Reimar Luest, of West Germany, serving a
four-year term beginning October 1.
SOVIETS SEND NEW CREW TO MIR AND OLD CREW SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO EARTH
According to Soviet news agency Tass, a new crew was launched to the
Mir space station, which will allow the old crew to return to Earth.
Cosmonauts Alexander Viktorenko and Alexander Serebrov have been aboard
Mir since September 8, 1989 and are scheduled to return to Earth this
week.
MITTERRAND APPROVES SALE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO PAKISTAN
French President Francois Mitterrand approved the sale of a nuclear
power plant to Pakistan, ending a 14-year ban on French sales of atomic
installations to that country. France originally imposed the ban
because of U.S. pressure against such sales until Pakistan agreed to
sign international nuclear treaties. Though Pakistan still refuses to
sign the international nuclear nonproliferation treaty unless India
does, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said the French-supplied plant will
be "open to all international safeguards and monitoring teams." The
U.S. State Dept. criticized France for the move, saying the French
should have insisted on more stringent safeguard requirements.
ARIANE ROCKET EXPLODES AFTER TAKE-OFF
An Ariane rocket exploded after blasting off from a launch pad in
French Guiana. Arianespace's president said there appeared to be a
problem with the propulsion-system. The rocket was carrying two
Japanese communications satellites.
SOVIETS CONSIDERING 18 MONTH MISSIONS TO MIR SPACE STATION
Cosmonaut Vladimir Titov said that Soviet space officials are
considering extending missions on the Mir space station to as long as
18 months in order to collect medical data needed to prepare cosmonauts
for manned flights. Mr. Titov spent a record 366 days in space aboard
Mir. He believes his quick recovery from the effects of weightlessness
was because he exercised daily. He said the long duration missions
would include exercise programs and special diet regiments.
BUSINEESS:
FORMER HEAD OF ALLIED-SIGNAL AEROSPACE MADE PRESIDENT OF CSX
The former head of Allied-Signal Aerospace and LTV Corp., Robert L.
Kirk, was elected president and chief executive officer of CSX
Transportation, the largest U.S. rail carrier. Mr. Kirk is currently
chairman of Reflectones.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NOT LAY OFF WORKERS
Hughes Aircraft Co. officials announced that despite the Air Force's
refusal to accept any new Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles
until quality problems are resolved, the company will not lay off any
workers. The officials said the company does not expect much financial
impact from the stoppage.
LOCKHEED MAKES MOVES TO BLOCK PROXY FIGHT WITH SIMMONS
Lockheed Corp. moved its annual meeting date and hired proxy-fight
consultants in an effort to protect the company against Dallas investor
Harold Simmons, who has said he may seek control of Lockheed. Under
Lockheed's corporate bylaws, shareholders can nominate directors up
until 10 days after the public announcement of the meeting date,
therefore Mr. Simmons has only until February 26 to submit his nominees
for members of Lockheed's board. Mr. Simmons owns 18.9% of Lockheed's
shares and said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that he
is considering a proxy fight for the company. Lockheed has rejected
his request for six of the 15 seats on the board and hired Kekst & Co.,
a communications consulting firm to help protect them in case of a
proxy fight.
MITSUBISHI AND GENERAL DYNAMICS REACH BASIC AGREEMENTS ON FSX
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and General Dynamics Corp.
have reached the necessary basic agreements on the FSX fighter plane
and work is expected to begin within the next few weeks. Due to
disagreements between to two countries, work on the FSX project will
begin nearly two years after originally planned. Both companies said
they are happy with the agreements and General Dynamics acknowledged
that they are the "secondary contractor" with Mitsubishi taking the
lead on design. The ways in which the technology transfer will be
handled was not disclosed, because both the U.S. and Japanese
governments consider such details to be sensitive.
ORBITAL SCIENCES HAS COMPLETED INITIAL TEST FLIGHT OF NEW BOOSTER
Orbital Sciences Corp. announced they have completed the initial test
flight of its high performance booster, a modified version of the Aries
suborbital launch system. The new booster was successfully launched
from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA.
PAYLOAD SYSTEMS'S CRYSTAL GROWTH EXPERIMENT TO COME HOME
The protein crystal growth experiment developed by Payload Systems
Inc., Cambridge, MA, is due to arrive home after 61 days in space
aboard the Soviet Mir space station. The crystals will be X-rayed at
Brookhaven National Laboratory in March.
TEXTRON REPORTS PROFITS IMPROVED IN 1989 DESPITE LOWER SALES
Textron reported "a more favorable product mix" at its Bell Helicopter
unit was responsible for improved aerospace profits in 1989, despite
lower aerospace segment revenues. For the year, Textron's three
aerospace units; Helicopters, Propulsion and Systems, collectively
reported 2% higher earnings of $307.6 million on 6% lower sales of
$3.38 billion for 1989, compared with $300.7 million earned on $3.6
billion in 1988. Overall Textron posted 11% higher net income of
$259.2 million on 1% higher sales of $7.4 billion for 1989, after
absorbing a one-time charge of $9.5 million covering a terminated
coproduction agreement.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BEECH AIRCRAFT GIVEN AIR FORCE TRAINING PLANE CONTRACT
Beech Aircraft Corp. announced it expects to receive about $1 billion
in revenue from 1991 to 1997 for an Air Force contract to build trainer
planes for tanker-and-transport-plane pilots. Beech, along with a unit
of Raytheon Corp. and McDonnell Douglas Corp., was given a one-plane,
$8.9 million contract for the training program, called the tanker-
transport trainer program. A Beech spokesperson said the Air Force
plans to buy 211 of the jets. The company is now making plant
expansion plans. The contract has the potential to be the largest
government acquisition of general aviation aircraft in history.
CACI INC. INTERNATIONAL RECEIVED $70.8 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
CACI Inc. International received a $70.8 million Navy contract for
computer equipment.
COMPUTER ENGINEERING ISSUED AIR FORCE COMPUTER SUPPORT CONTRACT
Computer Engineering Associates Inc. was issued a $14.8 million Air
Force contract for computer support.
CRAY RESEARCH RECEIVED ORDER FROM NASA FOR TWO SUPERCOMPUTERS
Cray Research Inc. received order from NASA for two supercomputers
valued at about $34.9 million. A Cray Research official said the Y-
MP8/432 and Y-MP8/464 machines will be used for three-dimensional
simulations and other scientific modeling studies that involve massive
high-speed computations.
GENERAL ELECTRIC AWARDED $44.4 MILLION DARPA CONTRACT
General Electric Co. was awarded a $44.4 million Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract for submarine research.
HARRIS COMPUTERS CHOSEN BY MCDONNELL AIRCRAFT FOR USE IN A-12 AIRCRAFT
Harris Corp.'s Night Hawk computers were selected by McDonnell Aircraft
Co. for use in simulators for the Navy's new A-12 aircraft. Under the
$10 million contract, Harris Computer Systems Div. will furnish Night
Hawk 1200 and 3800 multiprocessing computers for use in aircrew, weapon
systems and maintenance trainers.
IBM AND HONEYWELL AWARDED AIR FORCE SPACE TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTS
IBM's Systems Integration Div. and Honeywell's Space Systems Group were
awarded $69 million in contracts by the Air Force Space Technology
Center for the parallel development of the advanced spaceborne computer
module. The teams are each to produce a 16-bit 3-5 MIPS control
processor module in 1991. IBM is teamed with TRW Electronic Systems
Group, while Honeywell's team includes Boeing, General Dynamics,
Hughes, Lockheed and Martin Marietta.
LMSC GIVEN CONTRACT TO DEVELOP MATERIAL AND CONCEPTS FOR SDIO SYSTEMS
Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. (LMSC) was given the Air Force contract
to develop and validate materials and concepts for hardening Strategic
Defense Initiative satellite systems (SDIO). LMSC's Astronautics Div.
got a $24.5 million contract from the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems
Div., which will run until April 1993. LMSC was chosen over six other
competitors for the contract.
UNISYS RECEIVED A $16 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
Unisys Systems Management Group received a $16 million contract to
provide simulation communications and data systems support services for
NASA Langley Research Center's Analysis and Computation Division.
Under the contract, Unisys will provide a number services, including
flight simulation, specialized data systems design, development and
integration and communications support for Langley's voice/data
network. The total cost of the contract could be as much as $20
million if NASA exercises options to purchase additional labor hours
and material.
RFP UPDATE:
Due to the federal holiday, no RFPs were issued on February 19, 1990.
February 20, 1990
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DIVISION TO PURCHASE ADP MACINTOSH EQUIPMENT
HQ Electronic Systems Division placed a notice of intent to purchase
automated data processing equipment from GSA ADPE Schedule contract no.
GS00K89AGS6383 with Falcon Microsystems Inc. for MacIntosh hardware and
peripherals, including eight (8) MacIntosh IIci CUP 80/4. ADP Schedule
firms may submit comparable price quotes for consideration within 15
calendar days of this advertisement. Interested parties are invited to
identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements.
Interested parties shall submit a written response including GSA
Contract Number, if applicable, prices and technical data sufficient to
determine capability to meet the requirement. The response, which must
also state that neither the Requestor nor Principal Corporate Officials
and Owners are currently suspended, debarred or otherwise ineligible to
received contracts from any Federal Agency, must be received by this
office within 15 calendar days after this notice. Responses to this
notice will be used to determine whether a bonafide competition exists
and whether a formal solicitation is appropriate. No telephone
inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Patricia Gilchrest
HQ Electronic Systems Division
Directorate of Operational Contracting
Commodities Division (PKUS)
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731
(617) 377-2451
February 21, 1990
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO ACQUIRE LAPTOP COMPUTERS
The Defense Supply Service - Washington, on behalf of the Office of the
Secretary of Defense, intends to acquire Laptop computers and
associated peripheral items. Solicitation MDA903-90-B-0017 will be
released on or about March 1, 1990. Requests for this solicitation
should be received no later than 15 calendar days of the publication
date of this notice. To expedite requests for the solicitation, please
furnish three self-addressed, gummed labels, including the full
solicitation number at the bottom edge of the label. Availability of
this solicitation will be limited and will be distributed on a first
received, first served basis. Written requests only, no telephone
inquiries will be honored. When responding, please reference MDA903-
90-B-0017.
Contact: Gregory J. Nowak
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
AIR FORCE TO PROCURE ALLEN COMMUNICATIONS CAREER INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The Air Force District of Washington Contracting Office intends to
negotiate a sole source procurement with Allen Communications, Salt
Lake City, UT, for a Career Information System. The necessary hardware
needed must fully integrate with Allen communication proprietary
software. The software requires complete integration of a touch screen
sensitive monitor, CD ROM based video disc player and is specially
housed in a kiosk environment where the equipment is protected and
secured. This requirement is for hardware which the government has
determined to be proprietary to Allen Communications and the authority
used is 10 USC 2304(c)(1) and justification is when the required
supplies and services are available from one source only.
Contact: Deborah Dixon
Air Force District of Washington
Contracting Office
Building 3534/CNA
Andrews Air Force Base, DC 20331-5320
No relevant RFPs for February 22-23, 1990.
|
| 20.74 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 02/26/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Mar 08 1990 11:14 | 599 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010780
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 08-Mar-1990 01:18am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 02/26/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of February 26, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-----------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". IMSIS contains at least the last
three months worth of news.
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Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 26, 1990
DEFENSE:
STUDY FINDS CUTTING DEFENSE BUDGET WON'T HELP U.S. ECONOMY MUCH
ARMY'S IOT&E PROGRAM USING ADATS SYSTEM SUCCESSFUL
AIR FORCE COUNTERS GAO'S REPORT ON B-2 STEALTH BOMBER
SENATOR'S RUDMAN AND BUMPERS VOICED DOUBTS ABOUT NEED FOR FOTL MISSILE
REP. DICKINSON ASKED BUSH TO SUPPORT THE DEFENSE BUDGET
NASA:
LENOIR BELIEVES COST OF SHUTTLE-C WOULD BE DOUBLE COST OF ASRM
TRULY EXPECTED TO CREATE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS FOR MOON/MARS INITIATIVE
ATLANTIS IS LAUNCHED AFTER TWO WEEKS OF DELAYS
NASA NAMES ALDRICH, KRESS AND MARTIN TO NEW POSTS
KSC MOVES UP HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE LAUNCH DATE
FORMER ASTRONAUT CAPT. DONALD WILLIAMS TO RETIRE FROM NASA AND NAVY
INTERNATIONAL:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE RECEIVED ORDER FOR FOUR A-300-600R JETS FROM JAPAN
PENTAGON TO SELL WEST GERMANY SHIPBOARD VERTICAL LAUNCH SYSTEMS
ARIANESPACE TO SET UP INQUIRY BOARD TO DETERMINE WHY BOOSTER EXPLODED
JAL SAID COMPANY REACHED AGREEMENT WITH INTERFLUG AND MALEV AIRLINES
WEST GERMAN CONSORTIUM TO SEND EXPERIMENTS ABOARD SOVIET SOYUZ LAUNCHES
BUSINESS:
HERCULES REPORTS NET LOSS OF $81.3 MILLION IN 1989
SIMMONS AND NL SEEK GOLDEN PARACHUTE VOTE BY LOCKHEED STOCKHOLDERS
NORTHROP POSTED NET LOSS OF $63.5 MILLION IN 1989
NORTHROP AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO DEFENSE FRAUD AND PAY FINE
ORBITAL SCIENCES' PEGASUS LAUNCH IS DELAYED ABOUT A MONTH
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL TO HEAD CONTRACTOR CONSORTIUM TO DEVELOP NASP
TRW REPORTED PIONEER 11 THE FOURTH PROBE TO LEAVE THE SOLAR SYSTEM
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AT&T ISSUED NAVY SHIPBOARD ELECTRONICS CONTRACT
CRAY RESEARCH GIVEN $34.9 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON $43.1 MILLION CONTRACT FOR F-16 EQUIPMENT
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED $125.6 MILLION IN SERVICE CONTRACTS
GRUMMAN RECEIVED NAVY COMPUTER SOFTWARE CONTRACT
ITT AWARDED ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $31.9 MILLION
LMSC GOT NAVY CONTRACT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF TRIDENT II'S
LTV RECEIVED MULTIPLE-LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEM EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH OVER $64 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA ISSUED DEFENSE CONTRACTS WORTH $60.5 MILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED HELICOPTER NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
RAYTHEON AWARDED CONTRACT FOR AN/USC-38(V) SATELLITE TERMINALS
WESTINGHOUSE GIVEN $10.6 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR RADARS
RFP UPDATE:
February 26, 1990
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE IBM FRONT END PROCESSORS
February 27, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE CONVERSION SERVICES
GODDARD PLACED NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A CONTRACT TO SUN MICROSYSTEMS
February 28, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE SILICON GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS
No relevant RFPs for March 1-2, 1990.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFENSE:
STUDY FINDS CUTTING DEFENSE BUDGET WON'T HELP U.S. ECONOMY MUCH
A report released by the Defense Budget Project found cutting defense
spending would not help the U.S. economy much. Dr. David Gold, a
United Nations economist, said the assumed relationship "between
defense and (private) investment doesn't exist." Dr. Gold believes
that higher defense spending appears to lower the share of Gross
National Product (GNP) devoted to consumption, while leaving investment
shares virtually untouched. The report, called "The Impact of Defense
Spending on Investment, Productivity and Economic Growth," also states
there is no consistent connection between military spending and deficit
financing by the government.
ARMY'S IOT&E PROGRAM USING ADATS SYSTEM SUCCESSFUL
During tests at the White Sands Missile Range, NM, soldiers shot down
six of seven aircraft in the live fire portion of the Army's Initial
Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) program using the Martin
Marietta/Oerlikon-Buhrle Air Defense Anti-Tank mobile air defense
(ADATS) system. Army program officials said the tests were conducted
under as close to battlefield conditions as possible. According to a
spokesperson from Martin Marietta Missile Systems Div., no missiles
will be fired during this test series, in which ADATS' performance in
simulated combat between two armored forces will be evaluated. The
Army hopes to have 166 ADATS production units enter the service by
1994.
AIR FORCE COUNTERS GAO'S REPORT ON B-2 STEALTH BOMBER
Following the General Accounting Office (GAO) report on the B-2 Stealth
bomber, the Air Force responded that it expects to complete most
required testing by mid-1991. The service believes it will have
"explored the entire flight envelope, accomplished 90% of the
propulsion testing, and 70% of the radar signature testing (with) less
than 20% of the production aircraft on contract." The Air Force also
insisted that Congress has been kept up to date concerning the B-2's
progress and cost. The GAO report suggested Congress limit B-2
spending due to doubts about the aircraft's ability to pass critical
tests and a likely increase in the program's spending.
SENATOR'S RUDMAN AND BUMPERS VOICED DOUBTS ABOUT NEED FOR FOTL MISSILE
Senator's Warren Rudman (R-NH) and Dale Bumpers (D-AR), both members of
the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, said they have doubts
about the need for the Follow-On-To-Lance (FOTL) missile and that they
did not expect the committee to fund its share of the $200 million FY
1991 request for the successor to the Lance short-range nuclear
missile. Both Senator's noted that various West German political
figures oppose having the new missile on German soil.
REP. DICKINSON ASKED BUSH TO SUPPORT THE DEFENSE BUDGET
House Armed Services ranking Republican Rep. William L. Dickinson (R-
AL) asked President Bush to lead a fight to keep the FY 1991 defense
budget from "unraveling" and to prevent the gutting of U.S. military
capability, especially in respect to the Rail Garrison MX over the
Midgetman SICBM. In Rep. Dickinson's letter to President Bush, he said
the President must exert "aggressive, hands-on" leadership during the
upcoming defense debates over the FY 1991 budget. He asked the
President to fight hard for Rail Garrison MX, since funding for
Midgetman will be almost impossible to sustain over its expected
development and production period.
NAASA:
LENOIR BELIEVES COST OF SHUTTLE-C WOULD BE DOUBLE COST OF ASRM
NASA associate administrator for space flight William B. Lenoir told
the House Science, Space and Technology committee's subcommittee on
space science and applications that using Shuttle-C in the station
assembly sequence would cost twice as much as using the shuttle with
the advanced solid rocket motor (ASRM). Mr. Lenoir said the cost would
be $3.7 billion with Shuttle-C, compared to $1.3 billion when using the
ASRMs. He cited a NASA study which found that while shortening the
space station assembly sequence by using the higher payload of Shuttle-
C, it was not sufficient justification to develop the unmanned cargo
carrier, but the need for a heavy lift launch vehicle for missions to
the moon and Mars could make it cost effective.
TRULY EXPECTED TO CREATE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS FOR MOON/MARS INITIATIVE
NASA Administrator Richard Truly is expected to create three new
management positions at agency headquarters to coordinate the lunar
base and Mars expedition effort. Senior Strategic Defense Initiative
(SDI) Organization manager Michael Griffin is the best bet to be named
NASA's assistant associate administrator for exploration. The
position's responsibilities include coordinating the lunar and Mars
manned space missions proposed by President Bush last summer.
ATLANTIS IS LAUNCHED AFTER TWO WEEKS OF DELAYS
After two weeks and five delays, the Atlantis space shuttle blasted off
from Cape Canaveral, FL, on a military mission. The shuttle carried
five astronauts and a cargo reported to be a $500 million surveillance
satellite for the Pentagon. The mission was postponed five times
because of bad weather, computer problems and mission commander John
Creighton's sore throat. The delay, just over the week-end, cost NASA
over $1.9 million in lost propellants and other expenses.
NASA NAMES ALDRICH, KRESS AND MARTIN TO NEW POSTS
NASA named Arnold D. Aldrich as head of the agency's reorganized Office
of Aeronautics, Exploration and Technology and Martin Kress as acting
head of the new Office of Legislative Affairs. Mr. Kress, currently a
staffer on the Senate Commerce Science and Transportation subcommittee
on science, technology and space, will report directly to Administrator
Richard Truly. Frank Martin, assistant administrator for exploration,
was also named acting associate administrator for exploration and as
acting director for space exploration under the merger of the Office of
Exploration and Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology.
KSC MOVES UP HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE LAUNCH DATE
A spokesperson at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) said the target
launch date for the Hubble Space telescope has been moved up. The
original launch date was March 26, in January however, NASA officials
opted to replace the right aft solid rocket motor segment and changed
the date to April 18. The spokesperson said the changeout and overall
mission preparations were completed ahead of time, and a date will be
set at a flight readiness review meeting at KSC about two weeks before
the launch.
FORMER ASTRONAUT CAPT. DONALD WILLIAMS TO RETIRE FROM NASA AND NAVY
Former astronaut Capt. Donald E. Williams, who has flown on two space
shuttle missions, announced he will retire from NASA and the Navy to
become a senior systems engineer for Science Applications International
Corp., Houston, TX. Mr. Williams was the pilot of Discovery STS-51D
mission in April 1885, which included the first unscheduled satellite
rendezvous and spacewalk. Then, in October 1989, he served as crew
commander of the Atlantis mission STS-34D, which included deployment of
the Jupiter probe Galileo.
IINTERNATIONAL:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE RECEIVED ORDER FOR FOUR A-300-600R JETS FROM JAPAN
Airbus Industrie announced it received an order for four of its A300-
600R jets from the Singapore-based leasing concern Japan Fleet Service-
Singapore. Airbus did not disclose the financial details of the order,
however the estimated price of one A300-600R jet is $70 million.
Delivery is expected by 1995. Airbus is a consortium made up of
Aerospatiale of France, Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH (MBB) of West
Germany, British Aerospace PLC and Construcciones Aeronauticas SA of
Spain.
PENTAGON TO SELL WEST GERMANY SHIPBOARD VERTICAL LAUNCH SYSTEMS
The Pentagon announced plans to sell West Germany $65 million worth of
shipboard vertical launch systems. According to a Defense Dept.
spokesperson, the sale will include four Mk. 41 vertical launch systems
for use on West Germany's F-123 frigates, plus technical and
engineering services and logistics support. Martin Marietta is the
prime contractor and the Navy is handling the transaction.
ARIANESPACE TO SET UP INQUIRY BOARD TO DETERMINE WHY BOOSTER EXPLODED
Arianespace Director General Frederic d'Allest said all future Ariane
launches will be put on hold until the appointed accident review board
determines why an Ariane 44L booster exploded 101 seconds after liftoff
last week. Mr. d'Allest would not speculate on the case of the
explosion, however industry sources believe the accident board will
concentrate the initial investigation on the first stage propulsion
system and engines, one of which lost about half of its chamber
pressure six seconds into the mission. The Ariane 44L exploded
carrying two Japanese telecommunications satellites.
JAL SAID COMPANY REACHED AGREEMENT WITH INTERFLUG AND MALEV AIRLINES
A Japan Air lines (JAL) spokesperson said the company has reached
agreement with East Germany's Interflug and Hungary's Marlev airlines
to begin studies and negotiations on possible direct flights linking
Tokyo with East Berlin and Budapest. The JAL spokesperson said the
airline is looking forward to "open regular flights" between Japan and
Eastern Europe.
WEST GERMAN CONSORTIUM TO SEND EXPERIMENTS ABOARD SOVIET SOYUZ LAUNCHES
A West German consortium will pay the Soviet Union between 20,000 and
30,000 deutsche marks per kilogram ($5,500-$8,000 per pound) to send
experiments aboard two Soyuz launches. Intospace GmbH will assemble
two 33-kilogram (73-pound) packages for launch by the Soviets. The
packages will be secondary payloads aboard Soviet missions that will
place Soviet Earth-observation satellites into orbit. The experiments
will be launched in capsules which will later re-enter the Earth's
atmosphere and be retrieved for examination by their sponsors. The
first launch is set for June and will carry 104 protein crystallization
experiments. The second launch is scheduled for mid-August and will
carry a mainly French package of experiments attempting to produce
large crystals of synthetic zeolite, a mineral that has diverse
applications in the chemical-processing industry.
BUSINESS:
HERCULES REPORTS NET LOSS OF $81.3 MILLION IN 1989
Hercules Inc., Wilmington, DE, reported a net loss of $81.3 million
after a pre-tax charge of $323 million for 1989. The company posted a
net income of $120.4 million in 1988. Sales for 1989 were $3.0
billion, compared with $2.8 billion in 1988. The company attributed
the loss to delays and technical difficulties in the development and
production contracts for Titan IV and Delta II rocket motors.
SIMMONS AND NL SEEK GOLDEN PARACHUTE VOTE BY LOCKHEED STOCKHOLDERS
Lockheed Corp.'s Chairman Daniel Tellup received a letter, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, from NL Industries Inc.'s
president and chief executive officer, J. Landis Martin, along with
Dallas Investor Harold C. Simmons, asking Lockheed to let shareholders
vote on whether the company's bylaws should restrict golden-parachute
agreements. Mr. Simmons is trying to capitalize on his success earlier
this week in persuading Lockheed to ask shareholders to vote at their
annual meeting March 29 on a proposal that would prohibit greenmail.
Mr. Simmons and NL Industries said they would ask shareholders to vote
on an anti-greenmail resolution on their proxy, in which they are
soliciting votes to replace Lockheed's board and gain control of
Lockheed. Greenmail refers to paying a hostile suitor a premium price
for his stock to avoid a takeover or other action, while golden
parachutes are large severance payments granted to executives if they
lose their jobs after control of a company changes.
NORTHROP POSTED NET LOSS OF $63.5 MILLION IN 1989
Northrop Corp. posted a net loss for 1989 of $63.5 million on 9.5%
lower sales of $5.248 billion. The company suffered declining sales,
fewer deliveries, a government suspension and over $240 million in
losses on fixed-price research and development contracts. The results
for 1989 were double those of 1988. Northrop would have reported a
loss of $30 million in 1988, but earnings were boosted by a one-time
$135.1 million tax adjustment.
NORTHROP AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO DEFENSE FRAUD AND PAY FINE
Northrop Corp. president Kent Kresa said the U.S. has agreed to drop
investigations of several Northrop programs, including cases involving
the MX-Peacekeeper program, as part of an agreement in which Northrop
pleaded guilty to 34 of 175 criminal counts of falsifying test data on
certain parts. In addition, Northrop agreed to pay $17 million in
fines and penalties on the same day it was scheduled to stand trial on
charges that five current and former employees knowingly conspired to
supply bad parts for the Air Force Air Launched Cruise Missile and
Marine Corp. AV-8B aircraft and then falsely certify the parts as
meeting specifications. Though Northrop could have paid over $30
million in fines if found guilty, the fine is the second largest ever
levied against a defense contractor.
ORBITAL SCIENCES' PEGASUS LAUNCH IS DELAYED ABOUT A MONTH
The first flight of Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Pegasus rocket has been
pushed back by the Pentagon to early April, giving the company a chance
to complete its initial public offering before the launch. The company
had expected to launch Pegasus this week, about a month before it
completed its initial offering. If the launch had failed, the company
might have been forced to cancel the stock sale. Pegasus is the first
new U.S. rocket launcher since the space shuttle. The crewless rocket
is to be launched by being dropped from the wing of a B-52 and is
expected to carry two small satellites into space.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL TO HEAD CONTRACTOR CONSORTIUM TO DEVELOP NASP
Rockwell International announced it will head the new contractor
consortium to develop the national aerospace plane (NASP). The deal is
dependent on approval of NASA and the Air Force, which jointly fund the
program. Three aircraft contractors will be involved in the NASP
project; General Dynamics, McDonnell Douglas and Rockwell's North
American Aircraft Div. The propulsion contractors are Pratt & Whitney,
a unit of United Technologies and Rockwell's Rocketdyne division. The
NASP national program office will be staffed by representatives of all
five NASP contractors and representatives of the Defense Dept. and
NASA.
TRW REPORTED PIONEER 11 THE FOURTH PROBE TO LEAVE THE SOLAR SYSTEM
TRW reported the Pioneer 11, which recorded the first closeup images of
Saturn in 1979, became the fourth probe to leave the solar system as it
crossed Neptune's orbit. The probe was launched in 1973 and recorded
images of Jupiter in 1974, passing 26,600 miles over the planet's south
pole, and passed by Saturn in 1979, recording images from 13,000 miles
away. After leaving Saturn, the probe headed out of the ecliptic plane
traveling in the same direction that the Sun moves through interstellar
space. The Pioneer 10 was the first probe to leave the solar system in
June 1983, and Voyagers 1 and 2 were the second and third to the leave
the solar system in summer 1988 and August 1989, respectively.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AT&T ISSUED NAVY SHIPBOARD ELECTRONICS CONTRACT
American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) was issued a $22 million Navy
contract for shipboard electronics.
CRAY RESEARCH GIVEN $34.9 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
Cray Research Inc. was given a $34.9 million NASA contract to provide
two versions of its Cray Y-MP supercomputer, one to be sent to Goddard
Space Flight Center and the other to Lewis Research Center. A Cray Y-
MP8/432 for Goddard's Space and Earth Sciences Computing Center will
replace a Control Data Cyber 205. Goddard will use the Cray computer
to study global warming, Earth Observing Systems, space physics,
astronomy, solar physics and terrestrial and ocean modeling. Lewis
will receive a Cray Y-MP8/464 to supplement a Cray X-MP/24. It will be
used to conduct research on aeropropulsion, space propulsion and power
systems.
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON $43.1 MILLION CONTRACT FOR F-16 EQUIPMENT
General Dynamics Corp. won a $43.1 million Air Force contract for F-16
aircraft equipment.
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED $125.6 MILLION IN SERVICE CONTRACTS
General Electric Co. was issued $125.6 million in contracts for Navy
electronics trainers, Navy aircraft wing flaps and Air Force
ammunition.
GRUMMAN RECEIVED NAVY COMPUTER SOFTWARE CONTRACT
Grumman Corp. received a $28.7 million Navy contract for computer
software.
ITT AWARDED ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $31.9 MILLION
ITT Corp. was awarded $31.9 million in contracts for Army electronics
equipment and Air Force technology support.
LMSC GOT NAVY CONTRACT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF TRIDENT II'S
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC) got a $38,787,469 modification to
a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee/cost-plus-fixed-fee Navy
contract for the development and production of Trident II (D-5)
missiles for the Trident Missile Program. The work is scheduled to be
completed in March 1990. The Strategic Systems Program Office,
Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.
LTV RECEIVED MULTIPLE-LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEM EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
LTV Corp. received a $23.6 million Army contract for multiple-launch
rocket system equipment.
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH OVER $64 MILLION
Martin Marietta Astronautics Group, Space Launch Systems Co., received
a $64,316,583 face value increase to a fixed price incentive firm
target with an award fee Air Force contract for Centaur upper stage,
space booster segments used to place various satellites into extended
earth orbits. The contract is scheduled to be completed in September
1995. The Space Systems Div., Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA is the
contracting activity.
MARTIN MARIETTA ISSUED DEFENSE CONTRACTS WORTH $60.5 MILLION
Martin Marietta Corp. was issued $60.5 million in defense contracts for
Air Force target and navigation pods and Army night-vision equipment.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED HELICOPTER NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. received a $34 million Army contract for
helicopter navigation equipment.
RAYTHEON AWARDED CONTRACT FOR AN/USC-38(V) SATELLITE TERMINALS
Raytheon Co., was awarded an $83,700,070 modification to a previously
awarded fixed-price Navy contract for 21 AN/USC-38(V) Extremely High
Frequency satellite communication terminals along with peripheral
equipment for installation on surface ships, submarines and fixed shore
base sites. The work will be performed in Marlborough, MA and is
expected to be completed in November 1992. The Space and Naval Warfare
Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.
WESTINGHOUSE GIVEN $10.6 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR RADARS
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was given a $10.6 million Air Force
contract for radars.
RFP UPDATE:
February 26, 1990
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE IBM FRONT END PROCESSORS
NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to issue a
solicitation for the acquisition of two Front End Communications
Processors (FEPs) IBM 3745-210 or equal and associated software for the
Flight Dynamics Facility at GSFC. Training is required for the
installation, operation and maintenance of the FEPs and Call-Back
system for system engineers, programmers, technicians and operators to
be held on-site at GSFC. Supporting documentation and installation for
all components supplied by the contractor shall also be required.
Seven one-year options for maintenance shall be included. It is
anticipated that the RFP5-72291/038 will be issued on or about March
30. Proposal due date shall be approximately 30 days after the
issuance of the RFP. All responsible sources may submit a proposal
which shall be considered by the agency. Requests for the RFP must be
made in writing, no telephone calls or requests will be accepted.
Contact: Julie Hostetler
NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-2940
February 27, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE CONVERSION SERVICES
The Defense Supply Service-Washington, on behalf of the Dept. of
Defense Joint Staff, intends to acquire document preparation and
conversion services as a bridge effort while a competitive contract is
pursued. This is in conjunction with document indexing of archived
documents of all sizes. Sole source negotiations will be conducted
with the current contractor, Automation Engineering, Inc., to procure
these required services. The synopsis was placed as a notice of intent
and should not be considered a request for proposals. Prospective
contractors must respond to this notice in writing within 45 days of
this publication or the response will not be honored. No telephone
requests will be accepted.
Contact: Ruth Wissinger
Contracting Officer
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20301-5200
(202) 697-3412
GODDARD PLACED NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A CONTRACT TO SUN MICROSYSTEMS
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center placed a notice of intent to issue,
under solicitation 930-95935/091, on a sole source basis, a contract to
Sun Microsystems, Inc. for the purchase of Sun 4/110 to a 4/330GX FCE-8
upgrades, hardware and software. Only Sun Microsystems offers upgrades
of this type for Sun Computers. Any firms desiring consideration must
fully identify, in writing, their capability to respond to the
requirement and must submit a proposal within 15 days of publication of
this synopsis.
Contact: Debbie Roberts
NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-5829
February 28, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE SILICON GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS
NASA's Ames Research Center intends to procure with Silicon Graphics
Inc. of Mountain View, CA, six (6) IRIS Series 3100 Systems; 3130- IRIS
Workstations and assorted peripherals. The equipment is to be
delivered to NASA Ames Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, CA,
with delivery due approximately 90 days after award.
Contact: Louann E. Beu
NASA Ames Research Center
Dryden Flight Research Facility
Mail Stop D-ASD/LEB
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, CA 93523-5000
(805) 258-3333
No relevant RFPs for March 1-2, 1990.
|
| 20.75 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 03/05/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Mar 15 1990 12:10 | 616 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010831
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 13-Mar-1990 06:09pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@YPMB82@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 03/05/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of March 5, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
---------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword Access from the $
prompt is 'VTX IMSIS'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 5, 1990
GENERAL:
FAA TO ORDER MODIFICATION TO DC-10 JETS TO PREVENT HYDRAULIC FAILURE
DEFENSE:
SR-71 BLACKBIRD AIRCRAFT RETIRED AFTER SETTING SPEED RECORD
PENTAGON LISTS TOP 100 DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS IN FY 1989
ARMY CONSIDERS LHX HELICOPTER BEYOND THE EXPERIMENTAL STAGE
GAO AND REP. DINGELL CHARGE DOD HAS $42.5 BILLION IN "SLUSH FUNDS"
LES ASPIN MET WITH HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE TO WORK ON DEFENSE BUDGET
PENTAGON TO SHIFT RESOURCES TO INCREASE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS
GEN. CHAIN TESTIFIES B-2 STEALTH BOBMER IMPORTANT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
NASA:
ATLANTIS LANDS SAFELY AFTER SECRET MILITARY MISSION
NASA CLAIMS ULYSSES LAUNCH IS SAFE, GROUPS FILE SUIT TO STOP IT
OTA REPORTS WAYS SHOULD BE FOUND TO BRING DOWN SPACE PROGRAM COSTS
NASA STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF EXTENDING SPACELAB MISSIONS
INTERNATIONAL:
DAIMLER-BENZ AND MITSUBISHI NEGOTIATING PLAN OF "INTENSIVE COOPERATION"
BAe TO FORM REMOTE SENSING COMPANY
EAST GERMANY PROPOSES COLLABORATIONS WITH WEST GERMAN SPACE EFFORT
U.K. SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING UNION OFFICIALS HAVE NEW TARGETS
SOVIET AIRLINE AEROFLOT TO SKIP SHANGHAI ON MOSCOW-SEOUL FLIGHT
BUSINESS:
BOEING ORDERED BY FAA TO REPAIR THEIR OLDER AIRPLANES
CONCURRENT COMPUTER HAS NEW FAMILY OF REAL-TIME UNIX MULTIPROCESSORS
GD TO OPEN OFFICE IN EUROPE TO MARKET ATLAS LAUNCH VEHICLE COMMERCIALLY
HONEYWELL HAS DEVELOPED NEW RECORDER FOR COMPUTER IMAGES
HUGHES AIRCRAFT EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY IN DEFENSE DEPT. CASE
IBM AND SIEMENS TO CODEVELOP 64 MILLION BIT DRAM CHIP
SIMMONS OUTLINING STRATEGY FOR POSSIBLE LOCKHEED TAKE-OVER
MARTIN MARIETTA ISSUED LICENSE FOR INTELSAT VI LAUNCH
NORTHROP AMENDS 1989 FINANCIAL REPORT TO REFLECT GOVERNMENT FINE
TRW REPORTS HIGHER SALES OF $819 MILLION FOR FOURTH-QUARTER 1989
CONNTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED WEAPON DESIGN SERVICES CONTRACT
IBM RECEIVED $32 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
JOHNS HOPKINS GIVEN TECHNICAL STUDIES CONTRACT BY THE NAVY
KEARFOTT GUIDANCE & NAVIGATION ISSUED $21 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA WON $64.3 MILLION AIR FORCE SPACE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL AWARDED $125.2 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
ROCKWELL'S SPACE OPERATIONS CHOSEN FOR $814 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ISSUED $10.8 MILLION CONTRACT FROM DARPA
TRW RECEIVED $161.9 MILLION NASA CONTRACT TO DEVELOP MIRROR FOR AXAF
UTC GOT $21 MILLION AIRCRAFT ENGINE PARTS CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for March 5-6, 1990.
March 7, 1990
JSC TO PURCHASE MACINTOSH II CI WORKSTATIONS
March 8, 1990
AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND TO PURCHASE PORTABLE MICROCOMPUTER HARDWARE
JSC TO PURCHASE AN ESTIMATED 350 MACINTOSH SYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for March 9, 1990.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
FAA TO ORDER MODIFICATION TO DC-10 JETS TO PREVENT HYDRAULIC FAILURE
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to order airlines
to modify their DC-10 jetliners to prevent massive hydraulic failure.
The FAA plan will require carriers to install electrically controlled
shut-off valves on DC-10 aircraft to prevent a total loss of hydraulic
fluid, which provides the pressure to operate control mechanisms. The
order is in direct response to the July 19 crash of Flight 232 in which
112 people were killed when the plane was forced to make an emergency
landing in Sioux city, Iowa. Flight 232's tail engine exploded,
severing the plane's hydraulic lines and making it nearly impossible
for the pilots to control the plane.
DEFENSE:
SR-71 BLACKBIRD AIRCRAFT RETIRED AFTER SETTING SPEED RECORD
The SR-71 Blackbird, one the U.S.'s premier spy planes, set a new
transcontinental speed record before retiring to the Smithsonian
Institute after 25 years of service. The aircraft flew from
California's Pacific coast to Dulles International Airport just outside
of Washington, DC in 68 minutes 17 seconds. The old record was 3 hours
38 minutes set in 1963 by a Boeing 707. The plane will be displayed by
the Smithsonian at a Dulles Airport wing of the National Air and Space
Museum. The SR-71 is being retired by the Air Force because of defense
budget cuts.
PENTAGON LISTS TOP 100 DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS IN FY 1989
The Pentagon said the McDonnell Douglas Corp., General Dynamics Corp.
and General Electric Co. ranked first through third, respectively, on
their top 100 Defense Department contractors list for FY 1989. The
same three companies held those positions in FY 1987 and 1988. This
list marks McDonnell Douglas's fifth year in a row on the top number
one spot. The company was given $8.6 billion in Defense business in FY
1989, up $600 million from the year before. General Dynamics did over
$500 million better than last year with $7 billion in 1989. General
Electric did $5.8 billion worth of work for the Defense Dept., $100
million better than the year before.
ARMY CONSIDERS LHX HELICOPTER BEYOND THE EXPERIMENTAL STAGE
The Army has renamed the LHX helicopter to the LH because the Corps
considers the light helicopter program to have progressed beyond the
experimental status. An Army spokesperson said they were considering a
proposal to designate the aircraft the AH-66 Comanche, but due the
existence of the Piper Comanche, officials feared there would be
confusion. The Army plans to choose a contractor to develop the LH in
December of this year. Teams of Boeing/Sikorsky and Bell/McDonnell
Douglas are competing.
GAO AND REP. DINGELL CHARGE DOD HAS $42.5 BILLION IN "SLUSH FUNDS"
The General Accounting Office (GAO) and chairman of the House Energy
and Commerce Committee Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI) charged the Defense
Dept. (DoD) maintains $42.5 billion in little-known "slush fund"
accounts that are used to keep weapons programs alive after Congress
pulls funding. Furthermore, Rep. Dingell charged that military
officials have misled Congress about the size of the accounts. The
funds represent the equivalent of $1 in $7 in this year's Pentagon
budget. Rep. Dingell wrote "with the existence of these slush funds,
the Congress could virtually kill a weapons program and find out years
later that it was still being funded from these accounts," in a letter
to House Budget Committee chairman Leon E. Panetta of California. He
is calling for legislation to ban these funds. The DoD denied that the
military has a free hand in the spending of these funds; but,
acknowledged their size and existence.
LES ASPIN MET WITH HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE TO WORK ON DEFENSE BUDGET
House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman Les Aspin (D-WI) met
with Democrats on the House Budget Committee to work on the defense
budget authority and outlay ceilings for a House FY 1991 budget
resolution. Budget Committee Chairman Leon Panetta (D-CA) has talked
about outlay reductions of $7 billion to $10 billion which would
translate roughly into almost double that in budget authority from the
Administration's request of $306.9 billion in budget authority and
$303.3 billion in outlays for the national security function.
PENTAGON TO SHIFT RESOURCES TO INCREASE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS
The Pentagon said it is shifting more of its resources, including a
large part of its fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System
aircraft, into the fight against drugs. The Defense Dept. (DoD) plans
to increase its radar coverage of the Caribbean and complete the
"electronic fence" of balloon-carried radars that runs along the
southern U.S. coast. This effort will cost $877 million this year, and
the DoD has requested $1.2 billion for FY 1991.
GEN. CHAIN TESTIFIES B-2 STEALTH BOMBER IMPORTANT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
Chief of the Strategic Air Command Gen. John T. Chain said that only
the B-2 Stealth bomber could penetrate highly defended areas in the
Soviet Union by the year 2000 and find relocatable targets. Testifying
before the House Armed Services Committee, Gen. Chain argued favorably
for the B-2 using the favorable bomber counting rules negotiated in
START, which counts a bomber as one weapon within the 6000 warhead
ceiling no matter how many weapons it carries and on its ability to
find relocatable targets. Gen. Chain also expressed a willingness to
compromise on the Air Force's objective of 132 B-2s without being
specific.
NASA:
ATLANTIS LANDS SAFELY AFTER SECRET MILITARY MISSION
The space shuttle Atlantis landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base, CA,
completing a four and one half day secret military mission that
included the launching a $500 million spy satellite. Mission commander
John O. Creighton and his four-person crew were examined by a NASA
physician and emerged from the shuttle 51 minutes after landing. High
winds at Edwards threatened to delay the landing, but finally the winds
dropped to 21 miles per hour, sufficiently low to allow the Atlantis to
land safely. The satellite is believed to be capable of taking high
resolution photographs and listening in on electronic communications
throughout the world.
NASA CLAIMS ULYSSES LAUNCH IS SAFE, GROUPS FILE SUIT TO STOP IT
NASA released an assessment of overall safety risks for the upcoming
space shuttle launch of the Ulysses nuclear-powered spacecraft and
found the risks to be less than those of the controversial Galileo
Jupiter probe launched in a similar way last October. The Ulysses is a
European Space Agency satellite that will travel to Jupiter using the
gravity of the giant gas planet to bend its trajectory out of the plane
of the planets and back toward the Sun. Both Galileo and Ulysses use
radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for their electrical
power. Despite NASA's report, the same anti-nuclear environmental
groups that fought the launch of Galileo plan to try to stop the
Ulysses. The Christic Institute, the Foundation on Economic Trends,
both in Washington, DC, and the Florida Coalition for Peace and
Justice, fearing a release of radioactive materials during a launch
explosion or reentry accident, filed suit January 29 in U.S. District
Court in Washington to stop the Ulysses launch.
OTA REPORTS WAYS SHOULD BE FOUND TO BRING DOWN SPACE PROGRAM COSTS
The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) reported that overall space
program costs will likely remain high unless the costs for designing
and building spacecraft can be brought down. The OTA background paper,
"Affordable Spacecraft: Design and Launch Alternatives," also stated
that vehicles like the Advanced Launch System and Shuttle-C are being
developed to reduce launch costs from $3,000 to $300 per pound to
orbit, but other cost-cutting measures should be explored and
implemented to keep overall program costs down. The report suggested
using less expensive materials and building lighter satellites among
its many suggestions to keep costs down. The paper was prepared for
the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and the Senate
Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
NASA STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF EXTENDING SPACELAB MISSIONS
NASA space station and space science program officials are conducting
studies of potential power, data handling and schedule constraint
problems should Spacelab missions be extended to as much as 16 days by
docking space shuttle orbiters to the partially complete space station
beginning in 1996. NASA officials are considering this plan in order
to give scientists earlier access to the station's research facility.
The thrust of the study concerns whether Spacelab flights will fit into
the assembly sequence without disturbing power sources, construction,
etc., of the space station. They plan to have the study completed
before the station's preliminary design review in December.
INTERNATIONAL:
DAIMLER-BENZ AND MITSUBISHI NEGOTIATING PLAN OF "INTENSIVE COOPERATION"
West Germany's Daimler-Benz and Japan's Mitsubishi announced that they
were negotiating a plan of "intensive cooperation" in aerospace,
automobile technology, microelectronics and other service industries.
Both companies regarded the talks as successful and said they would
meet soon to work out specific accords. West Germany's main interest
is electronics, high-technology equipment and space technology, areas
of Japan expertise. Whereas Japan would gain from exposure to
Daimler's jet engines and the from building cars with the maker of
Mercedes-Benz.
BAe TO FORM REMOTE SENSING COMPANY
British Aerospace (BAe) announced its plans to spin off its remote
sensing unit and form a separate company sometime in the next 12
months. BAe's Environmental Remote Sensing Unit was set up in 1989 as
part of the Earth Observation and Science division of BAe's Space
Systems unit. Encouraged by Earth Observation data sales, BAe has
planned the spin off. It is anticipated by the company that the new
division will be called NRSC Ltd., and will incorporate staff from the
government-run National Remote Sensing Center.
EAST GERMANY PROPOSES COLLABORATIONS WITH WEST GERMAN SPACE EFFORT
The small East German space industry optics firm, Zeiss Jena, sent a
letter to the West German space agency Deutsche Agentur fuer
Raumfahrtangelegenheiten GmbH (DARA) officials, urging closer
collaboration with West Germany's space efforts. According to DARA
director-general Wolfgang Wild, Zeiss Jena proposed supplying
specialized cameras for space use.
U.K. SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING UNION OFFICIALS HAVE NEW TARGETS
Union officials for the U.K. Confederation of Shipbuilding and
Engineering announced they have targeted as may as 50 companies for
strikes in coming weeks, among them four plants of Lucas Aerospace.
The strikes at the British Aerospace (BAe) plants in Preston and
Chester were settled last week, which union officials say "reinforces
the momentum of the campaign" for a shorter workweek. All but a few of
the BAe plants have reached agreements with the strikers. While the
unions did not reach their original 35-hour workweek goal, BAe conceded
every other demand.
SOVIET AIRLINE AEROFLOT TO SKIP SHANGHAI ON MOSCOW-SEOUL FLIGHT
The Soviet Transportation Ministry said that Aeroflot will skip
Shanghai and make its new weekly Moscow-Seoul flight service a direct
flight. The Soviet airline originally planned to have a stopover in
Shanghai but has failed to obtain permission from china. Ministry
officials said they intend to continue trying to persuade China to
consent.
BUSINESS:
BOEING ORDERED BY FAA TO REPAIR THEIR OLDER AIRPLANES
Boeing Co. was ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to
make extensive repairs of their older airplanes. The FAA also proposed
a corrosion-control program for the planes. This action will affect
thousands of Boeing jetliners throughout the world and cost domestic
and foreign carriers billions of dollars. Though FAA directives apply
only to U.S.-registered planes, foreign aviation officials typically
adopt FAA rules.
CONCURRENT COMPUTER HAS NEW FAMILY OF REAL-TIME UNIX MULTIPROCESSORS
Concurrent Computer Corp. has developed a new family of real-time UNIX
multiprocessors that will have probable applications for radar and
intelligence signal processing and training simulation. The RISC-based
series 8000 configuration can have up to eight central processors and
performs up to 35 million floating point operations per second
(MFLOPS).
GD TO OPEN OFFICE IN EUROPE TO MARKET ATLAS LAUNCH VEHICLE COMMERCIALLY
General Dynamics's Commercial Launch Services division intends to open
an office in Europe within a year to market its Atlas launch vehicle
commercially. This is part of General Dynamics' aggressive campaign to
gain an increased market share of the commercial launch business. The
first launch of the commercial Atlas vehicle is scheduled for June of
this year. A GD spokesperson said the office is expected to be located
in Brussels, Belgium.
HONEYWELL HAS DEVELOPED NEW RECORDER FOR COMPUTER IMAGES
Honeywell's Test Instruments Div. announced it has developed a recorder
to produce hard copy color photographs or transparencies from computer
images. The electronic image recorder, which uses 3M Corp.'s new dry
silver color paper, can produce the first print in 30 seconds and
additional prints every 15 seconds. Honeywell believes satellite
imaging and photo reconnaissance will be early applications of the
recorders.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY IN DEFENSE DEPT. CASE
Hughes Aircraft, a division of General Motors Corp., is expected to
plead guilty to criminal charges of unauthorized use of classified
Pentagon planning documents in the mid-1980s. Hughes is also expected
to pay over $1 million in penalties and to pledge to tighten internal
controls under the settlement. This case stems from the government's
"Operation Uncover," which focused on the activities of more than 12
large defense contractors. Hughes is the nation's fifth largest
defense contractor.
IBM AND SIEMENS TO CODEVELOP 64 MILLION BIT DRAM CHIP
IBM Corp. and Siemens AG, West Germany, announced plans to codevelop a
64 million bit dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip for
introduction in the mid-1990s. According to the plan, the chip will be
able to store 64 million bits of data, the equivalent of 6,400 pages of
double-space text, on one piece of silicon. IBM's Advanced
Semiconductor Technology Center facility will be in charge of
development, as well as at the Siemens' Munich facility. The companies
will share equally in development costs and then produce the chips at
their own manufacturing facilities.
SIMMONS OUTLINING STRATEGY FOR POSSIBLE LOCKHEED TAKE-OVER
Dallas investor Harold Simmons said he will focus Lockheed Corp.'s
business on its space, missile and aeronautics operations and cut back
efforts to diversify, should he succeed in replacing the company's
board. Many industry analysts and investors question whether Mr.
Simmons will be able to win the proxy battle, though Mr. Simmons is
touting his ability to turn around companies in financial trouble in
proxy materials being mailed to shareholders. Mr. Simmons owns 18.94%
of Lockheed and has invested about $530 million. The Lockheed annual
meeting is set for March 29.
MARTIN MARIETTA ISSUED LICENSE FOR INTELSAT VI LAUNCH
Martin Marietta Commercial Titan Inc. was issued a license by the
Transportation Dept.'s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST)
for a March 14 launch of an Intelsat VI communications satellite. The
OCST has issued 12 commercial launch licenses to date and expects to
review at least ten more applications in 1990.
NORTHROP AMENDS 1989 FINANCIAL REPORT TO REFLECT GOVERNMENT FINE
Northrop Corp. announced it has amended its 1989 financial report to
reflect the $17 million in fines the government recently imposed on the
company in settling a criminal fraud case. Northrop, noting that the
settlement arose from events that took place prior to the close of
business on December 31, 1989, widened its deficit for the year to
$80.5 million, from a previously reported $63.5 million. In 1988, the
company earned $104.2 million, after a favorable one-time tax
adjustment of $135.1 million.
TRW REPORTS HIGHER SALES OF $819 MILLION FOR FOURTH-QUARTER 1989
TRW Inc.'s space and defense segment reported that sales for the fourth
quarter rose 7% to $819 million, compared to $763 million in sales
reported in 1988. Operating profit was up to $51 million in 1989, from
$48 million in 1988. Total sales for the year were $7.34 billion, a 5%
growth over 1988's total of $6.98 billion. TRW attributed much of the
sales increase to new contract awards and improved program performance.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED WEAPON DESIGN SERVICES CONTRACT
General Dynamics Corp. was awarded an $18.8 million Navy contract for
weapon design services.
IBM RECEIVED $32 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. received a $32 million Navy
contract for production of advanced signal processors.
JOHNS HOPKINS GIVEN TECHNICAL STUDIES CONTRACT BY THE NAVY
Johns Hopkins University's applied physics laboratory was given a $27.6
million Navy contract for technical studies.
KEARFOTT GUIDANCE & NAVIGATION ISSUED $21 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Kearfott Guidance & Navigation Corp. was issued a $21 million Navy
contract for work on the Trident missile program.
MARTIN MARIETTA WON $64.3 MILLION AIR FORCE SPACE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Astronautics Group, Denver, won a $64.3 million
contract from the Air Force Space Systems Division for design
modifications to Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
FL. Titan 3 boosters are used on the launch complex, including Martin
Marietta's commercial version of the rocket. This contract will allow
modifications to be made to permit the launch complex to handle Titan 4
boosters as well. The contract is expected to be completed September
1995.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL AWARDED $125.2 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. was awarded a $125.2 million Army contract
for missiles.
ROCKWELL'S SPACE OPERATIONS CHOSEN FOR $814 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp.'s Space Operations unit was chosen by NASA
to negotiate the details of an operations support contract at the
Johnson Space Center (JSC). Rockwell estimated the value of the 10-
year pact to be about $814 million. The company plans to share the
award, which includes work on the space station Freedom program and
other advanced space flight projects, with six other firms that are
members of the project team.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ISSUED $10.8 MILLION CONTRACT FROM DARPA
Texas Instruments Inc. was issued a $10.8 million contract from the
Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for development of a
high-resolution projections display system.
TRW RECEIVED $161.9 MILLION NASA CONTRACT TO DEVELOP MIRROR FOR AXAF
TRW Inc. received a $161.9 million NASA contract to provide high
resolution mirror optics technology and will develop a mirror for the
Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF). AXAF is expected to be
launched in 1997 and is the third in NASA's series of space-based Great
Observatories, following the Hubble Space Telescope and the Gamma Ray
Observatory.
UTC GOT $21 MILLION AIRCRAFT ENGINE PARTS CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) got a $21 million Air Force contract
for F-15 and F-16 aircraft engine parts.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for March 5-6, 1990.
March 7, 1990
JSC TO PURCHASE MACINTOSH II CI WORKSTATIONS
The NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to issue a purchase order
for the acquisition of three MacIntosh II Ci workstations. It is
anticipated that the Request for Quotation (RFQ) will be issued 15 days
after the release of this publication. The purchase order will be
awarded on March 20, 1990. Delivery is expected 30 days after purchase
order award FOB NASA JSC. All responsible sources may request a copy
of the solicitation. When responding to this notice, please reference
solicitation number 9BG4113019Q.
Contact: Larry Kenyon
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG 41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-8217
March 8, 1990
AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND TO PURCHASE PORTABLE MICROCOMPUTER HARDWARE
Solicitation number FO5603-90-R-0008 was placed for an indefinite
quantities type contract for portable microcomputer hardware, full text
search software, production of CD-ROM databases and technical services
to support the Air Force Legal Information Services (AF/JAS) in
developing and implementing a new generation of the Defense Emergency
Authorities Retrieval and Analysis System (DEARAS). The purpose of
this system is to provide Defense Dept. (DoD) attorneys with background
information necessary to support emergency planning functions by means
of fully portable, distributed database. The contract will acquire,
develop and integrate a prototype system and supply additional
quantities of the system as required to support operations throughout
the CONUS. Bibliographical Research Service (BRS) Search (micro-mini),
which was used in the first generation of DEARAS, will also be used in
this generation, but the application must be adapted to the latest
version of the software. The work includes hardware and software
analysis, software application and user interface development,
production of CD-ROM replicas to store the database, hardware and
software integration of databases on CD-ROM, in creation of databased
for BRS Search (micro-mini), and in integration of computer hardware
and software is essential for the performance of this contract. All
responsible sources may request the RFP. Responses must be received by
March 22, 1990.
Contact: Ron Bibby
Air Force Space Command
Analysis and Technical Services Division
PKDT
Stop 7
Peterson Air Force Base, CO 80914-5001
(303) 370-7531
JSC TO PURCHASE AN ESTIMATED 350 MACINTOSH SYSTEMS
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to issue a contract for an
estimated 350 MacIntosh systems, under solicitation 9BG4125948B. The
government intends to award an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity
(IDIQ), firm-fixed price contract with a stated minimum of not less
than 50 systems and a maximum of 350 systems. Delivery will be FOF
destination to NASA/JSC. This procurement will be for all new
equipment and is based on all or none. It is estimated that the
Invitation for Bid (IFB) will be released on or before May 22, 1990.
Copies of the complete solicitation document, along with a complete
list of the required equipment, will be available upon written request
after May 22. Please reference the above solicitation number on all
written correspondence. All responsible sources may submit an offer
and it will be considered by the Agency. Please call for any
additional information concerning the contract; however, no collect
calls will be accepted.
Contact: Vann R. Jones
NASA Johnson Space Center
Bid Desk Procurement
Operations Office
BD35
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-8217
No relevannt RFPs for March 9, 1990.
|
| 20.76 | AI Information Center's NewsCapsule 3/21/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Mar 22 1990 09:55 | 92 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010975
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 21-Mar-1990 04:29pm CET
From: AIIC
AIIC@AIADM@SELECT@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: AI Information Center's NewsCapsule 3/21/90
================================================================================
* * * * * * * * ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION CENTER * * * * * * * *
+ + + + + + + + NewsCapsule + + + + + + + +
* * * * * * * * Wednesday, March 21, 1990 * * * * * * * *
================================================================================
DEC STOCK: 82 1/4 + 1 1/8
NESTOR
++++++
* "Nestor Awarded DARPA Learning-Chip Contract"
<PR Newswire 3/19/90>
"Nestor announced the signing of a $1.2 million contract with
DARPA. Nestor will develop a chip that encompasses all the
learning capabilities of the company's neural network technology."
"The N1000 will be capable of processing 150 billion synapse
interconnects per second among more than 1,000 neurons and will
function as a true learning device, becoming more and more intelligent
and precise as it is trained. It will not saturate, but will
improve as data and experience expand, and it will function as a
true parallel processor."
INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
+++++++++++++++++++++
* "INDEX: The Statistical Basis For an Automatic Conceptual
Phrase-Indexing System"
<ASIS 3/90 P. 87>
"The article describes two programs, INDEX and INDEXD, which
locate repeated phrases in a document, gather statistical information
about them, and rank them according to their value as index phrases.
The programs show promise as the basis for a sophisticated
conceptual indexing system. The simpler program, INDEX, ranks
phrases in such a way that frequently occurring phrases which
contain several frequently occurring words are given a high ranking.
INDEXD is an extension of INDEX which incorporates a dictinary for
stemming, weighting of words and validation of syntax of output
phrases. Sample output of both programs is included, and the
authors discuss plans to combine INDEXD with linguistic and
artificial intelligence techniques to provide a general conceptual
phrase-indexing system that can incorporate expert knowledge
about a given application area."
XEROX
+++++
* "New Xerox Subsidiary, Decision Support Tool"
<Computer Reseller News 3/12/90 P. 93>
"Xerox announced a new subsidiary firm, Decisis Inc. which will
introduce Business Wits, a decision support program developed by
World Science and Technology Corp together with Xerox Technology
Ventures. The new package, which uses object-oriented
programming structures and artificial intelligence techniques,
eliminates the need for programming by offering formulas and entry
screens for many very complex programs.
Business Wits works well with a spreadsheet package and includes
the General Business Library whcih is a collection of 118 mini
programs focused on business issues, which can be used alone or
be combined or enhanced for particular situations."
PLEASE NOTE: * indicates full-text article is located in the Information
Center. Please come down and copy article if you wish to
do so.
AI Information Center
DLB5-1/E3
291-8256
AIADM::AIIC
|
| 20.77 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 03/12/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Mar 22 1990 16:14 | 582 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 010990
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 22-Mar-1990 03:36pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 03/12/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of March 12, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
---------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword Access is 'VTX IMSIS'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 12, 1990
GENERAL:
AIA REPORTS ON TOTAL AEROSPACE EMPLOYMENT IN 1989
DEFENSE:
COL. GIEGER TO HEAD THE NAVAL SPACE COMMAND
REPS. MAVROULES AND HOPKINS PLAN LEGISLATION FOR ACQUISITION CORPS
HASC MEMBER REQUESTS CBO COST ESTIMATE FOR PRODUCTION OF B-2
NEW DOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT PLAN SHOULD BE WELL RECEIVED
BETTI WILL TAKE NO IMMEDIATE ACTION ON AMRAAM PROGRAM
NASA:
VICTOR PETERSON NAMED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AMES RESEARCH CENTER
NASA RECALCULATES COST OF HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE TO BE $2.1 BILLION
NASA MAKES CHANGES TO SPACE SHUTTLE MANIFEST FOR 1990
SPACE SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES SHUTTLE-C FUNDS
JPL DENIED GAO'S PLANETARY DATA TAPE DAMAGE REPORT
INTERNATIONAL:
BAe POSTED 28% RISE IN PROFIT AND 59% RISE IN SALES FOR 1989
MITSUBISHI AND DAIMLER-BENZ TO DEVELOP PASSENGER PLANE
ESA EXTENDS ARIANE BOOSTER EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION
SOVIETS PROPOSE MANNED MISSION TO MARS IN 20 YEARS
MITI CONFIRMS U.S.-JAPAN IMPORT/EXPORT AGREEMENT
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS CAUTIONS STOCKHOLDERS ABOUT 1990
MARTIN MARIETTA ASTRONAUTICS SELECTS SEVEN SUBCONTRACTORS FOR FTS
MARTIN MARIETTA FAILS TO LAUNCH INTELSAT TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SEES POTENTIAL FOREIGN MARKET FOR AH-64 APACHES
NORTHROP SAYS LOSS OF IMUs CONTRACT DUE TO COST
TRW TEAMS WITH SPAR AND OCEAN SYSTEMS TO COMPETE FOR NASA CONTRACT
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED SPACE LAUNCH SERVICES CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED F-16 and B-1 ENGINE IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT
HARRIS CORP. RECEIVED $1.5 MILLION CONTRACT FROM MBB
HUGHES WINS NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACTS
LOCKHEED GOT $99.1 MILLION IN AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
NORTHROP RECEIVED NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
ROCKWELL GIVEN $134.9 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MISSILE PARTS
THIOKOL ISSUED $17.8 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
UNISYS RECEIVED NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS WORTH $17.8 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
March 12, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE GRAPHICS SYSTEM
March 13, 1990
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO PURCHASE INTERGRAPH SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PROCURE MACINTOSH DESKTOP COMPUTERS
March 14, 1990
AFCC REQUIRES SCIENTIFIC MAINFRAME COMPUTER SYSTEMS
March 15, 1990
LANGLEY PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS COMPUTERS
No relevant RFPs for March 16, 1990.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIA REPORTS ON TOTAL AEROSPACE EMPLOYMENT IN 1989
An Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) survey found that despite a
less than 1% decline in total aerospace employment, many changes in
workforce composition did occur. The changes stem from defense
procurement declines and commercial aircraft demand increases. AIA
reported total aerospace employment stood at 1,316,000 workers at the
end of 1989, a drop of 2000 employees from 1988. The civil aircraft
sector created 35,000 new jobs, which partially offset the loss of
14,000 jobs in military aircraft production. Approximately 12,000 jobs
were lost in the missiles and space sector in 1989, but the 17%
increase in NASA aerospace spending helped increase space-related
business. AIA expects total aerospace employment to drop about 2% in
1990.
DEFENSE:
COL. GIEGER TO HEAD THE NAVAL SPACE COMMAND
Col. Charles R. Gieger will become the new head of the Naval Space
Command April 2. Col. Geiger, who is currently deputy commander of the
Naval Space Command, will relieve Rear Adm. David E. Frost. Col.
Gieger flew over 350 combat mission in Vietnam.
REPS. MAVROULES AND HOPKINS PLAN LEGISLATION FOR ACQUISITION CORPS
House Armed Services investigations subcommittee Chairman Nicholas
Mavroules (D-MA) and Rep. Larry J. Hopkins (R-KY) are circulating
legislation in Congress to create a professional acquisition corps
within each military service to more efficiently oversee the annual
$100 billion military procurement process. Representatives Mavroules
and Hopkins said their goal is to put better trained, more experienced
managers into top military acquisition jobs. This "acquisition
workforce" would have its own career management system in each military
department. The "acquisition corps" in each service would be comprised
of both military and civilian personnel, that would report to the
civilian Service Acquisition Executives.
HASC MEMBER REQUESTS CBO COST ESTIMATE FOR PRODUCTION OF B-2
House Armed Services Committee (HASC) member Rep. John Kasich (R-OH)
has requested that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) develop an
independent cost estimate for production of the B-2 Stealth bomber.
Rep. Kasich said he has several reasons to question the latest Defense
Dept. (DoD) estimate of $70.2 billion for 132 bombers. The fact that
the DoD used an annual inflation rate of 1.8% over the B-2's
procurement cycle was one of the factors Rep. Kasich cited when
questioning the $70.2 billion quote. He feels that the rate is too
low. Rep. Kasich is a fierce opponent of the B-2.
NEW DOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT PLAN SHOULD BE WELL RECEIVED
Dr. George Millburn, deputy director of research and advanced
technology in the office of the director of defense research and
engineering said the new Defense Dept. (DoD) science and technology
investment plan should be well received in Congress. Dr. Millburn said
the document, which for the first time combines strategic input "of the
entire DoD science and technology community," was just completed and is
in coordination at the Pentagon. He believes Congress will be happy
with the document because they will receive a coherent, comprehensive
story of what is going on and why.
BETTI WILL TAKE NO IMMEDIATE ACTION ON AMRAAM PROGRAM
According to sources, following a two-week mini-review of the Advanced
Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) program, Pentagon acquisition
chief John A. Betti found nothing requiring immediate action and he
will wait until a May Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) review before
making any decisions about its future. Also, it seems Mr. Betti is
satisfied that the problems are being addressed and are understood, but
that they are far from solved.
NASA:
VICTOR PETERSON NAMED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AMES RESEARCH CENTER
Victor L. Peterson has been named as deputy director of NASA's Ames
Research Center. Mr. Peterson served as Ames' director of aerophysics
from 1984 to 1988, and then as the Center's acting deputy director
since that time. He was among the originators of the NASA initiative
to develop the numerical aerodynamic simulation system.
NASA RECALCULATES COST OF HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE TO BE $2.1 BILLION
NASA's latest calculations have found the Hubble space telescope has a
new cost estimate of $2.1 billion. NASA added $300 million for
servicing and $300 million for operations testing over the three-and-a-
half years since Hubble's last scheduled launch date. The increases
were added to the previous cost estimate of $1.5 billion. The Hubble
is currently scheduled for launch on April 12 on the space shuttle
Discovery.
NASA MAKES CHANGES TO SPACE SHUTTLE MANIFEST FOR 1990
NASA has recently made changes to the space shuttle manifest it issued
in January to move up the launch of a U.S. Department of Defense
mission one full year to January 1991. Therefore, the move from
January 1992 for the classified defense payload bumps the shuttle
payload previously in that slot, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
E, by four months, to May of that year. The changes also slips the
first flight of the NASA/Italian Space Agency tethered satellite system
and the European Space Agency's retrievable experiment carrier from May
1991 to September, which then pushes the frequently delayed Defense
Dept. Starlab mission for the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization
from September to January 1992. A series of missions, called the Space
Radar Laboratory, has also been delayed about a year.
SPACE SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES SHUTTLE-C FUNDS
The House Science, Space and Technology space science and applications
subcommittee approved a three-year NASA authorization that includes a
$40 million new start for Shuttle-C in FY 1991. NASA requested about
$10 million to continue Shuttle-C studies leading to a decision in FY
1992 to move to advanced development.
JPL DENIED GAO'S PLANETARY DATA TAPE DAMAGE REPORT
A NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) official said the General
Accounting Office (GAO) was incorrect when it report that JPL may have
lost as much as half the planetary data from Voyager, Viking, Mariner
and other missions because of poor storage techniques. The GAO
reported that 130,000 magnetic tapes stored at JPL's Laguna Niguel, CA
center were kept in "substandard conditions" and estimated that half
the tapes were so damaged or contaminated as to be of little or no
scientific value. The JPL official denied this and reported that all
of the tapes that had been checked so far were fine. However, JPL has
started a five-year, $1.8 million project to evaluate and copy
planetary mission data stored on the tapes.
INTERNATIONAL:
BAe POSTED 28% RISE IN PROFIT AND 59% RISE IN SALES FOR 1989
British Aerospace PLC (BAe) posted a 28% rise in 1989 pretax profit to
333 million pounds ($536.1 million) from 259 million pounds in 1988.
The results were due to continued growth in commercial aircraft,
automotive and property operations, which offset a flat performance in
defense systems. Profit after taxes and minority interests were up 36%
to 233 million pounds from 171 million pounds in 1988. Sales were up
59% to 9.085 million pounds from 5.706 million pounds. According to
Chairman Roland Smith, the company will seek to further integrate its
operations into continental European markets, particularly in defense,
were earnings were relatively flat in 1989.
MITSUBISHI AND DAIMLER-BENZ TO DEVELOP PASSENGER PLANE
As part the new business link between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
and Daimler-Benz AG, the two will develop a 75-seat passenger plane.
Few details of the two companies' agreement have been disclosed;
however, according to Mitsubishi Chairman Yotaro Iida engineers from
Mitsubishi and Daimler's aerospace division will meet soon to discuss
basic research on high-altitude, ultrasonic aircraft that could
drastically cut the flight time between Japan, the U.S., Europe and on
earth-orbiting satellites.
ESA EXTENDS ARIANE BOOSTER EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION
The European Space Agency (ESA) announced the investigation into the
February 22 loss of an Ariane booster has been extended to the end of
March to allow a board of inquiry more time to study a liquid
propellant booster and other wreckage recovered March 12. Though the
board was scheduled to report by March 20, bad weather has hampered
wreckage recovery efforts in Kourou, French Guiana. The Ariane 44L
booster exploded 101 seconds after launch, along with the two Japanese
satellites it was carrying.
SOVIETS PROPOSE MANNED MISSION TO MARS IN 20 YEARS
The Soviet Novosti Press Agency reported a design bureau has proposed
assembling a 360-ton vehicle in Earth orbit that would allow four
cosmonauts to fly directly to Mars on a 720-day expedition that could
begin as soon as 2010 or 2011. The proposal, developed by the Energia
Research and Production Association, includes the need for four or five
Energia boosters to place pieces of the spacecraft in orbit. The
proposal also includes plans for two cosmonauts to spend seven days on
the Martian surface, while the other two would remain in orbit around
the planet. The spacecraft would use solar arrays to provide
electrical power rather than nuclear reactors because arrays are less
expensive to build and safer to operate. The Soviets are also
considering international cooperation.
MITI CONFIRMS U.S.-JAPAN IMPORT/EXPORT AGREEMENT
An official of Japan's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) confirmed
that Japan's trade minister and Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher
agreed to cooperate on joint projects to promote Japanese imports and
U.S. exports. Mr. Mosbacher was in Tokyo for talks with senior
Japanese business leaders and government officials and reached an
agreement to promote industrial cooperation between the two countries.
MITI Minister Kabun Muto promised Mr. Mosbacher that the Japanese
government "intends to solve trade problems between the two countries
as quickly as possible." Recently, bilateral trade problems between
the U.S. and Japan have strained relationships between the two
countries.
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS CAUTIONS STOCKHOLDERS ABOUT 1990
In General Dynamics Corp.'s annual report, the company warned investors
that operating earnings and cash flows will be under pressure this
year, like last year, due to changed procurement policies, deficit
reduction efforts and the political changes in Eastern Europe. The
company assured its stockholders that earnings and cash flow will
eventually improve as investments mature, but many of its business
segments may have a poor outlook. General Dynamics posted flat
earnings despite record sales in 1989.
MARTIN MARIETTA ASTRONAUTICS SELECTS SEVEN SUBCONTRACTORS FOR FTS
Martin Marietta Astronautics Group announced the selection of seven
companies to design and build components for the Flight Telerobotic
Servicer (FTS). Ford Aerospace will build tools and end effecters that
will grasp the tools used in assembly and maintenance tasks. IBM
Systems Integration Div. will provide computer data processors for the
servicer's operating systems and workstations. JRC Inc. was chosen to
supply the robot force torque transducer, a sensor at the end of the
robot's arms that will sense the force and torque the robot exerts as
it conducts an operation. Loral Fairchild Systems will build the wrist
and head cameras. Schaeffer Magnetics is to provide the manipulator
joint actuators for the FTS arms. Teledyne-Brown Engineering will
supply a multipurpose support structure on which the upper body of the
FTS will be attached during the first shuttle flight demonstration
test. And, Western Space and Marine will build hydraulic manipulator
arms for the FTS trainer, a prototype that will be used to train
astronauts to operate the robot. Martin Marietta said they plan to
award additional subcontracts. The total value of the FTS subcontracts
is expected to be about $40 million.
MARTIN MARIETTA FAILS TO LAUNCH INTELSAT TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
Martin Marietta Corp.'s effort to launch a $150 million
telecommunications satellite, owned by Intelsat, failed after the Titan
III booster that took it into space did not separate properly from the
satellite. Intelsat, (International Telecommunications Satellite
Organization), an international telecommunications consortium based in
Washington, DC, said they did not insure the satellite or the rocket,
as it would have cost them an additional $115 million. However, they
are considering hiring the space shuttle to retrieve the satellite.
Martin Marietta said they have not yet determined the cause of the
failure.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SEES POTENTIAL FOREIGN MARKET FOR AH-64 APACHES
Though the Army has decided to stop buying the AH-64 Apache helicopters
in 1991, McDonnell Douglas officials said they see a great potential
overseas market for AH-64. Company officials see Austria, Japan,
Korean, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the
United Arab Emirates as potential customers, with Egypt, Israel and the
U.K. as the first. The Israeli sale alone will extend the Apache line
about three months beyond its mid-1993 termination.
NORTHROP SAYS LOSS OF IMUs CONTRACT DUE TO COST
Northrop Corp., which lost the final Air Force buy of MX ICBM guidance
units to second-source Rockwell International, said cost was the
"decisive factor." Rockwell's Autonetics ICBM Div. was given the $135
million contract by the Air Force Ballistic Systems Div. to produce 50
inertial measurement units (IMUs) for the Peacekeeper missile and the
Small ICBM. According to Northrop, Rockwell simply underbid them.
Production delays and high failure rates have plagued Northrop;
however, the government agreed to drop an investigation of alleged IMU
testing and checkout improprieties in exchange for a guilty plea and
fine on 34 criminal counts in unrelated programs. To date, Northrop
has delivered 140 production IMUs, including spares, to the Air Force.
TRW TEAMS WITH SPAR AND OCEAN SYSTEMS TO COMPETE FOR NASA CONTRACT
TRW Space & Technology Group announced they have teamed with Spar
Aerospace Ltd. and Ocean Systems Engineering to compete for a NASA
satellite servicer system preliminary design contract. The servicer
system would use existing technologies like the Orbital Maneuvering
Vehicle and elements of the Flight Telerobotic Servicer to dock with
spacecraft in orbits outside the shuttle's service range. Johnson
Space Center is managing the program.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED SPACE LAUNCH SERVICES CONTRACT
General Dynamics Corp. was awarded a $23.5 million Air Force contract
for space launch services.
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED F-16 and B-1 ENGINE IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT
General Electric Co. was issued a $35.4 million Air Force contract for
F-16 and B-1 aircraft engine improvements.
HARRIS CORP. RECEIVED $1.5 MILLION CONTRACT FROM MBB
Harris Corp. received a $1.5 million contract from Messerschmitt-
Boelkow-Blohm (MBB) for its Night Hawk 3000 multiprocessing computer
systems for MBB's engineering simulation facility at Ottobrun, West
Germany. The systems will serve as host computer in research,
development and training simulations for several European aircraft and
helicopter programs. The Night Hawk 3000 runs on the Harris CX/RT
real-time operating system in an Ada environment.
HUGHES WINS NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACTS
Hughes Aircraft, a unit of General Motors Corp., won a $97.9 million
Navy contract for MK-48 torpedo equipment and sonar-receiver
processors. Hughes' Danbury Optical Systems also won a $38.4 million
Army contract for laser-detecting sets.
LOCKHEED GOT $99.1 MILLION IN AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
Lockheed Corp. got $99.1 million in Air Force contracts for AC-130U
aircraft and bombs.
NORTHROP RECEIVED NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
Northrop Corp. received a $38.1 million Navy contract for aerial target
drones and an $8 million Air Force contract for research and
development of aerospace structures.
ROCKWELL GIVEN $134.9 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MISSILE PARTS
Rockwell International Corp. was given a $134.9 million Air Force
contract for missile parts.
THIOKOL ISSUED $17.8 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Thiokol Corp. was issued a $17.8 million Army contract for operation
and maintenance of government-owned facilities.
UNISYS RECEIVED NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS WORTH $17.8 MILLION
Unisys Corp. received $17.8 million in Navy and Air Force contracts for
radar refurbishment and improvements to the Royal Thailand Air Defense
System.
RFP UPDATE:
March 12, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE GRAPHICS SYSTEM
NASA Langley Research Center intends to place a delivery order against
a Non-Mandatory GSA Schedule contract with Silicon Graphics, reference
document GS00K89AGS5586, for hardware GrapWorkstations to a Silicon
Graphics 4D/210GTX, graphics supercomputing workstation #HY-4DTX and
other assorted peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the required
equipment or its equivalent are invited to submit, in writing, a
substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fill this
requirement. Substantiveness would be indicated by a statement of
exactly what equipment is offered, firm pricing, delivery schedule,
installation charges, if any, and other information which will show a
bona fide ability to meet this specific requirement. No solicitation
will be issued. Submit responses in writing within 15 calendar days of
this notice. If no responses are received, an order shall be placed in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the above referenced
schedule contract. Inquiries concerning this procurement should
reference 1-074-9310.0605.
Contact: Artistine R. Lethcoe-Reid
Mail Stop 138
NASA Langley Research Center
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2432
March 13, 1990
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO PURCHASE INTERGRAPH SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center intends to purchase commercially
available intergraph software and hardware. Interested sources may
submit information for evaluation of their capabilities concerning this
requirement. Responses to this notice should be submitted within 15
days after the date of publication. Telephone responses will not be
accepted.
Contact: Cathy Skibbe
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
P.O. Box 2133
Mail Code F894
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
WRIGHT-PATTERSON TO PROCURE MACINTOSH DESKTOP COMPUTERS
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base intends to procure MacIntosh desktop
computers and associated software. All responsible sources may submit
an offer which will be considered. No telephone requests for the
solicitation package will be accepted.
Contact: Joyce Hobson
HQ Wright-Patterson Contracting Center
Specialized Equipment Support Branch
Specialized Contracting Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433
(513) 257-2698
March 14, 1990
AFCC REQUIRES SCIENTIFIC MAINFRAME COMPUTER SYSTEMS
The Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCC) issued a requirement
for an estimated six scientific mainframe computer systems with vector
processing capabilities capable of supporting two processing systems
differentiated chiefly by size of the central processing unit (CPU),
power and systems capacity. It is anticipated that is will be a one-
year fixed price requirement type contract with seven one-year renewal
options. Sources who are interested in Project 309 should respond in
writing within 15 calendar days of this notice. No telephone inquiries
will be accepted. Please reference solicitation number F19630-90-R-
0013 when responding.
Contact: Marcia Kostoulskos
Contracting Officer
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
PKC, Bldg. 1302F
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8634
March 15, 1990
LANGLEY PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS COMPUTERS
NASA Langley Research Center intends to place a delivery order against
a mandatory GSA schedule for two Silicon Graphics Personal Iris
computers and many assorted peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the
required equipment or its equivalent are invited to submit in writing a
substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fill this
requirement. Responses should be submitted within 15 calendar days of
this notice. If no responses are received, an order shall be placed in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the above referenced
schedule contract. When a response is received from a non-schedule
vendor that meets the requirement and an analysis indicates that a
competitive acquisition would be advantageous to the government, a
formal solicitation may be issued. Inquiries concerning this
procurement should reference 1-07405627-0514 & 5627.0515. No telephone
inquiries will be accepted.
Contact: Artistine R. Lethcoe-Reid
Mail Stop 138
NASA Langley Research Center
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2432
No relevant RFPs for March 16, 1990.
|
| 20.78 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 03/19 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Mar 27 1990 13:27 | 559 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 011086
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 27-Mar-1990 00:08am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@YPMB82@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 03/19
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of March 19, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword Access at the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS',
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 19, 1990
GENERAL:
JAPAN EASING RESTRICTIONS ON PURCHASE OF SATELLITES
DEVELOPMENT OF WEATHER SATELLITES RECEIVING CRITICISM
DEFENSE:
HOUSE MEMBERS WHO OPPOSE B-2 BOMBER BELIEVE AMENDMENT MAY BE SIGNED
SANDIA NATIONAL LABS DEVISED NEW ROBOTIC SYSTEM
THREE INDICTMENTS FILED FOR ILLEGALLY INFLUENCING CONTRACT AWARDS
NASA:
NASA MANAGERS AT KSC MAY HAVE FOUND LANDING GEAR PROBLEM ON SHUTTLES
INTERNATIONAL::
DOD PLANS TO SELL RIM-7M SPARROW MISSILES TO SOUTH KOREA
U.S. DEFENSE CONTRACTORS TO BE AT MOSCOW AEROSPACE TRADE SHOW
DAIMLER-BENZ OFFERS MITSUBISHI TRUCK PRODUCTION DEAL IN EAST GERMANY
FRANCE, U.K. AND WEST GERMANY TO DEVELOP COBRA PROGRAM
BUSINESS:
ORBITAL SCIENCES TO POSTPONE PUBLIC OFFERING
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVES $125 MILLION FROM AT&T LAWSUIT
GRUMMAN PLEADED GUILTY IN "OPERATION UNCOVER"
MARTIN MARIETTA BLAMED WIRING PROBLEM FOR INTELSAT VI LAUNCH FAILURE
SPACEHAB RECEIVES $104 MILLION IN FINANCING FROM CHEMICAL BANK
JAMES SKAGGS NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WESTMARK SYSTEMS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
HONEYWELL RECEIVES AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR AERIAL TARGETS
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AWARDED $26.7 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
BALL GIVEN $90.1 MILLION IN CONTRACTS FROM NASA
HUGHES AIRCRAFT ISSUED $14.4 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
LTV DIVISION RECEIVED ARMY MULTIPURPOSE VEHICLE CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $131.2 MILLION
PLESSEY GIVEN $209.5 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
UTC AWARDED F-100 SERIES JET ENGINES CONTRACT WORTH $25.3 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
March 19, 1990
JSC TO ISSUE IFB FOR APPLE MACINTOSH HARDWARE
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO PURCHASE ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS WORKSTATIONS
Marcch 20, 1990
DSS-W PLACED NOTICE OF INTENT TO PURCHASE HEWLETT-PACKARD EQUIPMENT
NASA GODDARD SPACE CENTER TO ACQUIRE NUCLEUS N7400-008 NODE EQUIPMENT
March 21, 1990
MSFC TO SEEK ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND DATA SYSTEMS II
March 22, 1990
NASA LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE MACINTOSH WORKSTATIONS
March 23, 1990
AFLC INTENDS TO ACQUIRE CENTRAL PROCESSING SYSTEM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL
JAPAN EASING RESTRICTIONS ON PURCHASE OF SATELLITES
In another concession to U.S. demands, the Kyodo News Service reported
that Japan will open its markets for all non-experimental satellites to
foreign competition. Although American and Japanese negotiators have
not met in recent days and the report could not be confirmed by western
sources, the news service explained that the government was likely to
make such concessions. The U.S. has designated satellites as one of
three areas, along with forest products and supercomputers, in which it
might impose sanctions on Japan, accusing it of unfair practices under
a clause in the 1988 trade act. The news service noted that the
Japanese government will abandon plans to offer exclusive contracts on
two CS-4 communications satellites to a consortium of Japanese
companies; instead, the bidding will be opened to foreign companies.
In addition, the Japanese government will open to bidding other
operational weather and direct broadcasting satellites that have a
duration of more than three years in orbit.
DEVELOPMENT OF WEATHER SATELLITES RECEIVING CRITICISM
To study the effects of global warming, the Bush administration plans
to build a satellite system, called Mission to Planet Earth, at a cost
of about $50 billion over the next 25 years. Critics of the program
argue that by the time the first satellites start working, around the
year 2000, scientists should already know whether the temperature is
rising because of human activity. These people also explain that the
enormous cost and complexity of the satellites threaten to siphon funds
from other climate projects, leaving researchers unable to attain
important data to track the changing global environment. NASA, which
plans to build and run the satellites, has asked Congress for $260
million to start the program this year, with annual funding jumping to
$1.5 billion three years later.
DEFENSE:
HOUSE MEMBERS WHO OPPOSE B-2 BOMBER BELIEVE AMENDMENT MAY BE SIGNED
House supporters of the legislation to terminate the B-2 Stealth bomber
claim 107 members have signed the amendment, nearly half way to the 218
needed to assure passage. The amendment would allow for completion of
the 15 B-2s now in various stages of production, finishing flight
testing and continued development of the stealth technology.
SANDIA NATIONAL LABS DEVISED NEW ROBOTIC SYSTEM
Sandia National Laboratories have devised a software development
environment for use in robotic systems. The Robot Independent
Programming Environment (RIPE) improves the speed at which new robot
systems can be programmed, and so improves reliability of resultant
software and raises programmer productivity principally through the use
of object-oriented design techniques. According to Sandia's Computer
Sciences Dept., RIPE has the potential of simplifying the most time-
consuming and expensive aspects of using robotic systems because it
addresses programming intelligent robot systems problems such as
reusability of computer code and extending new code.
THREE INDICTMENTS FILED FOR ILLEGALLY INFLUENCING CONTRACT AWARDS
A former midlevel Navy acquisition official and two defense-industry
consultants were indicted on conspiracy and fraud charges for allegedly
trying to influence the award of radar and aircraft-communications
contract of more than $100 million. George Stone, a civilian who
supervised Marine Corps contracts through the late 1980s, and
consultants Thomas Muldoon and Mark Saunders were accused of conspiring
to funnel secret bid-related information to units of Litton Industries
Inc. and United Technologies Corp. The companies have not been accused
of any wrongdoing. The indictment involves activities largely
disclosed months ago as part of a nationwide investigation of Pentagon
bribery and influence-peddling. The inquiry, code named Operation Ill
Wind, is reaching its climax with industry and government officials
expecting a flurry of criminal charges to be filed in the next few
weeks against major corporate and individual targets.
NASA:
NASA MANAGERS AT KSC MAY HAVE FOUND LANDING GEAR PROBLEM ON SHUTTLES
NASA mission managers at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) said they will wait
for analysis of a cross-threaded retaining nut from the space shuttle
Columbia's nose wheel landing gear before deciding whether to roll
Discovery off the launch pad to inspect it for a similar problem.
Discovery's rollout was postponed for 12 hours while program officials
studied the retaining nuts that appear to be cross-threaded on nose
wheel landing gears on Columbia and Atlantis. The retaining nut
positions a bearing in the nose wheel landing gear axle that
distributes side loads in the nose gear during landings. The shuttle
is scheduled to launch the Hubble Space Telescope on April 12. A
decision to roll back would delay the launch.
INTERNATIONAL:
DOD PLANS TO SELL RIM-7M SPARROW MISSILES TO SOUTH KOREA
The Defense Dept. (DoD) announced plans to sell South Korea ship-
launched radar-guided anti-aircraft missiles and a low-light television
system for $33 million. Under the sale, Korea would get 21 RIM-7M
Sparrow missiles, training missiles, a fire control system, a Low-Light
Level TV system, contractor and technical support plus training and
logistics.
U.S. DEFENSE CONTRACTORS TO BE AT MOSCOW AEROSPACE TRADE SHOW
According to Global Trade Show Services Inc., organizer of the U.S.
pavilion for the Technika Aeroport/Aerospace Moscow '90 exhibit, over
100 Western aerospace firms will be represented at the show. The group
reports that many U.S. defense contractors have signed up to show and
demonstrate their wares at the Moscow aerospace trade show. The
contractors include Boeing, Hughes Aircraft, Lockheed and McDonnell
Douglas.
DAIMLER-BENZ OFFERS MITSUBISHI TRUCK PRODUCTION DEAL IN EAST GERMANY
According to the Japanese press, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. received an
offer from West Germany's Daimler-Benz AG to join a project to produce
trucks in East Germany. According to the press release, the offer
comes after Daimler-Benz reached a joint production agreement with IFA,
an East Germany auto maker. Analysts believe the offer was made to get
advanced truck production technology to East Germany and as an attempt
by West Germany to reduce the risks of its investment in East Germany.
A spokesperson for Mitsubishi said of the offer, "It's a possibility
for future study. But I can't say anything about it right now."
FRANCE, U.K. AND WEST GERMANY TO DEVELOP COBRA PROGRAM
France, the U.K. and West Germany have issued a contract for the full-
development phase of the Cobra program, a long-range weapon-locating
radar system for the armies of the three nations. EURO-ART Advanced
Radar Technology GmbH, a consortium of Thorn EMI Electronics, Siemens,
Thomson-CSF and Britain's General Electric Co. (GEC), received the $165
million contract. Cobra is a phased-array radar system that uses
advanced gallium-arsenide technology in the antenna.
BUSINESS:
ORBITAL SCIENCES TO POSTPONE PUBLIC OFFERING
Orbital Sciences Corp. announced that it is postponing its public
offering. The company didn't say when it would reschedule the
offering, or what effect the postponement would have on its operations.
The company and its underwriters, Alex Brown & Sons Inc. and Merrill
Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc., did say however that they still plan
to proceed with the offering and are currently discussing a new
timetable. Orbital Sciences is building the Pagasus, the nation's
first new launcher since the space shuttle. The crewless rocket drops
from the wing of B-52 bomber and then is supposed to vault into space
carrying small satellites. First launch is scheduled for April 4,
1990.
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVES $125 MILLION FROM AT&T LAWSUIT
General Dynamics Corp. announced that it settled an antitrust suit it
filed more than seven years ago against American Telephone & Telegraph
Co. and the regional Bell operating companies and will receive $125
million in compensation. The pact, which precludes a trail that had
been set to start May 7, brings an end to litigation originally brought
in federal court in Chicago in December 1982. General Dynamics had
accused AT&T of illegally trying to monopolize the market for business-
telephone systems and other equipment by making it difficult for
competitors to sell their products. For AT&T, the settlement
effectively erases the last remaining antitrust complaint against it
and its former telephone companies. For General Dynamics, the nation's
number two military contractor, any additional money to boost the
company's earnings is welcome news. However, a spokesman for the
company noted that money would likely add less than $2 a share to the
company's net income for 1990 on an after-tax basis.
GRUMMAN PLEADED GUILTY IN "OPERATION UNCOVER"
Grumman Corp. pleaded guilty to trafficking sensitive Pentagon planning
documents and admitted that a employee had misused classified
documents. This made Grumman the fourth major defense contractor to
plead guilty to such crimes under the investigation of trafficking in
planning and budgeting papers called "Operation Uncover." The company
agreed to pay $2.5 million in fines. So far, "Uncover" has netted more
than $13 million in fines and penalties.
MARTIN MARIETTA BLAMED WIRING PROBLEM FOR INTELSAT VI LAUNCH FAILURE
Martin Marietta Corp. said the Intelsat VI telecommunications satellite
launched March 14 on a Titan III booster failed to separate from the
booster's second stage because of a wiring problem that blocked a
signal sent to activate the payload separation system. The company
said the problem was not detected during a prelaunch checkout. Martin
said they intend to change the prelaunch checkout procedures to avoid a
similar occurrence. Intelsat and NASA officials plan to meet to
discuss using a space shuttle to retrieve the satellite.
SPACEHAB RECEIVES $104 MILLION IN FINANCING FROM CHEMICAL BANK
Spacehab Inc., Washington, DC, reported that Chemical Bank and a group
of other financial institutions have committed $104 million to finance
its commercial project to build pressurized research modules to be
flown in the space shuttle payload. A Spacehab official said the money
will be used to build two flight modules and a third module for tests
and training. The Spacehab modules will provide about 1,000 cubic feet
of pressurized volume in the orbiter payload bay where crew members
will conduct experiments. The modules are expected to be ready for use
in 1992.
JAMES SKAGGS NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WESTMARK SYSTEMS
Westmark Systems Inc., Austin, TX, announced that James B. Skaggs has
been named as president and chief executive officer. Mr. Skaggs will
also serve as chairman of Tracor Holdings Inc., a subsidiary.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
HONEYWELL RECEIVES AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR AERIAL TARGETS
Honeywell Corp. announced that it has received a $13.1 million Air
Force contract for aerial targets.
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AWARDED $26.7 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was awarded a $26.7 million Navy contract
for Trident missile hoists.
BALL GIVEN $90.1 MILLION IN CONTRACTS FROM NASA
Ball Corp., Boulder, CO, was given $90.1 million in contracts to
develop an instrument to measure atmospheric ozone for an orbiting
Earth Observing System (EOS) platform by NASA Langley Research Center.
The Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere Using Far Infrared Emission (SAFIRE)
instrument consists of five optical modules and a control electronics
module mounted on an optical bench. SAFIRE will study middle-
atmosphere ozone distribution through global-scale measurements of the
chemical, radiation and dynamic processes that influence ozone changes.
The work will be performed by the Ball Electro-Optic/Cryogenics Div.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT ISSUED $14.4 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., was issued a $14.4
million Army contract for a thermal imaging system for the Abrams tank.
LTV DIVISION RECEIVED ARMY MULTIPURPOSE VEHICLE CONTRACT
LTV Corp.'s AM General division received a $102.2 million Army contract
for multipurpose vehicles.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $131.2 MILLION
McDonnell Douglas Corp. won a $131.2 million Air Force contract for jet
aircraft engineering services.
PLESSEY GIVEN $209.5 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Plessey Electronic Systems was given a $209.5 million Army contract for
joint tactical information distribution systems and related components
and work.
UTC AWARDED F-100 SERIES JET ENGINES CONTRACT WORTH $25.3 MILLION
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was awarded a $25.3 million Air Force
pact for F-100 Series jet engines.
RFP UPDATE:
March 19, 1990
JSC TO ISSUE IFB FOR APPLE MACINTOSH HARDWARE
Under solicitation 9BG4125020B, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends
to issue an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for six (6) M5680 Apple MacIntosh
IIcx systems and many assorted peripherals. This requirement is
supported by a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition
for Specific Make and Model. It is anticipated that the IFB will be
issued 15 days after the release of this publication. Bid opening will
be 30 days after the release of the IFB. All responsible sources may
submit a bid for consideration by NASA JSC. Vendors responding to the
IFB with a GSA schedule contract should include the contract number and
expiration date. The award will be based on the lowest overall cost to
the government.
Contact: Deborah Zimmerman
NASA Johnson Space Center
Mail Code BD35
BG 41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-8489
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO PURCHASE ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS WORKSTATIONS
The Defense Supply Service- Washington, on behalf of the Printing and
Publication Command Information Center, Army, intends to place an order
with Zenith Data Systems against ADP Schedule Contract GS00K89AFS6470
to purchase 26 Zenith Desktop Workstations, Drives and Color Monitors.
All responsible sources are encouraged to respond to this announcement.
Qualified vendors may submit a substantive written statement
delineating their ability to meet the specified requirement. If no
response is received within 15 days of publication, an order will be
issued in accordance with the aforementioned GSA schedule for the
stated requirements. When responding to this solicitation, please
reference 9911/0111.
Contact: Jon Palmer
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
March 20, 1990
DSS-W PLACED NOTICE OF INTENT TO PURCHASE HEWLETT-PACKARD EQUIPMENT
The Defense Supply Service - Washington (DSS-W) has a requirement for
controllers, spectrum analysers, printers, multiplexers, support
equipment, media, manuals, planning, design, installation and testing
to update the Emitter Detection System of the Washington Headquarters
Services from Hewlett Packard Corp. on a sole source basis. It is the
intention of DSS-W to enter into negotiations with Hewlett Packard for
the purpose of awarding a contract for the purchase of the equipment
and services. Responsible sources are invited to respond to this
notice. Written responses received within 30 days of this publication
must include prices, technical data sufficient to determine capability
to meet the requirement and GSA contract number if applicable.
Information received as a result of this will be used to determine
whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No telephone inquiries
will be accepted.
Contact: Shirley Gragg
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 697-2799
NASA GODDARD SPACE CENTER TO ACQUIRE NUCLEUS N7400-008 NODE EQUIPMENT
Under solicitation 540-71144/089, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
(NASA/GSFC) intents to acquire on a sole source basis from Amnet, Inc.
of Framington, MA the following equipment: Nucleus N7400-008 Node with
Keyboard and Monitor; Monochrome Card; Link Processor Boards; and a
variety of Link Processor Cables. The equipment to be bought is and
will be fully compatible with the existing Data Distribution and
Command System (DDCS) network that consists of Amnet proprietary
hardware and software. This equipment along with currently owned
applications and diagonistic software will be used to monitor the
network and to perform fault isolation and troubleshooting. Any firm
desiring consideration must fully identify in writing their capability
to respond to the requirement or to submit a proposal within 15 days of
publication of this announcement. No telephone correspondence will be
accepted.
Contact: Ellen Rogers
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-2361
March 21, 1990
MSFC TO SEEK ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND DATA SYSTEMS II
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA/MSFC) intends to recompete
its central-site analytical computing environment under solicitation
RFP8-1-9-AI-00120. The unit is issuing the RFP due to the growth in
MSFC's processing requirements which necessitates replacement of the
current Engineering Analysis & Data Systems (EADS). Under a proposed
firm fixed price (lease with option to purchase) type contract, the
contractor shall furnish all hardware/software, hardware maintenance,
software support, systems support and management necessary to provide a
complete operational Engineering Analysis and Data Systems II (EADS
II). The overall objective for the contractor is to assemble an
integrated and expandable hardware and software environment which
includes both central-site and distributed elements. The EADS II will
be a distributed, fully integrated system which provides online,
interactive and batch processing for scientific and engineering
applications and will center around a high-speed network backbone
(HSNB), which consists of a single network or multiple networks with a
large aggregate bandwidth. This network architecture must provide for
connectivity to the central-site and distributed systems, and to
existing computing systems at MSFC. The period of performance will be
12 months with nine 1-year, priced option periods. Anticipated date of
release of the RFP is April 17, 1990, with closing date 60 days
thereafter. All requests for copies of the solicitation must be in
writing and received within 15 days of the announcement. When
requesting copies of the solicitation, vendors shall indicate size
status whether large or small.
Contact: Frank L. Kirsopp, Jr.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Procurement Office
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
(205) 544-0339
March 22, 1990
NASA LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE MACINTOSH WORKSTATIONS
Under solicitation RFP3-389409, NASA's Lewis Research Center intends to
purchase seven MacIntosh IIxc HD CPUs plus assorted peripheral. All of
the items must be awarded on an aggregate (all or none) basis and must
be compatible with existing Apple MacIntosh workstations and Local Talk
network at NASA Lewis Research Center, as well as the Ethernet network
which interconnects them. Delivery schedule is 60 calendar days after
contract award. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which
will be considered.
Contact: Robin H. Stronhacker
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Mail Stop 500-309
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2768
March 23, 1990
AFLC INTENDS TO ACQUIRE CENTRAL PROCESSING SYSTEM
The Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC), Wright Patterson AFB, OH,
intends to acquire a Central Processing System (Prymind 9815 processor,
associated drives and operating software) by a lease to ownership plan
(LTOP) for the IMACS program. Under terms of the award, the vender
will also supply hardware maintenance and technical support. No
contract award will be made on the basis of offers received in response
to this notice. No solicitation document exists at this time.
Contact: Bruce Johnson
Wright Patterson Contracting Center
Specialized Services Support Branch
Specialized Contracting Division
Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433
(513) 257-4871
|
| 20.79 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of March 26, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Apr 09 1990 20:11 | 566 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 011257
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 06-Apr-1990 10:23pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@YPMB82@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of March 26, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of March 26, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
---------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword Access at the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 26, 1990
GENERAL:
AIA PRESIDENT CONCERNED ABOUT LOWER AEROSPACE SALES
DEFENSE:
SOURCES SAY GALVIN NEGOTIATING PLEA AGREEMENT IN "ILL WIND" CASE
FORMER UNISYS EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO CASE INVOLVING "ILL WIND"
NEXT TEST LAUNCH OF MIDGETMAN MISSILE SCHEDULED FOR FALL OF 1990
SPACE SYSTEMS TO TURN OVER OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF NAVSTAR GPS
SEVENTH NAVSTAR GPS SATELLITE LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
PENTAGON WILL NO LONGER REVIEW CERTAIN TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS TO USSR
NASA:
JPL NAMES WILLIAM O'NEIL AS GALILEO PROJECT MANAGER
DESIGN WORK COMPLETED FOR SPACE STATION PROCESSING FACILITY AT KSC
SPACE STATION CONTRACTORS AND NASA OFFICIALS TO MEET APRIL 15 AT JSC
NASA AND LMSC HAVE SIGNED AGREEMENT ON ASRM
NASA RELEASED LIST OF TOP 100 CONTRACTORS FOR FY 1989
INTERNATIONAL:
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN AIRLINES OBJECTS TO PROPOSED EC AIRPORT RULES
JAPAN'S SELF-DEFENSE AGENCY GAVE MITSUBISHI AND KAWASAKI CONTRACTS
SOVIETS LAUNCH MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITE
U.S. OFFICIALS ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT JAPAN'S SATELLITE ANNOUNCEMENT
AEROFLOT TO BEGIN WEEKLY SERVICE BETWEEN MOSCOW AND SEOUL
FINLAND SENT RFPs GENERAL DYNAMICS, DASSAULT-BREGUET AND SAAB-SCANIA
BUSINESS:
BALL AEROSPACE CHOSEN BY NASA FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON EOS PROJECTS
BEECH AIRCRAFT RECEIVES 32 ORDERS FOR MODEL 400A BEECHJET
MDAC DEVELOPING SOFTWARE TO DIAGNOSE ELECTRONIC/HYDRAULIC FAILURES
ORBITAL SCIENCES' PEGASUS TO BE LAUNCHED ON APRIL 4
FORMER TRW CHAIRMAN GIVEN ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES ASSN.'S MEDAL
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO PROVIDE LAUNCH SERVICES FOR SOHO MISSION
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED $402.9 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
HOLSTON DEFENSE GIVEN CONTRACT FOR OPERATION OF AMMUNITION PLANT
IBM GOT AIRCRAFT RADAR CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
LOCKHEED WON $352.2 MILLION CONTRACT FOR TRIDENT MISSILE SERVICES.
LORAL RECEIVED AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
LTV ISSUED FOLLOW-ON CONTRACTS FOR MLRS TOTALING $92.1 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED LETTER CONTRACT FROM ARMY WORTH $42 MILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED ORDER FROM JAL WORTH ABOUT $2 BILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GIVEN $207.3 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
RAYTHEON AWARDED RADAR AND SATELLITE EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
ROHR INDUSTRIES WON CONTRACT VALUED AT OVER $1 BILLION
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for March 26, 1990.
March 27, 1990
JSC TO PLACE CONTRACT WITH SUNSTRAND FOR TACTICAL OPTICAL DISK SYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for March 28, 1990.
March 29, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE REQUIRES ADPE EQUIPMENT
March 30, 19900
LANGLEY TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS
LANGLEY TO PURCHASE SPARCSTATION-1 FROM SUN MICROSYSTEMS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIA PRESIDENT CONCERNED ABOUT LOWER AEROSPACE SALES
Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) president Don Fuqua said the
magnitude of defense cuts now being discussed in Congress could drive
the military component of U.S. aerospace sales from half to 40% or
lower over the next five years. Mr. Fuqua also believes the impact of
past cuts could begin showing up in FY 1991 defense aerospace sales,
now at record levels. However, the commercial market will help to
offset the decline in defense sales. AIA predicts total U.S. aerospace
sales will be $135 billion next year, up from $120 billion. In light
of these predictions, Mr. Fuqua urged industry and Congress to begin
planning for cuts in defense spending, the effects of the changing
geopolitical situation and how these changes will affect the industrial
base in the U.S.
DEFENSE:
SOURCES SAY GALVIN NEGOTIATING PLEA AGREEMENT IN "ILL WIND" CASE
According to sources familiar with the case, defense industry
consultant William Galvin is negotiating a plea agreement under which
he would cooperate with federal prosecutors in the Pentagon influence-
peddling investigation, "Operation Ill Wind." Should Mr. Galvin agree
to cooperate with the prosecution, it is believed he could provide a
great deal of information to help the government build cases against
current and former senior Pentagon officials implicated in "Ill Wind."
During the late 1980s, Mr. Galvin received a six-figure income and was
known for lavish entertainment practices as a consultant for Unisys
Corp., United Technologies Corp. and other major defense contractors.
FORMER UNISYS EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO CASE INVOLVING "ILL WIND"
Former Unisys Corp. employee Frederick J. Carville pleaded guilty to a
felony count of filing a false income tax return. Mr. Carville has
been under investigation in the Pentagon procurement investigation
"Operation Ill Wind." He was responsible for getting business for
Unisys at the Rome Air Development Center, a government facility that
does, primarily, Air Force electronics research.
NEXT TEST LAUNCH OF MIDGETMAN MISSILE SCHEDULED FOR FALL OF 1990
Strategic Air Command officials announced the next test launch of the
Midgetman missile is scheduled for the end of September or early
October. The first test launch of the missile failed last May. A
fault in the missile's second stage carbon-carbon exit cone has been
cited as the cause of the failure.
SPACE SYSTEMS TO TURN OVER OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF NAVSTAR GPS
The Air Force Space Systems Div. said they will turn over the Navstar
Global Positioning System (GPS) operational control station in Colorado
to Air Force Space Command by early April. The turnover marks the
formal transition between the Navstar system developer and the
operational command, as Space Command has been operating orbiting
Navstar satellites at the facility for several months. Space Systems
will continue to provide engineering support at the facility following
the change.
SEVENTH NAVSTAR GPS SATELLITE LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
The seventh Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite was
launched from Cape Canaveral on a McDonnell Douglas Delta II booster.
According to an Air Force spokesperson, the satellite is operating
normally and should be available for use around April 19. On-orbit
checkout will take between 30 to 45 days.
PENTAGON WILL NO LONGER REVIEW CERTAIN TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS TO USSR
In an effort to ease trade restrictions against Europe's Eastern bloc,
the Pentagon will no longer review exports to the Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe of certain mainframe computers, telecommunications gear
and medical equipment. This will give the Commerce Dept. sole
authority to license such exports. According to Pentagon officials,
though, the decision will not affect shipments of more sophisticated,
powerful or high-tech equipment, which will continue to be reviewed by
both agencies.
NASA:
JPL NAMES WILLIAM O'NEIL AS GALILEO PROJECT MANAGER
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Director Lew Allen announced
that William J. O'Neil will become the Galileo project manager. Mr.
O'Neil succeeds Richard J. Spehalski, who will manage the development
of NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility.
DESIGN WORK COMPLETED FOR SPACE STATION PROCESSING FACILITY AT KSC
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. said they have completed detailed design
work for the $88 million Space Station Processing Facility planned for
Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The building will be used by NASA for
prelaunch processing, final assembly inspection and verification of
Station elements before launch. The 450,000 square foot building will
include intermediate and high bay floor space for parallel processing
of eight Space Station elements in a clean room environment.
Processing areas will have gaseous helium and nitrogen storage and
distribution systems, a gaseous ammonia vent system and high and low
pressure air and vacuum systems.
SPACE STATION CONTRACTORS AND NASA OFFICIALS TO MEET APRIL 15 AT JSC
A meeting between Space Station contractors and NASA officials has been
set for April 15 at Johnson Space Center (JSC) to discuss ways to
reduce the number of spacewalks that will be required to repair and
maintain Station equipment on the orbiting complex. William B. Lenoir,
associate administrator for space flight, said NASA plans to develop a
standard method for estimating failure rates of external Station
equipment and work with the contractors to design common tools and
orbital replacement units (ORUs) to reduce the time spent on external
maintenance.
NASA AND LMSC HAVE SIGNED AGREEMENT ON ASRM
NASA announced that Marshall Space Flight Center has signed a
memorandum of agreement with Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC) to
develop the Space Station advanced solid rocket motor (ASRM) and
expects to complete the contract review within the next few weeks.
The final ASRM development and construction contract is valued at about
$1 billion.
NASA RELEASED LIST OF TOP 100 CONTRACTORS FOR FY 1989
NASA released its list of top 100 contractors and for the third year in
a row Rockwell International Corp. was in the number one spot. In
fact, with $2.73 billion in contracts Rockwell received triple the
dollar volume of prime contracts that second place Lockheed Space
Operations Co. received during FY 1989. Rockwell received about one-
fifth of the $8.57 billion in direct awards to contractors by NASA.
Lockheed Space Operations Co. was in second place with contracts
totaling $552 million. McDonnell Douglas Corp. was third, with FY 1989
contracts totaling $506 million. Thiokol Corp., which was in third
place last year, fell to fourth place with $422 million in contracts.
Finally, Martin Marietta Corp. came in fifth place with $354 million in
contracts. In FY 1989, NASA's procurements totaled $10.9 billion, a
13.9% increase over FY 1988.
INTERNATIONAL:
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN AIRLINES OBJECTS TO PROPOSED EC AIRPORT RULES
The Association of European Airlines has objected to the proposed
European Community (EC) rules to protect air travelers from overbooking
on flights from EC airports. The Association said the proposals, which
include replacing a program of voluntary financial compensation for
overbooking with a standardized, mandatory arrangement, are "too rigid"
and force undue financial penalties of airlines. A spokesperson for
the trade group said they plan to lobby for changes.
JAPAN'S SELF-DEFENSE AGENCY GAVE MITSUBISHI AND KAWASAKI CONTRACTS
Japan's Self-Defense Agency gave a $280.7 million contract to
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for 11 F-15J fighters and a $255.5 million
contract to Kawasaki Heavy Industries for 10 P-3C antisubmarine warfare
aircraft. Both contracts are scheduled for deliveries to be completed
before March 1993.
SOVIETS LAUNCH MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITE
The Soviet Union launched Cosmos 2062, believed to be a two-week-
duration military photographic reconnaissance satellite, from Plesetsk
on a Soyuz booster. The Soviets now have two photoreconnaissance
satellites in orbit, the other is Cosmos 0249, a fifth-generation long-
duration satellite launched in 1989.
U.S. OFFICIALS ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT JAPAN'S SATELLITE ANNOUNCEMENT
Following the Japanese government's announcement that Japan will likely
open its domestic telecommunications market to foreign satellite
manufacturers, U.S. Administration officials said they welcomed the
announcement with caution. An official of Japan's Ministry of Posts
and Telecommunications (MPT) said it will continue to sponsor research
and development of a domestically-produced satellite, but will probably
buy commercial satellites from domestic and foreign firms. In the
past, the U.S. has charged that Japan has engaged in unfair trade
practices by using government money to support development of the CS-4
communications satellite, and that it plans to develop a domestic
satellite industry by offering exclusive contracts to a Japanese
consortium to build two satellites that would be launched in 1994 and
1995.
AEROFLOT TO BEGIN WEEKLY SERVICE BETWEEN MOSCOW AND SEOUL
According to Soviet airline officials, Aeroflot will begin weekly
service between Moscow and Seoul, South Korea, via Shanghai. Air China
and Korean Air Lines are also scheduled to participate in the service.
Aeroflot and Korean Air Lines plan to start direct Moscow-Seoul and
Khavarovsk-Seoul services next week.
FINLAND SENT RFPs GENERAL DYNAMICS, DASSAULT-BREGUET AND SAAB-SCANIA
Finland sent requests for proposals to General Dynamics for the F-16,
Dassault-Breguet for the Mirage 2000 and Saab-Scania for the Gripen
JAS-39 as a replacement for its Saab J-35 Drakens. Finland is also
investigating the possibility of purchasing the MiG-29 and Su-27 to
replace its MiG-21.
BUSINESS:
BALL AEROSPACE CHOSEN BY NASA FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON EOS PROJECTS
Ball Aerospace Systems Group has been chosen by NASA for detailed
negotiations on three Earth Observing System (EOS) projects. Potential
value for the EOS programs is approximately $141 million. The EOS will
provide scientific information about the Earth's ozone layer and
distribution of carbon monoxide and aerosols in the atmosphere.
BEECH AIRCRAFT RECEIVES 32 ORDERS FOR MODEL 400A BEECHJET
Beech Aircraft Corp. received over 32 orders for the Model 400A
Beechjet since it was selected to provide up to 211 Model 400T versions
of the aircraft for the Air Force's Tanker/Transport Training System.
The 400A features an electronic flight information system avionics
suite, additional fuel and longer range than the original Model 400
Beechjet.
MDAC DEVELOPING SOFTWARE TO DIAGNOSE ELECTRONIC/HYDRAULIC FAILURES
McDonnell Douglas said it is developing software that can diagnose
electronic and hydraulic failures of flight control surfaces and
reconfigure the fly-by-wire control system to keep the pilot in full
command of the aircraft. The system has successfully reconfigured
flight controls after failure of the right horizontal stabilator during
tests using an F-15 at NASA Dryden Flight Test Center at Edwards Air
Force Base, CA. McDonnell Douglas is developing the software, which
also gives ground crews failure information to speed maintenance work,
under a $6.3 million, three-year Air Force contract.
ORBITAL SCIENCES' PEGASUS TO BE LAUNCHED ON APRIL 4
Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Pegasus air-launched booster will be launched
on April 4, and carry a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) Pegsat research payload. A NASA B-52, with the Pegasus mounted
under its wing, will take off from Edwards Air Force Base and carry it
to 40,000 feet over the Western Test Range. The Pegsat is a three-
function payload which will measure the spacecraft's orbital
conditions, release an experimental communications transponder and
conduct two barium-release experiments over Canada. DARPA also plans
to launch a Pegasus with seven small communications satellites, called
Microsats, later this year.
FORMER TRW CHAIRMAN GIVEN ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES ASSN.'S MEDAL
TRW, Inc.'s former chairman and chief executive officer Ruben F.
Mettler was named the 1990 recipient of the Electronics Industries
Assn.'s Medal of Honor.
CONTRACT AWWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO PROVIDE LAUNCH SERVICES FOR SOHO MISSION
NASA announced that General Dynamics Space Systems Div. will provide
launch services for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
mission using an Atlas IIAS booster under a $117 million contract to be
negotiated. SOHO is a NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) mission to
conduct detailed observations of the sun and solar phenomena. General
Dynamics will begin work this summer.
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED $402.9 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
General Electric Co. was issued a $402.9 million Air Force contract for
fighter engines.
HOLSTON DEFENSE GIVEN CONTRACT FOR OPERATION OF AMMUNITION PLANT
Holston Defense Corp. was given a $22.8 million Army contract for
operation and maintenance of an ammunition plant in Tennessee.
IBM GOT AIRCRAFT RADAR CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. got a contract for $35.2
million from the Air Force for aircraft radar.
LOCKHEED WON $352.2 MILLION CONTRACT FOR TRIDENT MISSILE SERVICES.
Lockheed Corp. won a $352.2 million Navy contract for Trident missile
services.
LORAL RECEIVED AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
Loral Corp. received a $35 million Air Force contract for aircraft
electronics.
LTV ISSUED FOLLOW-ON CONTRACTS FOR MLRS TOTALING $92.1 MILLION
LTV Missiles and Electronics Group was issued follow-on contracts
totaling $92.1 million for its Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
from the U.S. Army Missile Command.
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED LETTER CONTRACT FROM ARMY WORTH $42 MILLION
Martin Marietta Missile Systems received a letter contract worth up to
$42 million for full-scale engineering development of the Optimized
Hellfire laser-guided anti-tank missile for the Army. Company
officials expect to sign a formal contract in the next two months which
will call for 65 flight tests in late 1991. Missile Systems will
harden the seeker against electro-optic countermeasures and put in a
digital autopilot, a more robust warhead and an electronic fuse safe-
and-arm device rather than a mechanical one.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED ORDER FROM JAL WORTH ABOUT $2 BILLION
McDonnell Douglas Corp. confirmed that it received an order from Japan
Air Lines (JAL) Co. for 10 of its MD-11 aircraft and options for 10
more that could be converted into orders for a new stretched version of
the MD-11. The value of the contract is about $2 billion. McDonnell
Douglas was competing against Airbus Industrie, the European aircraft
consortium, for the JAL contract. Though JAL President Susumu Yamaji
did not say why the company chose the MD-11, he did say that JAL felt
is was the better buy. A McDonnell Douglas spokesperson said this JAL
order makes 340 firm orders and "other commitments" for the MD-11.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GIVEN $207.3 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was given $207.3 million in contracts for Air
Force F-15-E aircraft and Navy AV-8B aircraft parts.
RAYTHEON AWARDED RADAR AND SATELLITE EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was awarded $73.4 million from the Air Force for radar and
satellite equipment.
ROHR INDUSTRIES WON CONTRACT VALUED AT OVER $1 BILLION
Rohr Industries won a contract valued at over $1 billion from
International Aero Engines (IAE) to provide the engine nacelle system
for McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft, which will be powered by IAE
V2500 engines. The contract covers over 500 aircraft.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for March 26, 1990.
March 27, 1990
JSC TO PLACE CONTRACT WITH SUNSTRAND FOR TACTICAL OPTICAL DISK SYSTEMS
Under solicitation 9BG4125022P, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends
to place a contract with Sunstrand Data Control, Inc. for Tactical
Optical Disk Systems and associated peripherals. This acquisition is a
mass storage system to be evaluated for application aboard the space
shuttle. Therefore, it must meet MIL-STD 810D, Rockwell International
MF0004-014, and NAS/JSC SP-T-0023 specifications. Testing at the
Goddard Space Flight Center has qualified the Sunstrand-Data Control,
Inc. system for orbiter use. Vendors who can furnish the required
hardware and peripherals are invited to submit a written statement
clearly stating their ability to meet the requirements and
specifications. Vendors responding to this notice with a GSA Schedule
Contract should include the contract number and expiration date.
Written responses must be submitted within 15 days of publication of
this notice. All-responsible sources may submit an offer to be
considered by the agency.
Contact: Deborah Zimmerman
NASA Johnson Space Center
Mail code BD45
BG 41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-8489
No relevant RFPs for March 28, 1990.
March 29, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE REQUIRES ADPE EQUIPMENT
The Defense Supply Service-Washington, has a requirement for ADPE for
Department of the Army, Joint Staff Resource Management Council. The
contract shall be from date of award through 30 September 1990 with (4)
one year option periods. The requirement is for a minimum of (15)
fifteen high quality color printers; installation and set-up with the
ability to connect with IBM PC/AT or 100% compatible and Apple
MacIntosh II. When responding, please reference solicitation number
MDA903-90-R-0063.
Contact: Gregory Young
Defense Supply Service - Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 695-6672
March 30, 1990
LANGLEY TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS
NASA Langley Research Center intends to place a delivery order against
a Non-Mandatory GSA Schedule contract with Silicon Graphics, reference
Doc. GS00K89AGS5586, for Silicon Graphics Personal Iris 20 MHZ Model W-
4D25G and assorted peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the required
equipment or its equivalent are invited to submit, in writing, a
substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fill this
requirement. Vendors responding to this notice with GSA schedule
contracts should include contract number and expiration date.
Responses should be submitted within 15 calendar days of this notice.
Inquiries concerning this procurement should reference 1-07405627.0514
& 5627.0515.
Contact: Artistine Lethcoe-Reid
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2432
LANGLEY TO PURCHASE SPARCSTATION-1 FROM SUN MICROSYSTEMS
NASA Langley Research Center intends to place a delivery order against
a Non-Mandatory GSA Schedule contract with Sun Microsystems, reference
Doc. GS00K88AGS5897, for SPARCstation-1 and assorted peripherals.
Vendors who can furnish the required equipment or its equivalent are
invited to submit, in writing, a substantive statement clearly stating
the ability to fill this requirement. Vendors responding to this
notice with GSA schedule contracts should include contract number and
expiration date. No solicitation will be issued. Responses should be
submitted in writing within 15 calendar days of this notice. If no
responses are received, an order shall be placed in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the above referenced schedule contract.
Inquiries concerning this procurement should reference 1-075-3430.0127.
Contact: Gale Poulson
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2433
|
| 20.80 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 04/02/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Apr 18 1990 13:01 | 549 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 011348
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 11-Apr-1990 04:00pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@YPMB82@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 04/02/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 2, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
---------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
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at the $ prompt.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 2, 1990
GENERAL:
U.S. TO DISCUSS COOPERATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES ON LUNAR/MARS MISSIONS
SPACE COMMERCE '90 A SUCCESS DESPITE FRENCH BOYCOTT
SOVIETS TO EXHIBIT SPACE TECHNOLOGY AT BOSTON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE
DEFENSE:
MISSION-PLANNING FUNCTION OF TACIT RAINBOW CONTRACT TO BE AWARDED
PENTAGON DISCLOSES INFORMATION ON F-117A STEALTH FIGHTER-BOMBER
HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE WORKING TO REDUCE MILITARY SPENDING IN FY 1991
CHENEY CALLS FOR REDUCED CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL OVER PENTAGON SPENDING
BUSH ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERING SCALING BACK PRODUCTION OF B-2 BOMBER
NASA:
NASA POSTPONED LAUNCH OF HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE FOR TWO DAYS
RONALD EVANS, COMMANDER OF APOLLO 17, DIED AT AGE 56
SPACE STATION ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE TO ASSIST STATION OFFICIALS
PAYLOAD SYSTEMS TO GIVE RESULTS OF CRYSTAL GROWTH EXPERIMENTS
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS POSTPONE T-MODULE LAUNCH UNTIL APRIL 19
INQUIRY BOARD FINDS CLOGGED WATER LINE REASON FOR ARIANE 44L EXPLOSION
NO CHANGES IN U.K. THREE YEAR DEFENSE BUDGET FORECAST
CNES DECLARES SPOT 2 EARTH-OBSERVATION SATELLITE FUNCTIONAL
JAPANESE INDUSTRY MANUFACTURED AEROSPACE PRODUCTS WORTH $4.819 BILLION
GEC AND SIEMENS TO DIVIDE OWNERSHIP OF PLESSEY DIVISIONS
DAIMLER-BENZ MAY INVITE MITSUBISHI TO JOIN UTC DIVISION JOINT VENTURE
ASIASAT 1 SATELLITE SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH IN CHINA ON APRIL 7
ISRAEL LAUNCHES SECOND EXPERIMENTAL SATELLITE INTO ORBIT
BUSINESS:
BOEING INVESTIGATING PROBABLE CASE OF INDUSTRIAL SABOTAGE
BOEING AND LOS ALAMOS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATE RING RESONATOR
CSC TO APPEAL RULING ON NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER CONTRACT
HONEYWELL MAY SELL DEFENSE AND MARINE SYSTEMS TO SHAREHOLDERS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AND CHINA TO CO-PRODUCE 20 ADDITIONAL MD-80s
ORBITAL SCIENCES SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES PEGASUS ROCKET
ROCKWELL FORMS NEW DEFENSE ELECTRONICS UNIT
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $10.2 MILLION
CSC TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES TO NASA FACILITY
GENERAL MOTORS AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $40.5 MILLION
H&R GIVEN NAVY CONTRACT FOR ADVANCED AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE PROGRAM
LOCKHEED AWARDED $259.7 MILLION MISSILE-ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED APACHE HELICOPTER CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
RAYTHEON WON $10 MILLION SOFTWARE CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
RFP UPDATE:
April 2, 1990
GODDARD TO UPGRADE EXISTING COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING WORKSTATIONS
No relevant RFPs for April 3-5, 1990.
April 6, 1990
LANGLEY ISSUED RFP TO SPEECH SYSTEMS, INC.
AFCC ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR TACTICAL AIR FORCES WORKSTATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
U.S. TO DISCUSS COOPERATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES ON LUNAR/MARS MISSIONS
A space policy directive released by the White House announced the U.S.
will seek "exploratory dialogues" with Europe, Canada, Japan, the
Soviet Union and others on cooperation on manned lunar and Mars
missions. The directive specified that the National Space Council will
prepare guidelines for the talks. The Council will also oversee
interagency coordination and review during development of any future
international cooperation projects and will provide recommendations to
the President where appropriate.
SPACE COMMERCE '90 A SUCCESS DESPITE FRENCH BOYCOTT
The third international conference and exhibition, Space Commerce '90,
in Montreux, Switzerland drew 600 managers, scientists and government
officials from 40 nations. The exhibit concerned the commercial and
industrial uses of space. Conspicuously, no major French aerospace
firm nor the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) space agency
exhibited at the show. The boycott apparently concerned a rival week-
long meeting, Technospace, which was held in Bordeaux in 1988. The
mayor of Bordeaux at the time held a key position in the French
parliament and applied pressure on the CNES to skip Montreux.
SOVIETS TO EXHIBIT SPACE TECHNOLOGY AT BOSTON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE
The Soviet space agency Glavcosmos is working with the Boston Museum of
Science to develop an exhibit on Soviet space technology for American
audiences. The agency plans to ship 15 tons of equipment to Boston for
this summer's exhibit. The equipment will include a scale model of
Sputnik, a model of the Mir space station, the Lunakhod 2 satellite, a
lunar roving vehicle and components from Luna 24.
DEFENSE:
MISSION-PLANNING FUNCTION OF TACIT RAINBOW CONTRACT TO BE AWARDED
The Air Force and Navy plan to award a contract for "development of an
Ada software module to do the mission-planning function for the air-
launched Tacit Rainbow anti-radiation missile. The Joint Tactical
Autonomous Weapons office at the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Div.,
Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio announced the planned contract.
According to the announcement, "the software module will be integrated
into Strategic Air Command's Conventional Mission Planning and
Preparation Software system for the B-52 aircraft and conventional
weapons."
PENTAGON DISCLOSES INFORMATION ON F-117A STEALTH FIGHTER-BOMBER
The Pentagon unveiled some information on its F-117A Stealth fighter-
bomber. Of the disclosures, the most significant was that it has cost
the Defense Dept. a total of $6.26 billion to acquire its 59 Lockheed
Corp.-build warplanes over the past nine years. This means the planes
have cost $106 million apiece, making them the nation's most expensive
fighter-bomber. The Pentagon also disclosed that six of the fighters
were sent to Panama during the U.S. invasion. The F-117A, which has
flown under cover of government secrecy since 1983, has a 43-foot
wingspan, is 65 feet long and weights 52,500 pounds. The last F-117A
is scheduled to be delivered late this year.
HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE WORKING TO REDUCE MILITARY SPENDING IN FY 1991
House Budget Committee Chairman Leon Panetta (D-CA) said the panel is
working on a plan to reduce military spending by between $10 billion
and $14 billion from projected levels in FY 1991. The committee has
been meeting privately to cut the projected $306.9 billion price tag.
Action by the committee is expected later this month.
CHENEY CALLS FOR REDUCED CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL OVER PENTAGON SPENDING
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney called for sharply reduced congressional
control over the details of Pentagon spending. Mr. Cheney's proposals
come in the face of spreading opposition to his budget plans. He
proposed taking power away from Congress to veto big-ticket weapons
purchases and line-item review of the entire Pentagon budget. He also
called for ways to make it easier for the Pentagon to encourage or
force thousands of officers out of active service as military spending
shrinks in the next few years. The proposals are expected to be meet
with criticism from Congress.
BUSH ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERING SCALING BACK PRODUCTION OF B-2 BOMBER
Air Force Secretary Donald Rice said the Bush administration is
considering scaling back production of the B-2 stealth bomber. Though
Mr. Rice declined to give details, he said Defense Secretary Dick
Cheney is reexamining current Pentagon plans to buy 132 of the bombers
at a cost of over $70 billion. President Bush's $306.9 billion defense
budget for FY 1991 currently calls for $5.5 billion for the stealth
bomber program, which includes the purchase of five planes and other
expenses.
NASA:
NASA POSTPONED LAUNCH OF HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE FOR TWO DAYS
NASA postponed the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope for two days
until April 10 in order to give workers an extra day of contingency
time in the processing schedule. According to mission managers, the
two and a half hour launch window will open at 8:47, and the telescope
will be deployed about 28 hours after liftoff. Shuttle workers are
preparing the space shuttle Discovery while payload technicians have
begun testing the telescope's onboard maintenance systems and science
instruments.
RONALD EVANS, COMMANDER OF APOLLO 17, DIED AT AGE 56
Ronald E. Evans, who piloted the command ship America in the last space
mission in the Apollo series, died of a heart attack in his sleep. He
was 56 years old. Commander Evans began as an astronaut in 1966 and
was a member of the backup crews for Apollo 14 and the joint Soviet-
American space flight in 1975. Upon taking his first steps in space in
December 1972 on the Apollo 17 mission, Commander Evans exclaimed, "Hot
diggety dog!"
SPACE STATION ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE TO ASSIST STATION OFFICIALS
NASA's space station advisory subcommittee plans to assist top space
station officials with a number of different issues, according to
NASA's William Raney. The subcommittee will help study several
different areas including space suit capabilities versus automation,
space debris, systems verification and ways to improve international
cooperation.
PAYLOAD SYSTEMS TO GIVE RESULTS OF CRYSTAL GROWTH EXPERIMENTS
Payload Systems Inc.'s senior vice president Vinit Nijhawan said the
detailed results of its protein crystal growth experiments, which were
flown on the Soviet Mir space station, will be announced within the
next few weeks. Mr. Nijhawan did not give specific details on how the
experiments fared, however he did say the company was "very pleased"
with the results.
INTERNATIONAL:
SOVIETS POSTPONE T-MODULE LAUNCH UNTIL APRIL 19
The Soviet Union has postponed the launch of the T-module, which
contains materials procession, astrophysics and Earth resources
experiments, to the Mir space station until the week of April 9. The
T-module, which was to be launched April 6, is a companion to the
Kvant-2 replenishment module. The Soviets gave no reason for the
delay.
INQUIRY BOARD FINDS CLOGGED WATER LINE REASON FOR ARIANE 44L EXPLOSION
The accident inquiry board investigating the February 22 explosion of
an Ariane 44L booster has determined an obstruction in a first stage
engine water line is the most likely cause of the accident. The
inquiry board reported its findings to European Space Agency (ESA) and
Arianespace officials, who will announce what corrective measures they
will take during a press conference next week. The Viking V engine,
built by Societe Europeane de Propulsion of France, uses water to cool
a high pressure turbine that mixes nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer and
unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine fuel before they are injected into the
combustion chamber. Sources have speculated that a clog in the water
line would have caused the turbine blades to overheat and seize. Two
Japanese satellites were also destroyed in the explosion.
NO CHANGES IN U.K. THREE YEAR DEFENSE BUDGET FORECAST
No changes were outlined in the U.K.'s three year defense budget,
despite events in Eastern Europe. According to the annual defense
White Paper presented to the House of Commons, political changes in
Eastern Europe were noted, but the U.K. plans to see how events develop
before considering any major changes. Defense Secretary Tom King
announced a 1990-91 defense budget of 21.223 billion pounds ($35
billion), up only 5% from the 1989-90 figure of 20.15 billion pounds.
Because of high U.K. inflation, officially estimated at 6.5%, this
year's defense budget will be lower in real terms than in 1989-90, but
the White Paper estimates that it will recover somewhat in the
following two years, when inflation is forecast to fall to 4.75% and
3.5%.
CNES DECLARES SPOT 2 EARTH-OBSERVATION SATELLITE FUNCTIONAL
The French SPOT 2 Earth-observation satellite, launched in January, was
cleared for commercial use by its owner, French space agency Centre
National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). The satellite has successfully
passed its two-month trial period and was turned over to SPOT Image
Corp. which is responsible for commercial sale of SPOT pictures. SPOT
2's predecessor, SPOT 1, launched in 1986, still performs well. Its
latest success was producing before-and-after photographs of a Libyan
chemical plant.
JAPANESE INDUSTRY MANUFACTURED AEROSPACE PRODUCTS WORTH $4.819 BILLION
According to the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies, in 1989,
Japanese industry manufactured various aerospace products worth $4.819
billion, a 10.8% increase over the year before. The defense agency
accounted for $3.669 billion, or 76.1% of the total, while $569
million, or 11.8%, and $581 million, or 12.1%, were for domestic civil
operators and export orders, respectively.
GEC AND SIEMENS TO DIVIDE OWNERSHIP OF PLESSEY DIVISIONS
General Electric Co. (GEC) of Britain and Siemens AG of West Germany
announced plans for dividing ownership of the businesses they acquired
last year after a takeover battle for their smaller British rival,
Plessey Co., for 2.04 billion pounds ($3.34 billion). The two
companies plan to maintain joint ownership of only one major Plessey
business, GPT, a telecommunications-equipment maker, and to divide or
sell off Plessey's remaining electronics units. GEC will take control
of Plessey's avionics, aerospace and naval systems businesses. Siemens
will control Plessey's radar, defense systems and controls units.
DAIMLER-BENZ MAY INVITE MITSUBISHI TO JOIN UTC DIVISION JOINT VENTURE
The chairman of Daimler-Benz AG of West Germany said they are
considering inviting Japan's Mitsubishi group of companies to join its
planned aircraft engines joint venture with the Pratt & Whitney
subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. Eduard Reuter told the West
German financial newspaper Handelsblatt that Mitsubishi may join the
arrangement under which the civilian jet engine operations of Daimler's
MTU Motoren-und Turbinen-Union Muenchen GmbH engine subsidiary will be
merged with those of Pratt & Whitney.
ASIASAT 1 SATELLITE SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH IN CHINA ON APRIL 7
The first of three U.S.-built telecommunications satellites to be
launched by China, the Asiasat 1, has been scheduled for launch April 7
on a Long March 3 booster from the Xiching launch site. The satellite
was originally deployed from the space shuttle in February 1984 but was
stranded in a useless orbit when a boost motor failed to fire. It was
retrieved in November 1984 and Hughes Aircraft Co. refurbished it for
the Asian Satellite Telecommunications Co. The consortium will use the
satellite to provide telecommunication services to China, Thailand,
Pakistan and Hong Kong.
ISRAEL LAUNCHES SECOND EXPERIMENTAL SATELLITE INTO ORBIT
Israel sent its second experimental satellite into orbit, but denied
that the Ofek-2 satellite was part of a program to spy on its Arab
neighbors. The Ofek-2, Ofek is Hebrew for horizon, was launched from
an undisclosed site in the center of the country and entered orbit 90
minutes later. The launch came a day after President Saddam Hussein of
Iraq threatened to react to any Israeli assault with a chemical warfare
attack.
BUSINESS:
BOEING INVESTIGATING PROBABLE CASE OF INDUSTRIAL SABOTAGE
Boeing Co. said it is investigating what appears to be a case of
industrial sabotage, after a jetliner in the final stages of production
failed certain tests because of what the Seattle-based company
described as "highly irregular" wire cuts. The problem was discovered
after a test failure involving a 737-400 twin-engine plane. The
severed wires were found buried inside a thick bundle of wires feeding
a power system. The company suspects an employee, as only employees
are allowed on-site.
BOEING AND LOS ALAMOS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATE RING RESONATOR
Boeing Aerospace and Los Alamos Laboratory have successfully
demonstrated operation of a ring resonator in support of the free
electron laser program. This was a significant, positive step in the
directed energy weapon program and was part of an ongoing series of
high average power tests at Boeing's Seattle facility in support of the
Strategic Defense Initiative effort.
CSC TO APPEAL RULING ON NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER CONTRACT
Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) appealed a General Services
Administration (GSA) ruling that could cost the company a $170 million
NASA contract for computer software services at Ames Research Center.
CSC was disqualified from further consideration of the award because a
Contract Appeals Court concluded that CSC had intentionally deceived
NASA about salaries it intended to pay the project's managers. Jim
Furlong, CSC director of corporate communications, said, "NASA was
fully conscience of the way we were pricing the contract. The board
assumed there was some kind of deception and we violently disagree with
that."
HONEYWELL MAY SELL DEFENSE AND MARINE SYSTEMS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Honeywell Inc. said that they have received several offers for their
Defense and Marine Systems business, but they are considering spinning
the business off to shareholders. The company said the initial bids
were low, and therefore the tax-free spinoff to shareholders is being
contemplated. The company expects to dispose of the unit during the
current quarter, which ends June 30. Defense and Marine is a leading
supplier of torpedoes and other weaponry to the U.S. and other
governments. Last year earnings for the division were $53.8 million on
sales of $1.1 billion.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AND CHINA TO CO-PRODUCE 20 ADDITIONAL MD-80s
McDonnell Douglas Corp. announced that China extended their agreement
for joint production of MD-80 twin-jet airliners. The extension calls
for 20 planes to be built by Shanhai Aviation Industrial Corp., with
subassemblies and parts shipped from McDonnell's commercial aircraft
unit. This brings China's total MD-80 orders to 50. Terms were not
disclosed.
ORBITAL SCIENCES SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES PEGASUS ROCKET
Orbital Sciences Corp. successfully launched its first Pegasus rocket
off the California coast from a B-52 bomber. Pegasus, the first U.S.-
developed launch vehicle since the space shuttle, is designed to carry
small satellites into space. The B-52 pilot, Gordon Fullerton, said,
"I got my view of the Pegasus really climbing fast. It looked like a
shuttle heading for the sky." The successful launch was a much needed
boost to Orbital Sciences, as they will now be able to complete their
initial public stock offering and raise $16.3 million before
underwriting fees.
ROCKWELL FORMS NEW DEFENSE ELECTRONICS UNIT
Rockwell International Corp. announced the formation of a Defense
Electronics unit that merges the majority of its defense electronics
activities into one business segment. The Defense Electronics unit
will be based in Anaheim, CA, employ 14,000 and produce annual sales of
about $1.8 billion. John McLuckey, president of Rockwell's Autonetics
unit, will be president of the new unit. "With the formation of
Defense Electronics, we continue to address the evolving needs of the
marketplace and the customers we serve," said Mr. McLuckey. "Modifying
our business structure is only one of many tools being used to make us
more competitive."
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $10.2 MILLION
Boeing Co. was issued a $10.2 million Air Force contract for
development of the tactical short-range attack missile.
CSC TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES TO NASA FACILITY
Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) will provide engineering services at
NASA's Wallops Flight Facility under a $60.9 million contract to be
negotiated with Goddard Space Flight Center. Under the contract, which
begins July 1, CSC will support instrumentation and mechanical systems,
avionics and launch vehicle analysis, safety analysis, technical
liaison and project management.
GENERAL MOTORS AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $40.5 MILLION
General Motors Corp. was awarded a $40.5 million Air Force contract for
C-130 aircraft engines.
H&R GIVEN NAVY CONTRACT FOR ADVANCED AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE PROGRAM
H&R Co., a joint venture of Raytheon Co. and General Motors Corp.'s
Hughes Aircraft Co. was given an $11.8 million Navy contract for the
advanced air-to-air missile program.
LOCKHEED AWARDED $259.7 MILLION MISSILE-ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT
Lockheed Corp. was awarded a $259.7 million Navy contract for missile-
engineering services for the U.S. and British navies.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED APACHE HELICOPTER CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
McDonnell Douglas Corp. received a $13.7 million Army contract for
Apache helicopters.
RAYTHEON WON $10 MILLION SOFTWARE CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
Raytheon Co. won a $10 million Navy contract for software.
RFP UPDATE:
April 2, 1990
GODDARD TO UPGRADE EXISTING COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING WORKSTATIONS
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center intends to upgrade an existing
Computer-Aided Engineering Workstation by issuing RFP5-75681/041 for
the acquisition of a Replacement Hardware Platform and Additional
Software License to Valid Logic Systems, Inc. Any firms capable of
supplying the requirements are invited to respond to this notice within
15 calendar days of this notice. Simple requests for a solicitation
will not be considered an affirmative response. No telephone requests
will be accepted.
Contact: Janet Weisenfeld.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-7245
No relevant RFPs for April 3-5, 1990.
April 6, 1990
LANGLEY ISSUED RFP TO SPEECH SYSTEMS, INC.
NASA Langley Research Center issued solicitation 1-49-9310.0618 for a
speech recognition system to Speech Systems, Inc. for Model DS 207 or
equal. The system shall contain such salient features as speaker-
independence, i.e. the system shall recognize words in its dictionary
set, spoken by any user, without requiring the user to pre-train the
words. Maintenance for a period of one (1) year, operation and
maintenance manuals and training will be included in any contract
resulting from this RFP.
Contact: NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 144
Industry Assistance Office
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2547
AFCC ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR TACTICAL AIR FORCES WORKSTATIONS
The Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCC) issued a solicitation
for Tactical Air Forces Workstations (TAF-WS). A notice of
availability of draft specification for the acquisition of a family of
upwardly compatible, graphics workstations. Any responsible sources
are invited to submit a response within 15 calendar days of this
notice.
Contact: Capt. Peter Hart
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
PKD
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8638
|
| 20.81 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of April 9, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Apr 19 1990 15:49 | 743 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 011416
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 19-Apr-1990 02:43pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of April 9, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 9, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
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******* ANNOUNCEMENT *******
Quickstart Program Mailing
The Quickstart Program is about to send a mailing to 10,000 US aerospace
and electronics engineers and managers offering them DECstation 3100
evaluation units with their choice of one of Digital's CMP's ECAD software
for up to 45 days evaluation, if they qualify. Qualification is done by
their local sales unit, in conjunction with the appropriate CMP.
Please see Sales Update of Jan 8, 1990 for complete info on the Quickstart
program.
The purpose of this mailing is lead generation in accounts where Digital
presence may be low. The mailing list is the subscription lists of EDN and
EE Times mags. The offer letter is attached.
Please call us if you need more information.
Tom Deakins Fumio Taku Carmon Cunningham
276-8585 297-4278 297-7377
Elect Ind Mktg Elect Eng Mktg Elect CMP program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MM DD, 1990
Name & Address
Dear Mr. Prospect,
I am writing to offer you the chance to evaluate the DECstation 3100,
a RISC-based UNIX<R> workstation, for 45 days--completely free of
charge. The evaluation unit will be loaded with your choice of one of
the leading electronic computer-aided design (ECAD) or technical
documentation packages listed below. Digital will pay for delivery,
and we'll even install the unit for you!
Hundreds of UNIX applications have already been ported to the
DECstation family, and more are being added to the list every day. See
for yourself how much faster applications run on a DECstation. You'll
find information covering all the features of the DECstation family on the
enclosed information sheet.
What exactly will you get?
You'll get a ready-to-run DECstation 3100 with ULTRIX-32 operating
system, memory, disks, and application software. The vendor of the
application you select will install the software at no charge and
provide free support and reduced-cost training. You can choose any one
of the following ECAD and technical documentation applications.
Company Application Description
------- ----------- -----------
Automated Systems (ASI) Prance GT(TM) PCB design
Cadence Design Systems OPUS(R) Integrated suite of IC
design tools
Dracula(R) Design verification
Cadence/Gateway Verilog-XL(R) Design simulation
Harris Scientific SCICARDS(R) PCB design
Calculations, Inc.
Interleaf, Inc. Interleaf(TM) TPS Technical
Publishing System
Racal-Redac Visula Plus(TM) PCB design
Valid Logic Systems ValidGED(TM) Schematic capture
Allegro PCB design
Analog Toolkit(TM) Analog design
ValidSIM(TM) Design simulation
VIEWlogic Systems Workview(TM) CAE (schematic
capture, mixed mode
simulation)
You can have your DECstation 3100 installed and running within 30 days
of approval. Once your application is approved, we'll take care of all
the shipping costs and installation details.
How can I qualify?
To start the qualification process, call 1-800-343-4040, Ext. XXX, and
give your name, title, address, and other requested information, or
fill out and return the enclosed response card. Just don't delay! Only
a limited number of DECstation 3100 workstations are available on this
free trial basis, and only for a short time. You will be contacted by
your local Digital representative to complete your request.
We're confident that the greater speed of the DECstation 3100, its
ease of use, large suite of applications, and attractive
price/performance along with Digital's comprehensive portfolio of
services and systems integration capabilities will convince you that
"Digital's RISC is your gain!" So call today to begin the
qualification process.
Sincerely,
Don McInnis
Vice President, Engineering Systems Group
P.S. If you're interested in learning more about Digital's family of
compatible RISC systems, fill out the enclosed response card to
request a free copy of the "Digital RISC Workstations and
Applications" video cassette.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BCR:
YES! I'm very interested in your FREE trial offer of a DECstation
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________ Please have a Digital representative call me to start the
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(3)(6)(12) months.
________ Send me your free "Digital RISC Workstations and
Applications" video cassette.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 9, 1990
DEFENSE:
CHENEY TO SEND CONGRESS RECOMMENDATIONS ON CUTS FOR AIRCRAFT PROGRAMS
SDIO EXPERIMENT DEMONSTRATES THAT DECOYS CAN BE TRACKED
NAVY PLACING EMPHASIS ON ROLE IN SPACE FOR WAR-FIGHTING STRATEGY
LATEST PENTAGON PLAN CALLS FOR CUTTING ARMY AND AIR FORCE TROOPS
PENTAGON'S SARs FOUND TOP 95 PROGRAMS WAY UP IN LAST QUARTER 1989
GAO FINDS THREE ADP SYSTEMS FOR AIR FORCE HAVE DOUBLED IN COST
PENTAGON ASSESSING U.S. STEALTH AIRCRAFT SURVIVABILITY
NASA:
NASA POSTPONED LAUNCH OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY
TRULY ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTORS FOR GODDARD AND LEWIS
SPACE SHUTTLE TOMATO SEEDS MAY CONTAIN COSMIC RADIATION
ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DAMAGED FUEL CELL BEING INVESTIGATED BY NASA
NASA TO BEGIN PROGRAM TO FIND ALTERNATIVE IDEAS FOR LUNAR/MARS MISSIONS
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY ENDORSES NASA'S EOS PROGRAM
ASAP FINDS ELIMINATING ONE OF TWO AIRLOCKS ON SPACE STATION A RISK
INTERNATIONAL:
EUROPEAN TRANSPORT MINISTERS TO MEET FOR AIR-TRAFFIC REORGANIZATION
FOKKER REPORTS 1989 NET PROFIT TRIPLED TO $22.5 MILLION
IAI DEVELOPING NEW TRANSFER ROCKET STAGE BOOSTER
SOVIET UNION LAUNCHED MILITARY TACTICAL COMMUNICATION SATELLITE
JAPAN'S ISAS DEVELOPING MORE POWERFUL BOOSTER
SOVIET OFFICIALS SAY MIR-2 WILL BE LAUNCHED IN SEVEN TO EIGHT YEARS
BUSINESS:
BOEING ANNOUNCED THREE JAPANESE COMPANIES WILL SUBCONTRACT FOR 767-X
LOCKHEED WINS PROXY BATTLE WITH DALLAS INVESTOR HAROLD SIMMONS
RAYTHEON POSTS 8.4% HIGHER NET INCOME IN FIRST QUARTER
ROCKWELL TO INVEST $15 MILLION IN JOINT PROGRAM WITH NASA
TELEDYNE REPORTS A 17% DROP IN FIRST QUARTER NET INCOME
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC HAD 11% FIRST-QUARTER NET INCOME GAIN
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE GIVEN $35.9 MILLION NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER CONTRACT
BOEING RECEIVED ORDERS FOR PLANES FROM MAERSK AIR
HUGHES AND ARIANESPACE WON BRAZIL SATELLITE CONTRACTS
IBM GIVEN $238.7 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS
LOCKHEED TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF JSC UNDER $444.5 MILLION CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED HELICOPTER ORDER FROM ISRAEL
RAYTHEON WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR MODERNIZATION OF COBRA DANE
ROCKWELL GIVEN $104.3 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
WESTINGHOUSE ISSUED A $156.6 MILLION CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT RADARS
RFP UPDATE:
April 9, 1990
FINAL RFP FOR MASS DATA STORAGE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM ISSUED BY GSFC
No relevant RFPs for April 10-12, 1990.
April 13, 1990
LANGLEY TO PURCHASE IRIS POWER SERIES SYSTEM WORKSTATIONS
LANGLEY PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SUN MICROSYSTEMS
DEFENSE SUPPLY PLACED DELIVERY ORDER WITH NEC TECHNOLOGIES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFENSE:
CHENEY TO SEND CONGRESS RECOMMENDATIONS ON CUTS FOR AIRCRAFT PROGRAMS
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said he will send Congress his
recommendations on cuts in some or all of four major aircraft programs,
including the B-2 Stealth bomber. Mr. Cheney said he has spent a great
deal of time in Pentagon briefing reviews to determine possible cuts in
the B-2, C-17 cargo plane and advanced tactical fighter planes for the
Navy and the Air Force. He said, "The basic problem we have is that we
have about 10 pounds of program in a 6 pound budget, and something's
got to give." Mr. Cheney's recommendations are expected in Congress
within the next few weeks.
SDIO EXPERIMENT DEMONSTRATES THAT DECOYS CAN BE TRACKED
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) program officials said
an SDIO experiment has demonstrated that ballistic missile reentry
vehicle decoys can be imaged, tracked and discriminated from real ones.
The experiment, called Firefly, used an imaging laser radar at long
range to spot the deployment of a decoy RV from a rocket head. This
was the first precision use of imaging laser radar in tracking and
demonstrated sensor data fusion in command and control.
NAVY PLACING EMPHASIS ON ROLE IN SPACE FOR WAR-FIGHTING STRATEGY
The Navy has begun to place emphasis on the role that space will play
in the Navy's overall war-fighting strategy. Navy Vice Adm. Jerry
Tuttle has been named director of space command and control, while the
service has designated space and electronic combat as a separate field
of naval warfare. According to Adm. Tuttle, the Navy is in the process
of developing naval doctrines for space and electronic combat.
LATEST PENTAGON PLAN CALLS FOR CUTTING ARMY AND AIR FORCE TROOPS
The Defense Dept.'s latest plans call for cutting active duty Army
troops and front-line Air Force jet fighters by nearly 25% by 1998.
The proposals are nearly twice as large as reductions envisioned in the
military's current five-year plan through 1995. Defense Secretary Dick
Cheney will probably use the recommendations in preparing a long-term
spending blueprint, which seeks to protect high-tech weaponry at the
expense of personnel and existing hardware. However, Congress is
expected to demand more significant cuts in military programs. The
proposal must be approved by Mr. Cheney and President George Bush.
PENTAGON'S SARs FOUND TOP 95 PROGRAMS WAY UP IN LAST QUARTER 1989
The Pentagon's Selected Acquisition Reports (SAR) for the last quarter
of 1989 found the estimated cost of the Pentagon's top 95 programs went
up $31 billion, or 3.8%, to a total of $843.8 billion, primarily due to
inflation. The SARs reported higher inflation estimates for FY 1990
and out-years accounted for $26.5 billion, or 85.6% of the cost boost.
Also, changes in estimating methods accounted for $6.1 billion of the
jump, while schedule and quantity changes accounted for $2.3 billion
and $1.1 billion, respectively. The SARs reflected a reduction in
support costs of $2.7 billion and a reduction in engineering costs by
$2.1 billion, chiefly due to program cancellations.
GAO FINDS THREE ADP SYSTEMS FOR AIR FORCE HAVE DOUBLED IN COST
The General Accounting Office (GAO) reported that three automated data
processing (ADP) systems designed to coordinate missile tracking,
warning and surveillance operations have more than doubled in cost to a
total of $1.5 billion and are over seven years behind schedule because
the Air Force rushed into procurement to quickly. The GAO report, "Air
Force Prematurely Recommends ADP Acquisitions," said part of the
problem was the Air Force established requirements that could not be
met or had to be reduced to hold down escalating costs. In FY 1990,
the Defense Dept. requested nearly $9 billion for ADP resources.
PENTAGON ASSESSING U.S. STEALTH AIRCRAFT SURVIVABILITY
An Air Force report stated the Pentagon is pursuing an aggressive
program of counter-stealth technology studies, both to assess U.S.
stealth aircraft survivability and to be ready for the inevitable
development of stealth methods overseas. The report, "B-2
Survivability Against Air Defense Systems," said "vigorous" counter-
stealth studies are ongoing to make sure U.S. stealth platforms can
perform as advertised and that foreign stealth platforms can be
defeated. The report was issued as a means to validate the B-2
bomber's stealth capabilities.
NASA:
NASA POSTPONED LAUNCH OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY
NASA postponed the launch of the space shuttle Discovery, which was to
carry the $1.5 billion Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. A faulty
power unit in the spacecraft's steering system was cited as the cause
for the delay. NASA has rescheduled the launch for April 25.
TRULY ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTORS FOR GODDARD AND LEWIS
NASA Administrator Richard Truly appointed John Klineberg as director
of Goddard Space Flight Center and Lawrence Ross as director of Lewis
Research Center effective July 1. Mr. Klineberg, who has been director
of Lewis for three years, will succeed John Townsend, who is retiring.
Mr. Ross has been deputy director for Lewis since December 1987.
SPACE SHUTTLE TOMATO SEEDS MAY CONTAIN COSMIC RADIATION
An internal memo written by a NASA contractor warned that the tomato
seeds that had flown in the space shuttle and were then sent to
elementary students across the country were exposed to cosmic radiation
that could produce poisonous tomatoes. The danger was described as
"remote," but no warnings had been given to 180,000 teachers
participating in the experiment designed to rouse interest in science
by providing 4 million students with an opportunity to study the
effects of long term space exposure on living tissue. NASA's Space
Exposed Experiment Developed for Students (SEEDS) was one of the 57
experiments carried aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)
which was retrieved this fall.
ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DAMAGED FUEL CELL BEING INVESTIGATED BY NASA
NASA has convened an accident inquiry board to determine the cause of
an April 4 accident that damaged a fuel cell being removed from the
space shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Fuel cell No. 3
was being prepared for removal for shipment to the manufacturer, United
Technologies Corp. (UTC), because a problem had been discovered during
post-flight testing. The cell was damaged when one side of it was
overpressurized before being removed. Deputy associate administrator
for space flight George Abbey will head the five-member review board.
The board hopes to issue a report by April 30.
NASA TO BEGIN PROGRAM TO FIND ALTERNATIVE IDEAS FOR LUNAR/MARS MISSIONS
According to NASA officials, a program designed to seek alternative
ideas for lunar and Mars exploration missions will begin at the end of
April. The program, which has strong support from the White House
National Space Council, involves a three-step approach. Five thousand
letters will be sent to universities, associations and industry.
Government agencies will also be solicited to help in planning the
exploration missions.
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY ENDORSES NASA'S EOS PROGRAM
Following a preliminary study, a National Research Council panel has
endorsed NASA's proposed Earth Observing System (EOS) as part of the
interagency U.S. Global Change Research Program. The 15-member
academic panel found "strong, compelling arguments" favoring NASA's
approach of large, complex satellites for EOS versus up to 36 smaller
satellites with the same scientific instruments. NASA has requested
$235 million in FY 1991 to build EOS instruments and officially begin
work on the first platform of the first series, known as EOS-A.
ASAP FINDS ELIMINATING ONE OF TWO AIRLOCKS ON SPACE STATION A RISK
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) found that NASA's cost-
cutting decision to eliminate one of two airlocks on the space station
poses an "unacceptable risk" to the crew and that the second airlock
should be restored to the baseline configuration. The panel also said
that automation and robotics technology being developed for manufacture
of the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM) will extend the state-of-the-
art and should be monitored very closely. One of the two space station
airlocks was eliminated from the baseline plan during a rescoping
effort last year. The airlocks are used for spacewalks to service
experiments and repair damaged or malfunctioning equipment. ASAP
recommended that NASA review the amount of technical advancement, cost
and time required to develop and operate the automated systems.
INTERNATIONAL:
EUROPEAN TRANSPORT MINISTERS TO MEET FOR AIR-TRAFFIC REORGANIZATION
Transport ministers of 23 European countries plan to meet in Paris on
April 24 to approve an air-traffic-control reorganization program. The
plan is intended to partially clear up the traffic jams in Europe's
skies. Basically, the plan essentially would link Europe's 42 air-
traffic-control centers with high-speed data links that carry radar and
flight information by 1998. The plan also reorganizes air "lanes,"
provides radar coverage where it is lacking and harmonizes standards
for equipment and operations.
FOKKER REPORTS 1989 NET PROFIT TRIPLED TO $22.5 MILLION
Dutch aerospace group Fokker N.V., reported that their 1989 net profit
tripled to 42.4 million guilders ($22.5 million) from 13.3 million
guilders in 1988. The company said this was mostly due to a reduction
in financing charges to 55 million guilders from 64 million guilders a
year earlier. Also, Fokker's participating interests in other
companies contributed revenue of 15.9 million guilders in 1989,
compared with 8.6 million guilders in 1988.
IAI DEVELOPING NEW TRANSFER ROCKET STAGE BOOSTER
Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) said it is developing a new transfer
rocket stage that will be able to boost a payload from low Earth orbit
into geosynchronous orbit. The Cryogenic Transfer Module is a
cryogenic propulsion unit fueled by liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.
The unit is designed to operate independently of the satellite or other
payload. IAI plans to have the module ready for launch by the end of
1992.
SOVIET UNION LAUNCHED MILITARY TACTICAL COMMUNICATION SATELLITE
The Soviet Union launched Cosmos 2064-71, believed to be eight small
military tactical communication satellites, on a Cosmos booster.
According to Geoffrey Perry of the Kettering Group in England, the
satellites will become part of a constellation of 24 military tactical
communication satellites used by Soviet field commanders.
JAPAN'S ISAS DEVELOPING MORE POWERFUL BOOSTER
Japan's Institute of Space and Astronomical Science (ISAS) is
developing a more powerful booster to launch radioastronomy and lunar
probes scheduled for 1994. The booster, Mu-5, will have three times
the thrust of the Mu-3 used to launch a scientific satellite last
month. According to ISAS, the Mu-5 is also scheduled to launch a lunar
probe in 1995 that will fire penetrators into the moon's surface to
measure seismic activity and temperature changes.
SOVIET OFFICIALS SAY MIR-2 WILL BE LAUNCHED IN SEVEN TO EIGHT YEARS
Soviet space officials announced the Mir-2, a replacement for the Mir
space station, will be launched in seven or eight years. The 300
metric ton complex is expected to accommodate nine to 12 crewmembers.
BUSINESS:
BOEING ANNOUNCED THREE JAPANESE COMPANIES WILL SUBCONTRACT FOR 767-X
Boeing Co. announced three Japanese aerospace companies would together
serve as a sort of super-subcontractor on the 767-X airplane; however,
their role will not be that of partner. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
were the three chosen by Boeing. The announcement probably means that
there will be work left on the 767-X for U.S. companies. Boeing
singled out Lockheed Corp., Grumman Corp. and Rockwell International
Corp. as possible subcontractors. The 350-seat 767-X is bigger than
the 767 but smaller than the Boeing 747 jumbo jet.
LOCKHEED WINS PROXY BATTLE WITH DALLAS INVESTOR HAROLD SIMMONS
Lockheed Corp. announced it won the proxy battle against Dallas
investor Harold Simmons for control of the nation's sixth largest
defense contractor. The results signaled that Lockheed's shareholders
are willing to give Chairman Daniel Tellep more time to increase
revenue for Lockheed. Lockheed's nominees to the board, all of them
incumbents, won 62% of the more that 52 million shares voted in the
contest.
RAYTHEON POSTS 8.4% HIGHER NET INCOME IN FIRST QUARTER
Raytheon Co. posted an 8.4% increase in net income for its first
quarter in 1990 on a 7.3% revenue gain. Net income was $130.9 million,
compared with $120.8 million for the first quarter last year. Revenue
went up to $2.23 billion from $2.07 billion. The company's total order
backlog grew to $9.49 billion, including U.S. government-funded orders
of $6.84 billion. Backlog at the close of last year's first quarter
was $8.88 billion.
ROCKWELL TO INVEST $15 MILLION IN JOINT PROGRAM WITH NASA
Rockwell International announced it has agreed to invest $15 million in
a joint project with NASA that will allow the maximum length of space
shuttle missions to be doubled. The $200 million Extended Duration
Orbiter (EDO) program will allow for missions to last up to 16 days in
duration, thus allowing for longer-duration space research. The
agreement allows Rockwell to regain its investment and perhaps gain a
small profit if the company is able to convince outside users to sign
up the longer shuttle flights.
TELEDYNE REPORTS A 17% DROP IN FIRST QUARTER NET INCOME
Teledyne Inc. reported a 17% drop in first-quarter net income to $58.3
million, from $70.5 million a year ago. Sales were down 3.2% to $864.3
million, from $864.3 million for first quarter 1989. According to the
company, all segments except its aviation and electronics businesses
suffered a sales drop.
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC HAD 11% FIRST-QUARTER NET INCOME GAIN
Westinghouse Electric Corp. said first-quarter net income was up 11% as
revenue dropped slightly. Net income was $210 million, compared with
$189 million, during the same period a year ago. Revenue was down to
$2.86 billion from $2.89 billion. Analysts said results were in line
with expectations. First-quarter saw a pre-tax operating profit margin
of 10.3%, compared with a pretax operating profit margin of 9.7%, a
year ago.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE GIVEN $35.9 MILLION NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER CONTRACT
Boeing Aerospace Operations Inc. was given a $35.9 million program
assurance engineering support contract by NASA's Ames Research Center.
Under the 21-month contract, Boeing will provide reliability and
quality assurance, system safety engineering, test engineering,
configuration management, institutional safety and health and
environmental services for Ames.
BOEING RECEIVED ORDERS FOR PLANES FROM MAERSK AIR
Boeing Co. received an order for a Boeing 737-500 plane and three 737-
300s from Maersk Air, an independent Danish airline. The total cost of
the contract is approximately $127 million.
HUGHES AND ARIANESPACE WON BRAZIL SATELLITE CONTRACTS
General Motors Corp.'s Hughes Aircraft Co., in partnership with
Brazil's Promon Engenharia S.A., won a contract to supply Brazil with a
new generation of telecommunications satellites, according to Telebras,
the state telecommunications company. Also, McDonnell Douglas Corp.
was beat out by France's Arianespace in a separate bid to launch the
two satellites. The two contracts have a combined value of $244.3
million: $155.5 million for the satellites and $88.8 million for the
launchers.
IBM GIVEN $238.7 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) was given a $238.7 million
Air Force contract for aircraft electronics.
LOCKHEED TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF JSC UNDER $444.5 MILLION CONTRACT
Lockheed Engineering and Science Co. was chosen to provide engineering
support to several divisions at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) under
a $444.5 million contract extension and expansion that increases its
total value to $884.8 million and extends it to May 9, 1995. Under the
contract, Lockheed will provide research and development support
services to all elements of the Engineering Directorate, the New
Initiatives Office, some elements of the Space and Life Sciences
Directorate and other JSC offices. Services will include maintenance
and operation tasks on engineering associated with major system design
and development projects related to the space shuttle, space station
and advanced space programs.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVED HELICOPTER ORDER FROM ISRAEL
McDonnell Douglas Corp. received orders from Israel for 18 AH-64A
helicopters for $150 million. The company said that Egypt is also
considering buying 24 of the Apache attack helicopters and that the
Israeli purchase should not tilt the Mideast balance of power. A
McDonnell Douglas spokesperson said the sale will provide the Israeli
air force with "a stand-off weapon system with an anti-armor, day and
night missile capability. The first of the aircraft is scheduled to be
delivered to the Israelis during the 1990 third quarter.
RAYTHEON WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR MODERNIZATION OF COBRA DANE
Raytheon Co., Equipment Div. won a $58,568,457 fixed-price incentive
(firm target) and firm fixed price Air Force contract for modernization
of the Cobra Dane phased array radar system, including new computers,
displays, software and documentation. The work is scheduled to be
completed in February 1994. The Electronics Systems Div., Hanscom Air
Force Base, MA, is the contracting activity.
ROCKWELL GIVEN $104.3 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. was given a $104.3 million Air Force order
for AC-130U gunship aircraft.
WESTINGHOUSE ISSUED A $156.6 MILLION CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT RADARS
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was issued a $156.6 million Air Force
contract for F-16 aircraft radars.
RFP UPDATE:
April 9, 1990
FINAL RFP FOR MASS DATA STORAGE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM ISSUED BY GSFC
The Mass Data Storage and Delivery System (Terebyte) solicitation (RFP
5-29577/041) is being announced for final RFP requests. This
acquisition of a Mass Data Storage and Delivery System will provide
significant new capabilities for the storage, management, analysis and
delivery of massive quantities of data in support of NASA Space and
Earth Sciences research programs. This contract will consist of two
phases. The first phase is the fixed price portion which includes
hardware, software and related support for the basic year. The second
phase of this contract will be a fixed price indefinite quantity
portion which will include estimates and maximum quantities of
peripherals. The RFP is anticipated to be released in mid-April, 1990,
with delivery of the initial system schedule for January 1991. The
Mass Data Storage and Delivery System is required to be installed at
the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). All responsible sources may
submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. All
requests for copies of the RFP must be in writing, no telephone
inquiries will be accepted. The RFP will only be issued to those
vendors who submit a check in the amount of $200.00 to NASA/GSFC for
the Benchmark.
Contact: Janet Weisenfeld
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-3596
No relevant RFPs for April 10-12, 1990.
April 13, 1990
LANGLEY TO PURCHASE IRIS POWER SERIES SYSTEM WORKSTATIONS
Under solicitation 3430.0125, NASA Langley Research Center intends to
place a delivery order against a non-mandatory GSA schedule contract
with Silicon Graphics, Inc., reference document GS00K90AFS5773, for
Iris Power Series System workstations. Vendors who can furnish the
required equipment or its equivalent are invited to submit, in writing,
a substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fill this
requirement. Vendors responding to this notice with GSA schedule
contracts should include contract number and expiration date.
Responses should be submitted within 15 calendar days of this notice.
Inquiries concerning this procurement should reference 1-084-3430.0125.
Contact: Mary Corbitt
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2434
LANGLEY PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SUN MICROSYSTEMS
Under solicitation 6210.0464, NASA Langley Research Center intends to
place a delivery order against a non-mandatory GSA schedule contract
with Sun Microsystems, Inc. reference document GS00K90AGS5748 for Sun
Sparcservers and assorted peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the
required equipment or its equivalent are invited to submit, in writing,
a substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fill this
requirement. Vendors responding to this notice with GSA schedule
contracts should include contract number and expiration date.
Responses should be submitted within 15 calendar days of this notice.
Inquiries concerning this procurement should reference 1-084-6210.0464.
Contact: Mary Corbitt
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2434
DEFENSE SUPPLY PLACED DELIVERY ORDER WITH NEC TECHNOLOGIES
The Defense Supply Service intends to place a delivery order pursuant
to the current ADP schedule contract number GS00K89AFS6368 with NEC
Technologies Inc. for twelve (12) 16 MHX Laptops with assorted features
and peripherals. Any vendor who can provide the supplies and services
should submit a written response within 15 calendar days of the date of
this notice. No telephone requests will be honored. Responses to this
notice will be used to determine if bonafide competition exists.
Contact: Vonia Brightharp
Defense Supply Service Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 695-9422
|
| 20.82 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of April 16, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Apr 26 1990 15:22 | 542 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 011503
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 25-Apr-1990 09:17pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of April 16, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 16, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
----------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 16, 1990
GENERAL:
SEN. BINGAMAN INTRODUCES BILL TO AID MONITORING OF FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY
C.R. SMITH, FORMER CEO OF AMERICAN AIRLINES AND COMMERCE SEC'Y, DIED
DEFENSE:
V-22 TILT-ROTOR AIRCRAFT HAS VIBRATION PROBLEMS DURING TEST FLIGHT
CHENEY LOOKING FOR SUCCESSOR TO MONAHAN AS DIRECTOR OF SDIO
IMAGING-QUALITY INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED
CHENEY FULLY BRIEFED ON MAJOR AIRCRAFT REVIEW BUT NO DECISION AS YET
U.S. CARRIED 60% OF NATO/JAPAN MILITARY SPENDING BURDEN IN 1988
NASA:
NASA SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL FINDS FAULT WITH SHUTTLE SAFETY
CENTER FOR SPACE EDUCATION TO BE OPENED AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON MARS EXPLORATION
NASA PREPARING FOR SECOND ATTEMPT TO LAUNCH THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY
INTERNATIONAL:
FRENCH MICROGRAVITY PAYLOAD LAUNCHED ON BOARD SOVIET ROCKET
ITALY AND SPAIN ASKING FOR GUARANTEES ON EFA OVERRUN COSTS
SOVIET UNION AND ESA TO SIGN 10-YEAR SPACE COOPERATION AGREEMENT
SOVIETS PLAN TO PROCURE SMALLER NUMBERS OF MILITARY HARDWARE
BUSINESS:
BDM FOUND BELL/BOEING V-22 TWICE AS EFFICIENT AS SIKORSKY H-60
GENERAL DYNAMICS EXPECTS F-16C/D PRODUCTION TO BE ON SCHEDULE BY NOV.
GENERAL DYNAMICS REPORTED NET INCOME UP 64% IN FIRST QUARTER
HUGHES REPORTS ASIASAT-1 TESTING HAS BEGUN
NORTHROP NET INCOME UP TO $96 MILLION FROM $9.7 MILLION
ROCKWELL HAS FLAT SALES AND SLIGHTLY HIGHER EARNINGS IN SECOND QUARTER
THIOKOL TESTING NEW SOLID ROCKET MOTOR
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BENDIX AWARDED $99 MILLION CONTRACT TO MANAGE SPACE STATION FACILITY
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $27.1 MILLION
GENERAL DYNAMICS/WESTINGHOUSE TEAM GIVEN AAAM PROGRAM CONTRACT
IBM GOT AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR AN IMPROVED COMPUTER PROCESSOR FOR BSTS
IBM ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH OVER $238 MILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GIVEN ARMY HELICOPTER SUPPORT CONTRACT
OLIN DEFENSE SYSTEMS ISSUED $13.4 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
ROCKWELL'S NORTH AMERICAN AIRCRAFT WON $104 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL RADARS
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for April 16-17, 1990.
April 18, 1990
JSC TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER WITH OPTIM ELECTRONICS
AIR FORCE TO PURCHASE TEMPEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for April 19, 1990.
April 20, 1990
ROME AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER DESIRES IMPLEMENTATION OF XIDB HARDWARE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
SEN. BINGAMAN INTRODUCES BILL TO AID MONITORING OF FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced legislation to improve U.S.
efforts to monitor foreign technology. A General Accounting Office
(GAO) report found that 62 agency offices track foreign scientific and
technical research with little or no coordination. Sen. Bingaman said
the bill would establish an office of international technology
monitoring in the Commerce Dept. to serve as a focal point for such
activities in order to stop the current problems of duplication and
gaps in coverage.
C.R. SMITH, FORMER CEO OF AMERICAN AIRLINES AND COMMERCE SEC'Y, DIED
C.R. Smith, who helped build American Airlines into one of the world's
biggest air lines and former Commerce Secretary under President Lyndon
Johnson, died in Washington, DC, at the age of 90. Mr. Smith began
working at Texas Air Transport in 1928 as treasurer and went on to
become vice president of the company before it was merged with a
predecessor of American Airlines. He then became chief executive of
American in 1934. He remained as CEO until 1968 when he joined
President Johnson's cabinet.
DEFENSE:
V-22 TILT-ROTOR AIRCRAFT HAS VIBRATION PROBLEMS DURING TEST FLIGHT
The Navy's V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft, made by Bell Boeing, underwent the
first of two government test flights. Vibration problems were the main
concern during the flights. On a scale where 10 is the worst
vibration, the V-22 was rated by the pilots as a "5" during cruise at
250 kt. In order to fix the vibrations, Bell Boeing plans include
rebalancing the tail surfaces, a pedulum system to tune and damp rotor
blade vibrations, and vortex generators at the wing-body junction to
improve airflow that hits the tail.
CHENEY LOOKING FOR SUCCESSOR TO MONAHAN AS DIRECTOR OF SDIO
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said there are several candidates to
succeed Lt. Gen. George Monahan, director of the Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization (SDIO). The statement put to rest rumors that
Mr. Cheney would ask Gen. Monahan to extend his Air Force career beyond
the 35-year point, which he will reach in June. Mr. Cheney said he has
not made a decision, but hopes to within the next few weeks.
IMAGING-QUALITY INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED
The Pentagon announced Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) contractors have produced imaging-quality infrared focal plane
arrays (IRFPA) and assessed the cost of making them, overcoming the
first obstacle in the effort to reduce their cost by a factor of 100.
Rockwell Electro-optics Center and the Santa Barbara Research Center
have developed an IRFPA imager of mercury cadmium telluride, while
Loral-Fairchild used a platinum silicide. The devices integrate two-
dimensional IR detector arrays with analog signal processing
electronics, yielding a greater sensitivity and acquisition range than
linear detectors now fielded. The IRFPS's were produced in both
staring and scanning configurations applicable to aircraft missiles,
vehicles and smart munitions.
CHENEY FULLY BRIEFED ON MAJOR AIRCRAFT REVIEW BUT NO DECISION AS YET
A Pentagon spokesperson said Defense Secretary Dick Cheney has been
fully briefed on the results of the Pentagon's major aircraft review
and plans to announce the results in the next couple of weeks. The
spokesperson went on to say that no decision had been made, but that
President Bush and Congress will likely be briefed next week.
U.S. CARRIED 60% OF NATO/JAPAN MILITARY SPENDING BURDEN IN 1988
In its annual burden sharing report, the Pentagon revealed that the
U.S. carried 60% of the NATO/Japan military burden in 1988, more than
all its major allies combined. In 1988, the NATO/Japan "alliance"
spent $489 billion on defense, with the U.S. spending $293.1 billion,
or 13.5 times that spent by France, the second highest spender at $36.1
billion. The Pentagon report praised France, Greece, Turkey and the
U.K. for contributing to alliance defense at or above their fair share,
while it criticized Japan for spending far less than it should.
NASA:
NASA SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL FINDS FAULT WITH SHUTTLE SAFETY
NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel found the changes in the
agency's management structure were commendable, but warned that more
risk monitoring and reduction must take place to avoid losing another
space shuttle in the 100 flights planned by NASA over the next ten
years. Panel chairman Joseph Sutter, former executive vice president
of Boeing Commercial Airplane Co., wrote that another Challenger-type
accident could occur if risks are not further reduced. In order to
lessen risks, the panel recommended major changes to the interior
chambers in shuttle main engines to reduce their operating pressures,
and modifications to shuttle wings to make them stronger. The panel is
a nine-member group of aerospace industry executives and engineers that
reports annually to Congress on NASA's safety, reliability and quality
assurance activities.
CENTER FOR SPACE EDUCATION TO BE OPENED AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
NASA, in association with the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, plans to
open the Center for Space Education at Kennedy Space Center, FL. The
program and facility will focus on math and science education for
grades kindergarten through twelve. The foundation, a non-profit
corporation established after the Challenger accident, will raise money
for the building through private contributions and from sales of
Florida license plates commemorating the Challenger crew. NASA hopes
to open the facility by the end of 1992.
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON MARS EXPLORATION
The National Research Council Space Studies Board, which was asked by
NASA to examine the best way to structure an international mission to
acquire samples of the Martian surface, recommended that the U.S. and
the Soviet Union coordinate their Mars exploration programs while
remaining essentially independent. The board found this plan holds the
greatest potential for cost savings, however warned that it is risky,
as no precedent has been set for long-term exploration programs with
the Soviets. A second option was suggested, which specified the
nations follow independent programs and coordinate them so they
complement each other. The report to NASA was titled, "International
Cooperation for Mars Exploration and Sample Return."
NASA PREPARING FOR SECOND ATTEMPT TO LAUNCH THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY
NASA and five astronauts prepared for the second attempt to launch the
shuttle Discovery, with the scheduled date for Tuesday, the 24th. The
shuttle's commander, Col. Loren J. Shriver of the Air Force, said, "We
feel confident that things are going to go well this time. We're going
to come out O.K. on Tuesday morning and, if not, we'll just keep trying
until we do." NASA's test director said the countdown was going
smoothly. NASA has until Saturday to launch. After that, all
launching attempts must be halted for eight days so the telescope's
batteries can be recharged. A faulty power unit forced the April 10
attempt at a launching to be postponed. The power unit was replaced
with a new one, which tests showed to be fine.
INTERNATTIONAL:
FRENCH MICROGRAVITY PAYLOAD LAUNCHED ON BOARD SOVIET ROCKET
A French microgravity payload was launched on a two-week mission in
space on board a Soviet rocket. The French space agency, Centre
National d'Etudes Nationales (CNES), and their French
telecommunications research authority sent the payload, called
Crocodile, which is aimed at producing new electro-optical materials
for improved electronics. The experiment involves producing high-
quality organic crystals for advanced electronics.
ITALY AND SPAIN ASKING FOR GUARANTEES ON EFA OVERRUN COSTS
Italy and Spain have asked the U.K. for European Fighter Aircraft (EFA)
overrun guarantees similar to those offered West Germany. Should the
U.K. make these guarantees, it would cost an additional $350 million in
risk. In January, U.K. Defense Minister Tom King promised the West
German Defense Minister Gerhardt Stoltenberg that the U.K. would cover
any overruns incurred by the Ferranti-led Euroradar consortium while
developing the ECR-90 up to 200 million deutchmarks or $116 million.
Now, Italy and Spain are "offended" by the supposition that West
Germany is more deserving of financial backing in the program.
SOVIET UNION AND ESA TO SIGN 10-YEAR SPACE COOPERATION AGREEMENT
On April 25, the Soviet government and the European Space Agency (ESA)
will sign a 10-year agreement on cooperative efforts for the
exploration and use of space. The activities covered by the agreement
include solar system exploration, space astronomy, astrophysics, Earth
observation, meteorology, life sciences and microgravity research. Any
previous cooperation between the two has been limited to the exchange
of information between the USSR Academy of Sciences and one of ESA's
predecessors, the European Space Research Organization.
SOVIETS PLAN TO PROCURE SMALLER NUMBERS OF MILITARY HARDWARE
A combined Central Intelligence Agency/Defense Intelligence Agency
paper reported trends in Soviet force structure and leadership
statements suggest that the Soviets plan to procure smaller numbers of
aircraft, tanks, infantry combat vehicles, strategic missiles and other
military hardware during the 1991-1995 period, compared to the previous
five-year period. According to the paper, this suggests the Soviets
hope to stabilize or even increase expenditures for procurement after
1991, although this may only reflect an increase in unit prices.
BUSINESS:
BDM FOUND BELL/BOEING V-22 TWICE AS EFFICIENT AS SIKORSKY H-60
Following a year-long study, BDM International, Inc. has concluded that
the Bell/Boeing V-22 costs roughly the same as the Sikorsky H-60
helicopter but is twice as efficient for Marine Corps amphibious
assault missions. BDM reported that the V-22 delivered over twice the
combat firepower, troops and equipment in the critical first 60-90
minutes of assault and was found to be seven times as survivable as the
H-60. The study was funded by the Bell/Boeing V-22 contractor team and
employed Pentagon and Navy cost estimates in analyzing the
effectiveness of the two aircraft in a national assault operation in
the third world.
GENERAL DYNAMICS EXPECTS F-16C/D PRODUCTION TO BE ON SCHEDULE BY NOV.
General Dynamics Corp. announced they expect F-16C/D Block 40 aircraft
production to be back on schedule by November, after having been nearly
20 aircraft behind as of mid-1989. Since then, the company sped up
production so that by the end of March, they were nine aircraft behind
the scheduled delivery rate. The delay was attributed largely to the
complexity of converting from Block 30 to Block 40 aircraft, which
occurred over a six-month period in 1988-1989.
GENERAL DYNAMICS REPORTED NET INCOME UP 64% IN FIRST QUARTER
General Dynamics Corp. reported that operating results for the first
quarter were down 17.5%, but a $61.5 million windfall boosted net
income 64%. The windfall came from the settlement of an antitrust
lawsuit with American Telephone & Telegraph Co., lifting net income to
$123.7 million. First quarter of 1989 saw earning of $65.4 million.
Revenue was up 5% to $2.49 billion from $2.36 billion a year earlier.
HUGHES REPORTS ASIASAT-1 TESTING HAS BEGUN
Hughes Aircraft Co., a division of General Motors Corp., reported the
Asiasat-1, which was deployed into a 22,300 mile geosynchronous orbit
last week, has begun a month of testing its communications systems and
is expected to become operational by mid-May. The satellite has been
turned over to Hong Kong-based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co.,
which will test its ability to relay fax, voice, data and television
signals.
NORTHROP NET INCOME UP TO $96 MILLION FROM $9.7 MILLION
Northrop Corp. said first quarter net income was up to $96 million,
from $9.7 million during the same period last year. Earnings for this
quarter included $67.1 million from the sale of Northrop's corporate
headquarters complex. The company's operating earnings tripled as
Northrop recovered from a year-ago write-down of its electronics
segment. Sales were flat at $1.28 billion.
ROCKWELL HAS FLAT SALES AND SLIGHTLY HIGHER EARNINGS IN SECOND QUARTER
Rockwell International had 4% higher earnings of $173.4 million on
essentially flat sales of $3.15 billion in its second fiscal quarter,
with the Electronics business segment continuing to lead the company's
performance. According to chairman and chief executive Donald R.
Beall, electronics sales were 5% higher while earnings were up 15% over
the 1989 second quarter. The division had $1.2 billion in sales and
$145.9 million in earnings. Mr. Beall said that results for the first
six months were actually better than expected. He added that based on
the current assessment of the economy, the year will likely end with
modest earnings-per-share improvement. The second quarter results
exclude the effects of the sale last year of Rockwell's Measurement and
Flow Control Div., which shot Rockwell's second quarter earnings to
$270 million.
THIOKOL TESTING NEW SOLID ROCKET MOTOR
Thiokol Corp. said it is currently testing a new solid rocket motor
designed to demonstrate low-cost manufacturing technologies. A company
spokesperson said the motor was not specified to go with any particular
launch vehicle, but will be used by the company to develop solid
propellant motors for future space boosters. The demonstration motor
now being tested is four feet in diameter, 21 feet long and weighs
about 25,000 pounds. During the tests it produced an average 120,000
pounds of thrust for about 50 seconds.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BENDIX AWARDED $99 MILLION CONTRACT TO MANAGE SPACE STATION FACILITY
Allied-Signal Aerospace Co.'s Bendix Field Engineering Div. was awarded
an eight-year, $99 million contract by Rockwell International Corp. to
manage the Space Station training facility and control center at
Johnson Space Center (JSC). Bendix was also given a five-year, $300
million contract extension from Rockwell to provide support for space
shuttle ground systems at JSC. The company has been providing ground
systems support for the shuttle program since 1986. Under the new
contract, Bendix will provide overall management for the Space Station
training facilty and will operate and maintain the ground
communications, computer and display systems. The contract includes a
two-year option valued at $41 million.
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $27.1 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. won a $27.1 million Air Force contract for F-16
aircraft engineering services.
GENERAL DYNAMICS/WESTINGHOUSE TEAM GIVEN AAAM PROGRAM CONTRACT
The Advanced Air-to-Air Missile (AAAM) Program team of General Dynamics
Corp. and Westinghouse Electric Corp. were given a $9.9 million
increment of funds to a cost-plus-incentive-fee Naval contract for the
Demonstration and Validation (DEMVAL) phase of the AAAM program. This
phase of advanced development will include: design and documentation of
a baseline system; trade studies and digital simulations; free flight
testing of prototype control test vehicles; hardware-in-the-loop
testing of guidance subsystems; captive-carry testing of prototype
guidance systems; and comparative testing of prototype guidance
systems. The contract is expected to be completed in December 1992.
The Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting
activity.
IBM GOT AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR AN IMPROVED COMPUTER PROCESSOR FOR BSTS
International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. Systems Integration Div.
got a $5.5 million contract from the Air Force's Rome Air Development
Center, Griffiss Air Force Base, NY, for an improved computer processor
for the Boost Surveillance and Tracking System (BSTS). As part of the
Strategic Defense Initiative, BSTS satellites would scan the Earth for
missile launches and provide information on their trajectories to
defensive weapons. IBM will design a computer processor that will be
protected against the effects of space radiation.
IBM ISSUED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH OVER $238 MILLION
International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. was issued a $238,745,008
face value increase to a fixed price incentive firm Air Force contract
for avionics systems for MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft. The
Aeronautical Systems Div., Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is
the contracting activity.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GIVEN ARMY HELICOPTER SUPPORT CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was given a $22.6 million Army contract for
helicopter support.
OLIN DEFENSE SYSTEMS ISSUED $13.4 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Olin Defense Systems Group, a division of Olin Corp., was issued a
$13.4 million Army contract for operation of an ammunition plant.
ROCKWELL'S NORTH AMERICAN AIRCRAFT WON $104 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp.'s North American Aircraft division won a
$104,258,273 face value increase to a firm fixed price Air Force
contract for AC-130U gunship replacement aircraft, data and warranties.
The work is scheduled to be completed in September 1994. The
Aeronautical Systems Div., Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is
the contracting activity.
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT FIRE CONTROL RADARS
Westinghouse Electric Corp. received a $156,604,363 face value increase
to a firm fixed price Air Force contract for F-16 aircraft fire control
radars. The contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force,
Turkey, Bahrain, Korea, Egypt and Israel under the Foreign Military
Sales Program. The contract is scheduled to be completed in April
1992. The Aeronautical Systems Div., Wright Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio, is the contracting activity.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for April 16-17, 1990.
April 18, 1990
JSC TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER WITH OPTIM ELECTRONICS
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to place a delivery order with
OPTIM Electronics Corp. against GSA contract GS00K89AGS5548 PSO1 for an
Electronics Data Acquisition System consisting of a MEGADAC 5733A Main
Frame and other assorted peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the
equipment are invited to submit a written statement clearly stating
their ability to meet the requirements and specifications. No
telephone inquires will be accepted. Vendors responding to this notice
with a GSA Schedule Contract should include the contract number and
expiration date. Written responses must be submitted within 15 days of
publication of this notice and should reference PR number 90086001. No
solicitation will be issued. All responsible sources may submit an
offer and it will be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Joyce M. Fields
NASA Johnson Space Center
Mail Code BG41/33
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4146
AIR FORCE TO PURCHASE TEMPEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS
The AFDW CO/CNA, on behalf of the Air Force 1811 CG, Andrews Air Force
Base, MD., intends to purchase on an unrestricted basis (full and open
competition) 15 each as a computer ADP tempest system the following
tempest Hardware and software, IBM Tempest PS/2 Model 70 Tempest
workstation (or equal) and other assorted peripherals. All components
must comply with U.S. government requirements regarding Tempested
personnel computers. The equipment must come as a complete ADP system
and must have Microchannel Architecture (MCA). The contractor must be
capable of providing the entire requirement. All responsible sources
may submit an offer. Requests for a copy of the RFP should reference
F49642-90-R0689. No telephone requests will be accepted.
Contact: Ken Carter
AFDW Contracting Office
Bldg. 3534/CNA
Andrews Air Force Base, DC 20331-5320
(301) 981-6376
No relevant RFPs for April 19, 1990.
April 20, 1990
ROME AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER DESIRES IMPLEMENTATION OF XIDB HARDWARE
Rome Air Development Center, Griffiss Air Force Base, NY, placed
solicitation F30602-90-R-0081, to develop, implement, test and deliver
over a 13-month performance period an XIDB Hardware/Software system
with three lots of XIDB software for Alpha and Beta sites, including
maintenance and familiarization. The contract will result in delivery
of hardware, computer software programs and documentation of XIDB which
is the Air Force implementation of the DIA MIDS/IDB and which improves
the Air Force's intelligence data handling capabilities by integrating
data and functionality while conforming to the open IDHS architecture
standards as defined by AFIA. SCI cleared personnel, as well as a
SCIF, will be required for contract performance. A technical library
consisting of documents pertaining to XIDB is available to potential
offerors at Bldg. 240, Griffiss AFB. When responding, vendors are
required to provide their Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE)
number with their submission. All responsible sources may submit a
proposal which shall be considered. Responses must reference Code I-0-
4311-L.
Contact: Mary Lovett
Contracting Officer
AC 315
Rome Air Development Center
Griffiss Air Force Base, NY 13411-5700
(315) 330-3844
|
| 20.83 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of April 23, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri May 04 1990 18:48 | 615 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 011587
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 04-May-1990 05:34pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of April 23, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 23, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
--------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 23, 1990
GENERAL:
AIA REPORTS AEROSPACE INDUSTRY NET INCOME DOWN IN 1989
DEFENSE:
VICTOR STELLO, NOMINEE TO HEAD NUCLEAR WEAPONS PRODUCTION, WITHDRAWS
LIST OF 34 MILITARY INSTALLATIONS THAT MAY BE CLOSED ARE QUESTIONED
AIR FORCE FORMALLY ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT OF LT. GEN. MONAHAN
PENTAGON ASKS DARPA HEAD TO RESIGN OR ACCEPT A NEW POSITION
DEFENSE SECRETARY DICK CHENEY TESTIFIES ON MILITARY AIRCRAFT PROGRAMS
CHENEY PROPOSED CUTTING NEARLY 45% OF THE B-2 STEALTH BOMBER PROGRAM
ARMY SECRETARY SAID ARMY MAY CUT TROOPS BY 250,000 PEOPLE IN FIVE YEARS
HAIRLINE CRACKS FOUND IN THE B-2 BOMBERS AFT DECK
NASA:
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY HAS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH WITH HUBBLE TELESCOPE
AMES RESEARCH CENTER DEDICATES TWO NEW RESEARCH FACILITIES
HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR NASA
AIA REPORTS TO NASA AND NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL ON SPACE EXPLORATION
INTERNATIONAL:
FIRST REPORTER TO VISIT MIR SPACE STATION WILL LIKELY BE JAPANESE
ISAS CAN NOT CONFIRM THAT LUNAR PROBE HAGOROMO WENT INTO ORBIT
NATO MAY ABANDON PLAN FOR NEW GENERATION OF SHORT-RANGE NUCLEAR MISSILE
ROMANIA DIVERTED A SUPPLY OF NORWEGIAN HEAVY WATER TO INDIA IN 1986
GE LICENSED JAPANESE JOINT VENTURE TO MARKET SIMULATION SYSTEMS
BUSINESS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL POSTS 2.4% HIGHER PROFIT IN FIRST QUARTER 1990
KAMAN ANNOUNCED HARVEY LEVENSON NAMED AS PRESIDENT
LTV PRESENTS AIR FORCE WITH THE FIRST OF SIX C-29A CFIN AIRCRAFT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO LAY OFF 3,000 WORKERS AT TRANSPORT-AIRCRAFT CITE
ORBITAL SCIENCES BEGINS INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
TELEDYNE ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT WILLIAM P. RUTLEDGE
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL RECEIVED NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACTS WORTH $25.1 MILLION
BOEING ISSUED $61.6 MILLION IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED SPARROW MISSILE PARTS CONTRACT
GE AND UTC DIVISIONS RECEIVED AIRCRAFT ENGINE ORDERS FROM THAI AIRWAYS
GENERAL INSTRUMENT GIVEN NAVAL ACOUSTIC EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
GRUMMAN AWARDED LARGE-SCALE COMPUTER SYSTEM CONTRACT BY THE NAVY
HONEYWELL ISSUED $123.9 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
HUGHES TO BUILD TWO SATELLITES FOR BRAZILIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
LTV MISSILES & ELECTRONICS TO SUPPLY RADIATORS FOR SPACE STATION
RAYTHEON GIVEN $145.4 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $76.6 MILLION
UNISYS ISSUED NAVY MISSILE-CONTROL UNITS CONTRACT
WESTINGHOUSE GOT DRUG SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for April 23, 1990.
April 24, 1990
GODDARD PROPOSES ACQUIRING COMPUTER SYSTEM FROM UNISYS CORP.
April 25, 1990
KSC ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR HONEYWELL HARDWARE
WRIGHT PATTERSON TO ACQUIRE FIVE DATA ACQUISITION UNIT SYSTEM 500s
April 26, 1990
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND TO PROCURE COMPAQ COMPUTERS
No relevant RFPs for April 27, 1990.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIA REPORTS AEROSPACE INDUSTRY NET INCOME DOWN IN 1989
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) reported that aerospace
industry net income was down 20% in 1989 despite a 4.5% increase in net
sales. According to AIA, companies counted in the Census Bureau's
Aircraft, Guided Missiles and Parts category earned $3.9 billion on
$117.9 billion in sales in 1989, with fourth quarter earnings falling
more than a third on 2% better sales compared with 1988's fourth
quarter. All together the industry earned $610 million on $31.56
billion in sales in the fourth quarter, compared with $937 million
earned on $30.87 billion in the same period of 1988. AIA compiled the
statistics from the Census Bureau's Quarterly Financial Report for
Manufacturing, Mining and Trade Corporations.
DEFENSE:
VICTOR STELLO, NOMINEE TO HEAD NUCLEAR WEAPONS PRODUCTION, WITHDRAWS
President George Bush's nominee to head nuclear weapons production,
Victor Stello Jr., has asked that his name be withdrawn as Assistant
Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs. President Bush has accepted
Mr. Stello's request. Mr. Stello is expected to remain at the
department in a civil service job that does not require Senate
confirmation. His responsibilities will include overseeing efforts to
restart idled reactors at the Savannah River nuclear weapons plant.
Since the president announced his nomination last July, many
environmental groups and prominent members of Congress have accused Mr.
Stello of improper behavior in his previous job, Chief Operations
Officer of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, regulator of the civilian
nuclear power industry. Mr. Stello has denied the accusations before
the Senate Armed Services Committee.
LIST OF 34 MILITARY INSTALLATIONS THAT MAY BE CLOSED ARE QUESTIONED
A list of 34 military installations in Alabama, Massachusetts,
Mississippi, New York, Texas and Washington that the Navy may close was
produced by Rep. Patricia Schroeder, (D-CO), during questioning of Navy
officials by two House Armed Services subcommittees. A Navy
spokesperson said the list is still in the early stages of the
service's review of all shore establishments, and that the review will
be completed by August. Lt. Cmdr. Craig Quigley explained that just
because a facility is on the list, it does not indicate it will be
closed. Members of Congress, including Rep. Les Aspin (D-WI), chairman
of the House Armed Services Committee, cited Defense Secretary Dick
Cheney's list as partisan for singling out bases in Democratic
districts.
AIR FORCE FORMALLY ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT OF LT. GEN. MONAHAN
The U.S. Air Force formally announced the retirement of Air Force Lt.
Gen. George Monahan, director of the Strategic Defense Initiative
(SDIO). Gen. Monahan, who will retire as of July 1, has headed SDIO
since February 1, 1989.
PENTAGON ASKS DARPA HEAD TO RESIGN OR ACCEPT A NEW POSITION
Craig Fields, who was told by the Pentagon to resign as head of the
Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA), accept a transfer or
be fired, said he has decided to accept a transfer to another Pentagon
job. However, a colleague reported Mr. Fields plans to take the job on
a temporary basis while looking for a job in private industry. A
Pentagon spokesperson said Mr. Fields would start May 7 as Deputy
Director of Defense Research and Engineering, with responsibility for
streamlining the Pentagon's laboratories. Following the ultimatum
delivered to Mr. Fields, a group of 11 lawmakers, including House
Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, called for his reinstatement as head
of DARPA.
DEFENSE SECRETARY DICK CHENEY TESTIFIES ON MILITARY AIRCRAFT PROGRAMS
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney testified before Congress concerning a
major Pentagon review of plans for the B-2 Stealth bomber and four
other military aircraft programs. He testified before the House and
Senate armed services committees on the B-2, the C-17 transport, a Navy
attack jet and the Army's light helicopter program. Mr. Cheney is
under pressure from Congress to make significant cuts to the current
$306.9 billion FY 1991 defense budget.
CHENEY PROPOSED CUTTING NEARLY 45% OF THE B-2 STEALTH BOMBER PROGRAM
Following his testimony before Congress, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney
announced cutbacks of nearly 45% of the administration's B-2 Stealth
bomber program, from 132 planes to 75. Mr. Cheney also suggested major
cuts in the C-17 cargo-transport plane program, a small cut in the
Navy's A-12 Stealth fighter program, and a two-year delay before going
ahead with production plans for the Air Force Stealth fighter, or
Advanced Technology Fighter. Under this new plan, the Air Force would
build a total of 75 B-2 bombers at a cost of $61.1 billion. The
original plan, which Mr. Cheney defended up to two months ago, was to
build 132 B-2s for $75.4 billion. Congressional reaction to the
announcement was mixed. Rep. Les Aspin (D-WI), chairman of the House
Armed Services Committee, believes the numbers are still too high.
Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee,
commended Mr. Cheney for his decision, but said the proposal would have
to be studied more carefully.
ARMY SECRETARY SAID ARMY MAY CUT TROOPS BY 250,000 PEOPLE IN FIVE YEARS
Army Secretary Michael Stone said the Army could cut as many as 250,000
soldiers from its ranks, creating the smallest U.S. Army since the
beginning of World War II. The plan calls for reducing 200,000 to
250,000 people from a baseline of 750,000 active-duty soldiers during
the next five years. However, no final decision has been made by
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney.
HAIRLINE CRACKS FOUND IN THE B-2 BOMBERS AFT DECK
An Air Force spokesperson said that hairline cracks were found in some
titanium areas of the B-2 bomber's aft deck near the engine exhausts
and that they may have occurred during ground running of the engines.
Though the problem is still under investigation, the cracks are
believed to have occurred during a 165 hour ground run of the General
Electric F-118 engines. The B-2 has not actually flown since November
28. The spokesperson said it is too early to determine the impact of
the cracks on upcoming flight tests.
NASA:
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY HAS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH WITH HUBBLE TELESCOPE
The space shuttle Discovery blasted into orbit carrying the Hubble
Space Telescope. Following the launch into a record high 380-mile
orbit, the five astronauts tested the $2.1 billion - excluding the cost
of the launch - telescope. The following day the Hubble was deployed
from the shuttle. There were a couple of close calls in attempting to
unfurl the telescope's solar panels. In fact, two astronauts suited up
to manually unfurl the panels, but ground control was eventually able
to unroll the 8-by-40 foot panels. Deployment of the telescope comes
after 20 years of planning and seven years of delays for the
observatory that is considered astronomy's most important stride since
Galileo's first telescope 400 years ago. The first pictures from the
telescope are expected to be relayed to Earth by the end of next week.
AMES RESEARCH CENTER DEDICATES TWO NEW RESEARCH FACILITIES
NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA, dedicated two new
facilities devoted to the study of human roles in advanced aviation and
prolonged space travel. The Human Performance Research Laboratory
(HPRL) will allow scientists to study the relational dynamics between
humans and complex machines. The facility will contain specialized
laboratories for research involving interactive computer terminals,
computer vision and advanced rotorcraft control displays. Ames also
broke ground on a new $8.6 million facility, called the Automation
Sciences Research Facility, adjacent to the laboratory that will study
automation and artificial intelligence.
HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR NASA
According to congressional sources, a budget resolution that includes a
$14.1 billion NASA authorization, about $1.2 billion less than the Bush
Administration requested, is expected to go to the House for a vote.
The resolution, which was approved by the House Budget Committee, calls
for $16.65 billion in budget authority and $16 billion in outlays for
general science, space and technology in FY 1991. That amount is
divided among NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other
government research agencies. In response to the cut, NASA
Administrator Richard Truly, Energy Secretary James D. Watkins and NSF
Director Erich Bloch sent a letter to the Senate Budget Committee
urging them to support the full amount requested by the Administration.
According to Mr. Truly, a significant budget cut would force a
reduction in space shuttle flights and could add management risk to the
Space Station program.
AIA REPORTS TO NASA AND NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL ON SPACE EXPLORATION
Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) reported in an interim study
that NASA and the National Space Council should establish an
independent space exploration study group of government, industry and
university experts to analyze proposed manned trips to the moon and
Mars. The AIA task force, which was appointed by Vice President Dan
Quayle, said an independent group would produce unbiased analyses of
the technological aspects of missions proposed under President George
Bush's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI).
INTERNATIONAL:
FIRST REPORTER TO VISIT MIR SPACE STATION WILL LIKELY BE JAPANESE
According to Soviet news agency Tass, Soviet reporters are angry over
reports that the first journalist to visit the Mir space station will
be Japanese. According to the report, Soviet officials told
journalists that launching one their colleagues in July, "is impossible
due to technical reasons." An analyst of the Soviet space program for
the Library of Congress said the incident reflects a lack of funds in
the country's economy.
ISAS CAN NOT CONFIRM THAT LUNAR PROBE HAGOROMO WENT INTO ORBIT
A spokesperson from Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical
Science (ISAS) said they have not obtained conclusive proof that its
lunar probe Hagoromo went into orbit around the moon because the
spacecraft's onboard tracking transmitter failed early in the mission.
Hagoromo, which was attached to the scientific satellite Hiten, was
launch on January 24 on an Mu-3S-2 booster. However, Hagoromo's
transmitter failed before it was deployed during Hiten's first lunar
swingby on March 19. The ISAS source said a Schmidt camera at the Kiso
Observatory of the University of Tokyo recorded the ignition of
Hagoromo's four kilogram solid rocket kick motor when the probe was
about 20,000 kilometers from the moon, but without the transmitter ISAS
researchers can not confirm that it achieved its planned orbit.
NATO MAY ABANDON PLAN FOR NEW GENERATION OF SHORT-RANGE NUCLEAR MISSILE
According to NATO sources, the new atmosphere of reduced East-West
tensions may end plans by the NATO alliance to add new short range
missiles to its nuclear arsenal. Recently, support for the U.S. plan
to develop a more powerful generation of short-range nuclear missiles
to replace the Lance surface-to-surface missile has been dwindling.
Also, sources say, German military planners now envision getting rid of
all short-range nuclear weapons and having only weapons that can reach
the Soviet Union based in NATO member countries in order that they
share the risk and create a credible deterrent.
ROMANIA DIVERTED A SUPPLY OF NORWEGIAN HEAVY WATER TO INDIA IN 1986
According to Norwegian officials, Romania revealed that the Ceausescu
Government diverted a supply of Norwegian heavy water to India. Heavy
water can be a crucial ingredient in the manufacture of nuclear
weapons. Norway was recently informed at a 1986 shipment of the heavy
water was flown from Romania to India. The disclosure helps to resolve
a two-year-old mystery about the whereabouts of the shipment, but fuels
concern that India is building nuclear weapons.
GE LICENSED JAPANESE JOINT VENTURE TO MARKET SIMULATION SYSTEMS
A spokesperson for General Electric Aerospace's Simulation and Control
Systems said the company has licensed its Japanese joint venture with
Toshiba to market GE's Compu-Scene PT2000 visual simulation systems in
Japan. GE and Toshiba jointly own the Toshiba Electronics Systems Co.
Ltd., which will also integrate and maintain higher grade Compu-Scene
IV and Compu-Scene V simulation systems in Japan.
BUSINESS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL POSTS 2.4% HIGHER PROFIT IN FIRST QUARTER 1990
Allied-Signal Inc. posted first quarter results with 2.4% higher
profit. Net income went up to $129 million, from $126 million a year
earlier. The company said results from the aerospace and engineered
materials businesses offset lower earnings in the automotive segment.
Sales rose 6.7% to $3.1 billion from $2.9 billion during first quarter
1989. Earnings for the aerospace segment were up 10% to $54 million,
reflecting a 4% sales increase and lower interest, sales and
administrative costs.
KAMAN ANNOUNCED HARVEY LEVENSON NAMED AS PRESIDENT
Kaman Corp. announced that Harvey S. Levenson has been named president
and chief operating officer. As president, Mr. Levenson succeeds
Charles H. Kaman, who will continue as chairman and chief executive
officer for the aerospace defense contractor.
LTV PRESENTS AIR FORCE WITH THE FIRST OF SIX C-29A CFIN AIRCRAFT
LTV Missiles and Electronics Group presented the Air Force with the
first of six C-29A Combat Flight Inspection (CFIN) aircraft in a
ceremony at the company's Sierra Research Div. in Buffalo, NY. The C-
29As, modified be 125-800s, will fly worldwide to inspect and
calibrate en-route terminal air traffic control and landing facilities
at military bases. LTV was given a $70 million contract in 1988 to
develop the six aircraft.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO LAY OFF 3,000 WORKERS AT TRANSPORT-AIRCRAFT CITE
McDonnell Douglas Corp. announced it will lay off about 3,000 workers
at its Long Beach, CA, cite, probably all of them salaried personnel.
The cut will affect about 6% of the division's work force. According
to a company spokesperson, the decision to lay off workers was made
based on an $84 million first quarter loss at the transport-aircraft
unit.
ORBITAL SCIENCES BEGINS INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Orbital Sciences Corp. has begun its initial public offering, following
the successful launch of its experimental Pegasus rocket. A company
spokesperson said they sold about 2.4 million shares at $14., $1. a
share more than the company had planned last month when it abruptly
canceled the offering. The company, which is strapped for cash, sold
about 1,250,000 shares itself, raising about $17.5 million, before
underwriting fees. Outside investors sold about 1,150,000 shares. The
Pegasus rocket is designed to carry small satellites into space.
TELEDYNE ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT WILLIAM P. RUTLEDGE
Teledyne Inc. announced that William P. Rutledge has been elected
president and a director of the newly streamlined aerospace and
manufacturing company. Mr. Rutledge succeeds George A. Roberts, who
was elected vice chairman and remains chief executive officer. Mr.
Rutledge is currently serving as executive vice president. His
appointment to Teledyne's board expands it to seven members. The
company's chairman, Henry Singleton, announced at last year's annual
meeting his decision to step down from day-to-day management of the
company he founded thirty years ago.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED-SIGNAL RECEIVED NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACTS WORTH $25.1 MILLION
Allied-Signal Corp. received $25.1 million in contracts for Navy
aircraft power units and Army gyroscopes.
BOEING ISSUED $61.6 MILLION IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
Boeing Co. was issued $61.6 million in contracts for Army air defense
equipment and Air Force aircraft electronics gear.
GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED SPARROW MISSILE PARTS CONTRACT
General Dynamics Corp. was awarded a $16.2 million Navy contract for
Sparrow missile parts.
GE AND UTC DIVISIONS RECEIVED AIRCRAFT ENGINE ORDERS FROM THAI AIRWAYS
General Electric (GE) Co. and United Technologies Corp. (UTC) said they
received aircraft engine orders from Thai Airways International. GE
announced its Aircraft Engines division got a new order from the state-
owned airline valued at $300 million. UTC's Pratt & Whitney division
was also given an order that could total $240 million if options for
$80 million in extra engines are executed. The order to Pratt &
Whitney is especially significant because it increases the company's
penetration at an airline that until last July bought GE engines
exclusively for 14 years.
GENERAL INSTRUMENT GIVEN NAVAL ACOUSTIC EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
General Instrument Corp. was given a $12.9 million Navy contract for
acoustic equipment.
GRUMMAN AWARDED LARGE-SCALE COMPUTER SYSTEM CONTRACT BY THE NAVY
Grumman Corp. was awarded a $41 million Navy contract for a large-scale
computer system.
HONEYWELL ISSUED $123.9 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Honeywell Inc. was issued a $123.9 million Army contract for bomb
parts.
HUGHES TO BUILD TWO SATELLITES FOR BRAZILIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
Hughes Communications International Inc. will build two satellites for
Brazil's second generation telecommunications satellite system. Under
the $155 million contract, Hughes will build two HS 376W satellites and
make improvements to the existing ground control station outside Rio de
Janeiro. The satellites are scheduled for launch in 1993 and 1994.
LTV MISSILES & ELECTRONICS TO SUPPLY RADIATORS FOR SPACE STATION
LTV Missiles and Electronics Group will supply radiators that will cool
the Space Station photovoltaic electric power system's batteries and
power conversion equipment under a $19 million contract from Rockwell
International Corp.'s Rocketdyne Div. LTV will deliver one
qualification and four flight units to Rocketdyne over the next five
years. Each unit consists of an eight-panel liquid ammonia pump system
that is 50 feet long, 12 feet wide and weighs 1,200 pounds. The solar
dynamic power system radiator will be deployed during the second phase
of the Station program when the solar dynamic arrays are installed.
LTV also holds contracts for the Station's central heat rejection
system and solar dynamic power system radiator.
RAYTHEON GIVEN $145.4 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was given a $145.4 million Air Force contract for
electronic countermeasures equipment.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $76.6 MILLION
Rockwell International Corp. was awarded a $76.6 million Air Force
contract for missile guidance units.
UNISYS ISSUED NAVY MISSILE-CONTROL UNITS CONTRACT
Unisys Corp. was issued a $20.8 million Navy contract for missile-
control units.
WESTINGHOUSE GOT DRUG SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
Westinghouse Electric Corp. got a $14 million Army contract for drug
surveillance systems.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for April 23, 1990.
April 24, 1990
GODDARD PROPOSES ACQUIRING COMPUTER SYSTEM FROM UNISYS CORP.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) proposes to enter into a
contract with Unisys Corp. (McLean, VA) for the acquisition of a 2200/
400 computer with peripherals and software. The item and peripherals
to be purchased under this RFP are needed to expand existing software
development and testing for the next two years. Unisys is the only
manufacturer currently capable of delivering a system that will meet
the requirements of perfect compatibility with existing Unisys 100/81
and 1100/82 computers in the Network Control Center (NCC). All
responsible sources may respond by submitting a written narrative
statement of capability, including detailed technical information and
other technical literature demonstrating the ability to meet the
requirement with 15 days of this matter. All such responses shall be
fully considered by GSFC. No telephone requests will be accepted.
Contact: James Gambardella
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-7245
April 25, 1990
KSC ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR HONEYWELL HARDWARE
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) issued solicitation RFP 10-3-
0024-0 for Honeywell Inc. hardware, including Honeywell's CPS 8683 and
many assorted peripherals. All hardware must include all cables,
connectors and boards that are included under the listed Honeywell
marketing identification so that the hardware connects to the existing
triple processor DPS 8/70 peripheral devices without further hardware
requirements. The hardware must meet the latest Honeywell revision
level and be capable of running under the latest installed release of
all Honeywell system software (currently SF3004) and also interface
with existing KSC Inventory Management System (KIMS) application
software. The solicitation document will be issued on or about June 1,
1990. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be
considered by the agency. When responding, please reference RFP
number. No telephone requests will be honored.
Contact: Barton Scott
Contracting Officer
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 867-2851
WRIGHT PATTERSON TO ACQUIRE FIVE DATA ACQUISITION UNIT SYSTEM 500s
Wright Patterson Contracting Center issued solicitation F33601-90-R0171
for five (5) Data Acquisition Unit System 500s to Nicolet Instrument
Corp. (Madison, WI), in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1). Data
Acquisition Unit System 500 contracts of a transportable pedestal
mainframe and other related peripherals. All responsible sources may
submit an offer which will be considered.
Contact: Irma Scott
Wright Patterson Contracting Center
PMKC
Bldg. 1, Area C
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-5320
(513) 257-5852
(513) 257-7058 FAX
April 26, 1990
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND TO PROCURE COMPAQ COMPUTERS
It is the intent of the Government to procure hardware and software,
including pre-delivery staging and testing, on an all or none basis,
for 28 Compaq 386/S model 1 computers, 28 Compaq Color Video Graphics
Monitors and many assorted peripherals. Responsible sources may
request solicitation number DAAH03-90-B-0019, in writing, for more
information.
Contact: Carole Herston
Contract Specialist
Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-8315
No relevant RFPs for April 27, 1990.
|
| 20.84 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 5/21 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Jun 01 1990 11:48 | 559 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 011705
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 01-Jun-1990 03:44am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 5/21
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of May 21, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
-----------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 21, 1990
GENERAL:
SUPREME COURT UPHELD DECISION THAT CONTRACTORS NOT LIABLE FOR DEFECTS
DEFENSE:
REP. NAGLE INTRODUCES BILL TO CUT MILITARY SPENDING
B-2 STEALTH BOMBER MAKES 13th TEST FLIGHT
SIPRI REPORTS WORLD-WIDE DEFENSE SPENDING IN 1989 DOWN 2% FROM 1988
DEFENSE DEPT. AND NASA APPROVE NASP CONTRACTOR TEAMING AGREEMENT
RAMSEY: SPACE CAPABILITIES WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO FUTURE OF MILITARY
GOVERNMENT FORMS TASK FORCE ON DEFENSE SPENDING CUTS
SDIO AWARDED SIX CONTRACTS FOR CD WORK ON BRILLIANT PEBBLES PROGRAM
NASA:
HUBBLE TELESCOPE SENDS FIRST PICTURES BACK TO EARTH
COLUMBIA'S COOLING SYSTEMS ARE REFILLED IN HOPES FOR MAY 30 LAUNCH
UARS COMPLETES INITIAL THERMAL VACUUM TESTING
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT REPORTS ON LONG-RANGE SPACE PLAN
NASA REJECTS BOEING PROPOSAL ON SPACE STATION MODULES
INTERNATIONAL:
BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY TOM KING ORDERS FREEZE ON DEFENSE PROCUREMENT
SOVIET COSMONAUTS ABOARD MIR WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO EARTH
THERMAL NEUTRON ANALYSIS MACHINE INSTALLED IN LONDON'S GATWICK AIRPORT
JAL TO PLACE ORDER FOR 20 NEW BOEING 747-400 JUMBO JETS
ISRAEL TO LAUNCH FIRST SATELLITE WITH SCIENTIFIC PAYLOAD IN 1991-1992
CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY GETS FORMAL APPROVAL FROM HOUSE OF COMMONS
BUSINESS:
HONEYWELL TO SELL TEST INSTRUMENTS DIVISION
MARTIN MARIETTA ASTRONAUTICS GROUP GIVEN AIR FORCE AWARD FOR QUALITY
NORTHROP'S HAWTHORNE FACILITY SEARCHED BY FBI FOR F/A-18 DOCUMENTS
ORBITAL SCIENCES REPORTS LOSS IN FIRST QUARTER 1990
PAYLOAD SYSTEMS SEEKING AIRCRAFT FOR MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH
ROHR INDUSTRIES SUFFERS FROM PRODUCTION COST PROBLEMS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONICS GOT ARMY CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON INCREMENT TO SUPPORT M1A2 UNIQUE HARDWARE CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $89.9 MILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED $13.6 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
RAYTHEON ISSUED $414 MILLION CONTRACT FOR PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM
ROCKWELL WON ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS FOR WORK ON THE PEACEKEEPER MISSILE
PRATT & WHITNEY AWARDED $290 MILLION ORDER FROM JAPAN AIR SYSTEM
WESTINGHOUSE GIVEN NAVY NUCLEAR PROPULSION PARTS CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for May 21, 1990.
May 22, 1990
RADC CONDUCTING MARKET SURVEY TO IDENTIFY SOURCES FOR WORKSTATIONS
No relevant RFPs for May 23, 1990.
May 24, 1990
JSC TO PLACE ORDER WITH SILICON GRAPHICS FOR IRIS WORKSTATIONS
NASA JSC TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS
No relevant RFPs for May 25, 1990.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
SUPREME COURT UPHELD DECISION THAT CONTRACTORS NOT LIABLE FOR DEFECTS
The Supreme Court upheld the doctrine that defense contractors have
immunity from liability claims for defects in goods built for the
military. The Justices let stand an appeals court ruling that
dismissed a suit claiming the McDonnell Douglas Corp. should be held
liable for an allegedly defective landing gear. The suit was filed by
the widow of a Navy pilot who was killed when his F/A-18 Hornet fighter
crashed in 1985. This is similar to a ruling the court made two years
ago which held that defense contractors have a broad immunity from
claims for defects in their products.
DEFENSE:
REP. NAGLE INTRODUCES BILL TO CUT MILITARY SPENDING
Rep. David Nagle (D-Iowa) introduced a bill that would require military
cuts of 6.7% each year until a 50% reduction is reached in the year
2000. Mr. Nagle believes his legislation would lay the groundwork for
a post-Cold-War U.S. foreign policy by increasing East-West economic
ties, helping the Soviets and East Europeans make the transition to
market economies and launching joint U.S. - Soviet efforts to cut
military spending.
B-2 STEALTH BOMBER MAKES 13th TEST FLIGHT
The first Northrop B-2 Stealth bomber made its 13th test flight at
Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The five hour flight continued expansion
of the aircraft's performance envelope and included two aerial
refuelings. The plane was flown by pilots Cal Jewett and Leroy
Schroeder.
SIPRI REPORTS WORLD-WIDE DEFENSE SPENDING IN 1989 DOWN 2% FROM 1988
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported
about $950 billion was spent throughout the world on defense in 1989,
down 2% from previous years. Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union cut
military spending by about 2%, however defense budgets among NATO's
European members were stable. SIPRI found that the Soviets continued
to be the world's largest arms exporter in 1989, but the volume of its
exports fell to $11.6 billion, compared with $12.5 billion exported in
1988. U.S. exports came to $10.7 billion last year.
DEFENSE DEPT. AND NASA APPROVE NASP CONTRACTOR TEAMING AGREEMENT
The Defense Dept. and NASA approved a proposal by all five National
Aerospace Plane (NASP) contractors to join forces as a team to develop
the X-30 test vehicle that would demonstrate the capability to fly from
a runway to Earth orbit. The proposal was made last January by General
Dynamics, McDonnell Douglas, Rockwell International, Pratt & Whitney
and Rocketdyne. By the end of the fiscal year, the contractors will
have spent $700 million on NASP and the government will have spent
about $1 billion.
RAMSEY: SPACE CAPABILITIES WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO FUTURE OF MILITARY
Speaking before a meeting of the American Astronautical Society, Adm.
William Ramsey (USN-ret.), said a smaller U.S. military force will be
even more dependent on space capabilities than today's force. Adm.
Ramsey believed the future force will be garrisoned more heavily in the
continental U.S., operate with less overseas support, and face "more
sophisticated adversaries in a world with more regional powers." In
order to be effective, the military force will need "global information
collection capability, rapid interpretation and dissemination, readily
available command, control and communications, warning, surveillance,
environmental and navigational capabilities on call, and support for
employment of advanced smart weapons - in short, increased exploitation
and dependency on space capabilities."
GOVERNMENT FORMS TASK FORCE ON DEFENSE SPENDING CUTS
The Task Force on Defense Spending, the Economy and the Nation's
Security has been put together to study the effects of declining
defense spending on the economy. The group will begin with discussions
about defense cuts in research and development and their implications
for industrial competitiveness. The task force is co-chaired by Sens.
John Heinz (R-PA) and Tim Wirth (D-CO).
SDIO AWARDED SIX CONTRACTS FOR CD WORK ON BRILLIANT PEBBLES PROGRAM
The Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) awarded six $2
million contracts for concept definition (CD) work on the Brilliant
Pebbles program. The Pentagon said the eight-month contracts will
involve taking conceptual work already done by the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory and developing more "innovative design approaches."
The companies selected for the CD work are Ball Space Systems Div.,
Boeing Aerospace and Electronics, Martin Marietta Space Systems,
Raytheon Co.'s Missile Systems Div., Rockwell International Corp.'s
Space Transportation Systems Div. and TRW Space and Technology Group,
Military Space Systems Div.
NASA:
HUBBLE TELESCOPE SENDS FIRST PICTURES BACK TO EARTH
The Hubble Space Telescope sent its first pictures of outer space back
to Earth. The first picture was of a star cluster 1,260 light years
away which revealed a double star where a ground-based telescope showed
a single bright star. James Westphal, who developed one of the
instruments on the telescope, said "Already, we've been able to learn
something that we couldn't easily tell from the ground." Though
scientists had already known about the double star in the
constellation, Carina, or The Ship's Keel, but they noted that with
Hubble's pictures it was much easier to discern.
COLUMBIA'S COOLING SYSTEMS ARE REFILLED IN HOPES FOR MAY 30 LAUNCH
NASA officials announced its technicians began refilling the space
shuttle Columbia's cooling systems, one of the final steps in a long
series of repairs that grounded the shuttle. Columbia is scheduled for
a May 30 launch.
UARS COMPLETES INITIAL THERMAL VACUUM TESTING
NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) has successfully
completed its initial thermal vacuum testing at the GE Astro Space
facilities which is building UARS. According to UARS project manager
at Goddard Space Flight Center Louis Gonzales, complete integration and
testing of the spacecraft should be completed within two months. The
satellite's scientific instruments will then be returned to their
primary investigators for final calibration in preparation for launch
of UARS on the space shuttle in August 1991.
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT REPORTS ON LONG-RANGE SPACE PLAN
An Office of Technology Assessment report, "Access to Space: The Future
of U.S. Space Transportation Systems," found that building a fifth
shuttle, reducing shuttle flights to eight a year and developing a
cargo-only version of the vehicle are just a few of the options
Congress must consider in developing a long-range space transportation
plan. The study found that international space activity will make
worldwide cooperation and cost sharing increasingly desirable. It
recommends that Congress consider using European and Japanese space
vehicles to help supply the international space station and think about
cooperation with the Soviet Union, Europe and Japan in space rescue and
joint international development of hypersonic aerospace planes and crew
rescue vehicle for the space station.
NASA REJECTS BOEING PROPOSAL ON SPACE STATION MODULES
NASA rejected a Boeing Aerospace proposal to develop commercially and
process modules to carry supplies between Earth and the space station.
The agency considered the offer for nearly 20 months before rejecting
it due to frequently changing space station management personnel at
NASA and a cumbersome review process that included offices at NASA
headquarters and other field centers. The idea was the only active
proposal from the private sector to provide a commercial space station
element.
INTERNATIONAL:
BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY TOM KING ORDERS FREEZE ON DEFENSE PROCUREMENT
Britain's Defense Secretary Tom King ordered a temporary freeze on
defense procurement and civilian recruitment while Ministry of Defense
officials conduct a review of spending. The freeze is expected to last
about six weeks and is intended to give officials time to draw up plans
for short-term spending reductions of at lease 350 million pounds ($586
million) this year. A higher than expected inflation rate was the
reason for the freeze. Last month, the Ministry of Defence's spending
plans figured a budget for 1990-1991 based on a 6.5% inflation rate;
however, Britain's inflation rate rose to an annual rate of 9.4% in
April.
SOVIET COSMONAUTS ABOARD MIR WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO EARTH
The Soviet government newspaper Izvestia reported that the cosmonauts
aboard the Mir space station are not in danger of being stranded in
space because of damage to their craft. Flight Director Yuri
Serebranikov was quoted in the article as saying just because some
thermal insulation had peeled off the hull of the Soyuz spacecraft,
this "in no way" will prevent the cosmonauts from returning home. A
U.S. aerospace newsletter reported last week the cosmonauts have no
reliable way to return in an emergency due to damage to the protective
blankets that surround the space capsule.
THERMAL NEUTRON ANALYSIS MACHINE INSTALLED IN LONDON'S GATWICK AIRPORT
A thermal neutron analysis (TNA) machine designed to detect explosives
in passenger's baggage was installed in London's Gatwick Airport. The
TNA machine will be installed in the South Terminal for a one-year
trial by the British Transport Dept. This is the first TNA machine to
be installed outside of the U.S. Science Applications International
Corp. (SAIC) produces the machine.
JAL TO PLACE ORDER FOR 20 NEW BOEING 747-400 JUMBO JETS
Japan Air Lines (JAL) announced plans to place an order for 20 new
Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets, with an option to buy an additional 34 at a
later date. The total order, worth $8.53 billion, would bring JAL's
747-400 fleet up to 74 aircraft. In March, JAL placed an order for 10
McDonnell Douglas Corp. MD-11 jetliners, for about $2 billion. With
Japan's strong economy, air travel is booming. Japanese airline
industry experts predict the growth rate for Japanese domestic and
international air travel will reach 6% a year for the next ten years.
ISRAEL TO LAUNCH FIRST SATELLITE WITH SCIENTIFIC PAYLOAD IN 1991-1992
Deputy chairman of the Israel Space Agency David Abir said Israel will
launch its first satellite with a scientific payload in late 1991 or
early 1992. The spacecraft will contain either one or two instruments
for astronomical research. The agency has selected two proposals for
this: one instrument, currently being developed at the Israel Institute
of Technology in Haifa, would use sophisticated electronics to measure
X-rays; the other device would be built by Tel Aviv University, with
support from the space agency, and would provide untraviolet images of
stars. Israel has launched two satellites, but neither contained any
operational payloads.
CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY GETS FORMAL APPROVAL FROM HOUSE OF COMMONS
Canada's House of Commons approved legislation that gives direct
purchasing authority to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), giving them
formal status as a new government entity. The approval ends over a
year of make shift arrangements that have often made operations
difficult. Since its creation on March 1, 1989, CSA could not
appropriate funds, personnel or other resources because legally it not
exist. Therefore, the Cabinet approved an order-in council giving the
agency status until the appropriate legislation could be passed.
BUSINESS:
HONEYWELL TO SELL TEST INSTRUMENTS DIVISION
Honeywell Inc. announced its Test Instruments Div. will be added to the
list of units it plans to divest and said the division will probably be
included among the Defense and Marine Systems businesses spin off.
However, the company said it may still sell the businesses separately,
including the Test Instruments division. The company's board is
expected to review a spin-off plan in the third quarter of this year.
MARTIN MARIETTA ASTRONAUTICS GROUP GIVEN AIR FORCE AWARD FOR QUALITY
Martin Marietta Astronautics Group won the Contract Management Div.'s
Big Q award for 1989. It is given every year by the Air Force's
Contract Management Div. to the Air Force contractor that continually
supplies quality products and adheres to contract requirements. Also,
notable improvements in the quality of the product and user
satisfaction are taken into consideration.
NORTHROP'S HAWTHORNE FACILITY SEARCHED BY FBI FOR F/A-18 DOCUMENTS
Northrop Corp.'s Hawthorne, CA, facility was searched by FBI agents,
who left with boxes of documents related to the company's role as
principal subcontractor on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter.
According to industry and Justice Dept. sources, the search was related
to a civil lawsuit against Northrop now being run by the Justice Dept.
which maintains that Northrop found a way to make certain Hornet parts
inexpensively but did not pass the savings on to the government.
ORBITAL SCIENCES REPORTS LOSS IN FIRST QUARTER 1990
Orbital Sciences Corp. posted a 1990 first quarter after-tax loss of
$741,000, despite a 34% increase in first quarter revenue. The
company, which began selling its stock publicly on the NASDAQ exchange
earlier this year, had a first quarter revenue of $22.4 million
compared to $16.7 million during first quarter of 1989. At that time,
Orbital reported a loss of $1.9 million or 24 cents a share. Orbital
attributed the 1990 loss to continued investment in research and
development of new products. Orbital Sciences designs, manufactures,
operates and markets launch vehicles, orbital transfer vehicles,
satellite tracking systems and other space hardware.
PAYLOAD SYSTEMS SEEKING AIRCRAFT FOR MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH
Payload Systems, Inc., which flew protein crystal growth experiments
aboard the Soviet Mir space station, is seeking its own aircraft for
microgravity research. The company is now leasing NASA's KC-135, but
government priorities and restrictions impinge on the usefulness of a
NASA aircraft to a commercial concern.
ROHR INDUSTRIES SUFFERS FROM PRODUCTION COST PROBLEMS
Rohr Industries suffered from production cost problems on several
military aircraft programs in its third quarter, with the company
losing nearly $7 million on $760 million in sales so far in FY 1990.
Rohr reported earnings of $4.3 million on $297 million in sales during
third quarter of FY 1990, but would have showed a loss of $6.9 million
in the period if it hadn't received an $11 million settlement from the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for claims from Rohr's
now-discontinued subway car business. Operating income was down 70% to
$6.2 million and was down 77% for the year to date to $12.8 million.
Rohr said "redefined acceptance criteria" on several unspecified
military programs was the cause for the decline.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONICS GOT ARMY CONTRACT
Boeing Aerospace and Electronics, a division of Boeing Co., got a
$7,925,321 modification to a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract from the
Army for letter contract definization for additional full scale
development of non-line of sight hardware, simulations and support for
added test requirements. The work is scheduled to be completed by July
21, 1992. The Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL, is the
contracting activity.
GENERAL DYNAMICS WON INCREMENT TO SUPPORT M1A2 UNIQUE HARDWARE CONTRACT
General Dynamics Land Systems Div. won a $2 million increment as part
of a $10,194,433 cost reimbursement contract from the Army for long
lead time funding in support of M1A2 unique hardware and special
tooling/special test equipment. The work is scheduled to be completed
by September 15, 1991. The Army Tank Automotive Command, Warren, MI,
is the contracting activity.
MARTIN MARIETTA RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $89.9 MILLION
Martin Marietta Corp. received an $89.9 million Air Force contract for
a solar-power satellite.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED $13.6 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was awarded a $13.6 million Navy contract for
aircraft radar improvements.
RAYTHEON ISSUED $414 MILLION CONTRACT FOR PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM
Raytheon was issued a $414 million contract from Army Missile Command
for Patriot missile system ground equipment as part of a foreign
military sale to Italy. Italmissile, an Italian consortium, will build
the missiles, launchers and "other equipment necessary" to deploy,
operate and maintain the Patriot air defense system under license from
Raytheon under a separate contract.
ROCKWELL WON ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS FOR WORK ON THE PEACEKEEPER MISSILE
Rockwell International Corp. won two additional contracts totaling $100
million from the Air Force for work on the Peacekeeper missile program.
Rockwell said $81 million for guidance and control systems includes
$4.9 million in funding already received. The other $24 million is for
engineering services.
PRATT & WHITNEY AWARDED $290 MILLION ORDER FROM JAPAN AIR SYSTEM
United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney division was awarded a $290
million aircraft engine order from Japan Air System to power Boeing
747-400 aircraft. Pratt & Whitney will supply 19 engines, including
spares, for four aircraft on firm order. If optioned aircraft are
acquired, another 19 engines will be ordered. Deliveries are scheduled
to begin in 1995.
WESTINGHOUSE GIVEN NAVY NUCLEAR PROPULSION PARTS CONTRACT
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was given a $14.3 million Navy contract for
nuclear propulsion parts.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for May 21, 1990.
May 22, 1990
RADC CONDUCTING MARKET SURVEY TO IDENTIFY SOURCES FOR WORKSTATIONS
The Rome Air Development Center (RADC), Griffiss Air Force Base, NY, is
conducting a market survey to identify any sources that can deliver
several workstations and associated peripherals that can satisfy all of
the following requirements: a) operating system compatible with SUN
OS; b) binary compatible with SUN SPARC station computers; c) high
speed disk drives (supporting IPI standards); d) vector on-processors
(TAAC-I or equivalent) which are capable of driving the console
displays; e) very high speed (1MB per second) fiber optic interconnect
and ethernet protocol (supporting FDDI standard) among the
workstations. Two copies of responses should be submitted no later
than 15 days after the date of publication of this notice, and should
contain clear and convincing documentation indicating that the above
requirements can be met. No contract award will be made on the basis
of responses received to this notice. No telephone responses will be
honored.
Contact: Ralph Kohler
Program Manager
Rome Air Development Center
PKRM
Griffiss Air Force Base, NY 13441-5700
(315) 330-4437
No relevant RFPs for May 23, 1990.
May 24, 1990
JSC TO PLACE ORDER WITH SILICON GRAPHICS FOR IRIS WORKSTATIONS
Under solicitation 9BG4125015Q, the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC)
intends to place an order with Silicon Graphics for three Iris
Workstations and associated peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the
requested system are invited to submit a written statement clearly
stating their ability to meet the requirements. Vendors responding to
this notice with a GSA Schedule contract should include the schedule
number and the expiration date. Written responses must be received
within 15 calendar days of publication of this notice and should refer
to the above solicitation number. It is anticipated that an award will
be made on June 25, 1990. All responsible sources may submit an offer
and it will be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Larry Kenyon
NASA Johnson Space Center
NASA JSC Mail Code BD35
BG41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4146
NASA JSC TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS
Under solicitation 90-123-023 NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends
to place a delivery order with Sun Microsystems Federal, Inc. against
GSA Contract GS00KAGS5748 for computer workstations and assorted
peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the required hardware and
software are invited to submit a written statement clearly stating
their ability to meet the requirements and specifications. Vendors
responding to this notice with a GSA Schedule Contract should include
the contract number and expiration date. Written responses must be
submitted within 15 days of publication of this notice and should refer
to PR No. 90-123-023. All responsible sources may submit an offer and
it will be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Larry Kenyon
NASA Johnson Space Center
NASA JSC Mail Code BD35
BG41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4146
No relevant RFPs for May 25, 1990.
|
| 20.85 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of May 28, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jun 06 1990 16:28 | 551 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 011731
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 05-Jun-1990 01:57am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of May 28, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of May 28, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
---------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 28, 1990
GENERAL:
COLUMBUS 500 SPACE SAIL CUP SOLAR SAIL DESIGNS UNVEILED
DEFENSE:
PENTAGON ANNOUNCED TEN NEW WEAPONS FOR EVALUATION FOR FCT PROGRAM
NASP FLIGHT TESTING MAY INVOLVE PULL-UP IDEA
BILL INTRODUCED TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO BUY 30% OF STOCK IN COMPANY
DAB NEARLY READY TO SEND AMRAAM PROPOSAL TO BETTI
AGREEMENT REACHED ON SPACE-BASED WIDE AREA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
NASA:
AMES NAMES BERRY AS HEAD OF ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT DIVISION
NASA CUTS ESTIMATED COST OF MARS GLOBAL NETWORK MISSION
COLUMBIA LAUNCH POSTPONED AFTER HYDROGEN LEAKS DETECTED
NASA MUST LEASE TRDSS TO HAWAIIAN COMPANY
CRRES LAUNCH POSTPONED INDEFINITELY
INTERNATIONAL:
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH HELIOS SATELLITE FOR CNES
BAe COMPLETING FINAL TESTS ON NEW GENERATION OF CRYOGENIC COOLERS
JAPAN'S ISAS PROPOSED $100 MILLION MISSION FOR LUNAR EXPLORATION
ESA TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SEND GIOTTO SATELLITE TO NEW COMET
JAPAN TO BEGIN RECRUITING FOR ASTRONAUTS FOR SPACE STATION
BUSINESS:
GRUMMAN TO CONDUCT DESIGN EXPERIMENT OF NEUTRAL PARTICLE BEAM
MAGNOVOX INTRODUCES NEW VERSION OF MX 2400T SATCOM
MARTIN MARIETTA TO LAUNCH INTELSAT VI (F-4) SATELLITE ON JUNE 21
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS'S DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT NAMES TWO TO OVERSEE C-17 PROGRAM
FORMER NORTHROP CHAIRMAN WILLIAM MILLAR DIES
ROCKWELL CHANGES NAME OF SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS DIVISION
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $30.6 MILLION
IAE CONSORTIUM WON AIRCRAFT ENGINE ORDER FROM MEXICANA AIRLINES
LMSC AWARDED MARSHALL CONTRACT WORTH $550 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN ARMY ROCKET MOTOR TESTING CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON C-17 AIRCRAFT SUPPORT EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
TRW AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $11.4 MILLION
UTC ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $29 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
Due to Memorial Day no RFPs were issued on May 28, 1990.
May 29, 1990
LANGLEY TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER FOR SILICON GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS
LANGLEY ISSUED SOLICITATION TO ALLIANT COMPUTER SYSTEM
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE MACINTOSH WORKSTATION HARDWARE
GOVERNMENT TO PURCHASE ACSL LICENSES ON APOLLO COMPUTERS
May 30, 1990
ACQUISITIONS OF SERVICES TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT DECISION CENTER NEEDED
No relevant RFPs for May 31, 1990.
June 1, 1990
DARPA REQUIRES TEMPEST MACINTOSH IIX EQUIPMENT
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
COLUMBUS 500 SPACE SAIL CUP SOLAR SAIL DESIGNS UNVEILED
Six nations unveiled designs in Washington for solar sails that will
race to Mars in the Columbus 500 Space Sail Cup during the 1992
International Space Year. The sails are powered by the flow of photons
from the sun impacting upon thin sheets of polymer films. They range
in size of up to 15,000 square meters (18,000 square yards) but weigh
less than 1,100 pounds. The solar sail race, based on the theme of
Christopher Columbus' adventures aboard his three sailing ships, will
feature entries from the Americas (where Columbus sailed to), Europe
(where he sailed from), and Asia (where Columbus thought he was going).
The sails will be launched on an expendable rocket in late 1992. They
will then be judged in several categories including successful
unfurling of the sail and closest passage to the moon or Mars.
DEFENSE:
PENTAGON ANNOUNCED TEN NEW WEAPONS FOR EVALUATION FOR FCT PROGRAM
The Pentagon announced ten new weapons have been added to the list of
those it will evaluate for possible use by U.S. services under the
Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program in FY 1990. Among the ten
are: Britain's Silent Attack Radar Altimeter (SARA), the Canadian
Maritime CL-227 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and the Swedish 84mm High-
Explosive Dual Round. Congress has consolidated the Foreign Weapons
Evaluation and NATO Comparative Test programs into the FCT.
NASP FLIGHT TESTING MAY INVOLVE PULL-UP IDEA
Air Force Col. Vince Rausch, director of the National Aerospace Plane
(NASP) interagency office, said a NASP flight test concept now being
studied involves flying the vehicle out of the atmosphere at
increasingly higher speeds over a series of flights. Col. Rausch
pointed out this would allow a step-by-step exploration of the heat and
dynamic pressure loads that would build as speed increases to the Mach
25 level required to achieve orbit. At the earliest, flight testing
for the NASP would begin in 1997.
BILL INTRODUCED TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO BUY 30% OF STOCK IN COMPANY
Senator Dan Coats (R-IN), a member of the Armed Services Committee,
introduced legislation encouraging the use of leverage employee stock
ownership plans to permit employees to buy at least 30% of the stock of
a defense contractor. Sen. Coats believes the bill would protect the
U.S. defense industrial base by making low-cost financing available to
companies which are important to the nation's defense but which might
not otherwise survive defense cuts. It would also help the contractors
to gain access to the financing many will need to begin producing non-
military products and services.
DAB NEARLY READY TO SEND AMRAAM PROPOSAL TO BETTI
Pentagon officials said a unit of the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB)
has largely approved the Air Force's "get-well" plan for the Advanced
Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and are nearly ready to send
it to Pentagon acquisition chief John A. Betti for his consideration.
The officials said the DAB's conventional systems committee approved
the Air Force's plan to upgrade the AMRAAM's quality problems, while
making very few changes.
AGREEMENT REACHED ON SPACE-BASED WIDE AREA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
The Air Force and Navy reached an agreement to cooperate on a Space-
based Wide Area Surveillance system that would be used to track enemy
ships and aircraft around the world. The agreement comes after a long
battle between the two services over the technical approach to the
system. The Air Force favored a radar system and the Navy wanted
infrared, or heat, sensors. Under the agreement, the Navy will proceed
with a space experiment to test its infrared concept. A memorandum of
understanding is expected shortly that will allow the surveillance
satellite system to proceed through the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB)
approval process this summer.
NASA:
AMES NAMES BERRY AS HEAD OF ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT DIVISION
Ames Research Center selected William E. Berry as head of a new
Advanced Life Support Div. which will coordinate research on closed-
loop and bioregenerative life support systems and new space suits. Mr.
Berry has served as chief of the Advanced Space Technology Office since
July 1987 and was also director of the Life Sciences Div. at Ames for
many years. According to Ames officials, the Advanced Life Support
Div. will concentrate on technologies being developed for the space
station and lunar and Mars missions.
NASA CUTS ESTIMATED COST OF MARS GLOBAL NETWORK MISSION
NASA cut the estimated cost of an automated mission to send probes to
Mars in the late 1990s by about $500 million, to $700 million. The
probes would be used to gather extensive scientific data about the
planet as a precursor to the eventual human expedition there. The
original version of the Mars Global Network mission was estimated to
cost about $1.2 billion. The probes would be the first U.S. spacecraft
to land on Mars since the two Viking missions landed and took
photographs and soil samples in the late 1970s.
COLUMBIA LAUNCH POSTPONED AFTER HYDROGEN LEAKS DETECTED
The launch of the space shuttle Columbia was postponed so that NASA
technicians can search for hydrogen leaks detected hours before
Columbia was scheduled to lift off. Sensors on the Shuttle detected
what is believed to be a pinhole-sized leak in a 17-inch diameter
disconnect line that carries liquid hydrogen from the external tank to
the main engines on the orbiter and tanking was stopped within two
minutes. NASA's technicians plan to conduct a thorough inspection to
isolate the leak before determining the extent of the repairs that will
be required. NASA has already been forced to postpone the launch two
weeks.
NASA MUST LEASE TRDSS TO HAWAIIAN COMPANY
The Small Business Administration notified NASA that it must select
Columbia Communications Corp., a small Honolulu company, to lease 24 C-
band transponders on it Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System
(TDRSS). NASA earlier disqualified the company because it was not
considered a reliable business partner, though Columbia had offered the
highest bid of $61.3 million for the leasing rights. NASA had,
instead, selected the International Telecommunications Satellite
Organization (Intelsat) which bid $50 million. TDRSS links ground
stations with the space shuttle and other satellites over S-band and
Ku-band transmission links.
CRRES LAUNCH POSTPONED INDEFINITELY
Program officials said the launch of NASA's Combined Release and
Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) has been postponed indefinitely
while technicians analyze damage caused by a high pressure helium line
that failed during a tanking test of its Atlas Centaur booster. CRRES
was scheduled to be launch June 23 from Complex 36B at Cape Canaveral
on the General Dynamics booster. CRRES is a joint NASA-Air Force
program aimed at studying the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere.
INTERNATIONAL:
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH HELIOS SATELLITE FOR CNES
Arianespace signed a contract with the French Space Agency CNES
agreeing to launch the multi-national Helios military
photoreconnaissance satellite in late 1993. Helios is a military
version of the Spot Earth resources satellite, with a multispectral
resolution of one to three meters. The satellite, which has an
estimated program cost of $1.34 billion, will be placed in a sun-
synchronous orbit as the sole payload on an Ariane 40.
BAe COMPLETING FINAL TESTS ON NEW GENERATION OF CRYOGENIC COOLERS
British Aerospace (BAe) Space System's Earth Observation and Science
Div. is finishing the final tests on a new generation of cryogenic
coolers that the company expects to apply to a variety of spacecraft.
The miniature mechanical cyrogenic system cools the detector elements
of sensitive instruments aboard scientific and Earth-observation
satellites. This enhances their operation by reducing the level of
exterior thermal noise. The BAe cooler has been qualified for use with
an instrument that will fly aboard NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research
Satellite in 1991.
JAPAN'S ISAS PROPOSED $100 MILLION MISSION FOR LUNAR EXPLORATION
The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) in Japan will
propose to the government a $100 million mission to explore the moon
using sophisticated probes that will bury into the lunar soil. The
mission would be the first of several lunar efforts under examination
by the Japanese government. The ISAS is responsible for all space
science research in Japan.
ESA TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SEND GIOTTO SATELLITE TO NEW COMET
The European Space Agency (ESA) is expected to decide soon whether to
send the four-year-old Giotto satellite on a second mission to get a
closeup view of the Grigg Skjellerup comet in 1992. In 1986, Giotto
flew close to Halley's comet and was sprayed by dust being thrown off
the comet. The spacecraft was bruised but not destroyed. In order to
view the comet by June 1992, ESA would have to readjust the craft's
orbit this summer.
JAPAN TO BEGIN RECRUITING FOR ASTRONAUTS FOR SPACE STATION
The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) and the Science
and Technology Agency have decided to begin recruiting astronauts in
1991 for missions to the international space station. The Tokyo
newspaper Asahi Shimbun said the Japanese government intends to train
about a dozen astronauts by the year 2000. The entire space station
will have a crew of eight astronauts, including one position for a
Japanese astronaut.
BUSINESS:
GRUMMAN TO CONDUCT DESIGN EXPERIMENT OF NEUTRAL PARTICLE BEAM
Grumman Corp. will draw up the preliminary designs for neutral particle
beam accelerator space experiment for the Army Strategic Defense
Command. The beam is part of a weapons detector system designed to
discriminate between missile-launched warheads and decoys and may be
used to destroy missile boosters and warheads by disabling their
guidance systems or by detonating the explosive devices that actuate
the warhead.
MAGNOVOX INTRODUCES NEW VERSION OF MX 2400T SATCOM
Magnovox introduced a new version of its MX 2400T portable satellite
communications (SatCom) terminal that is lighter and more flexible than
the original. The MX 2400T Plus features a redesigned power supply and
high power amplifier that automatically determines whether incoming
power is 120 volts or 240 volts. The system then automatically adjusts
the terminal's electronics power supply to match the input voltage.
Since it was introduced in 1986, Magnovox's SatCom has been used for
disaster relief, news coverage, law enforcement, surveying, diplomatic
communications, remote site exploration, government security forces and
other uses in remote areas of the world where telecommunications
facilities are congested, unreliable or non-existent.
MARTIN MARIETTA TO LAUNCH INTELSAT VI (F-4) SATELLITE ON JUNE 21
Martin Marietta has scheduled the launch of the Intelsat VI (F-4)
telecommunications satellite on a Titan III booster for June 21. The
satellite was built by Hughes Space and Communications Group for the
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. The Intelsat
VI satellite was launched on March 14, but failed to reach
geostationary orbit because the booster's second stage did not
separate.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS'S DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT NAMES TWO TO OVERSEE C-17 PROGRAM
McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s Douglas Aircraft division named two
executives to oversee its troubled C-17 military cargo plane program
for the Air Force. John P. Capellupo, deputy president of Douglas
Aircraft, was named to the additional post of interim program manager
for the C-17 program. Leonard F. Impellizzeri, staff vice president
for engineering and advanced systems at McDonnell Douglas's corporate
headquarters in St. Louis, was named vice president-deputy general
manager for the C-17. The C-17 project is of great concern for Douglas
because if the cost goes over the ceiling price it would have a
detrimental impact on Douglas's financial situation. In last year's
second quarter Douglas took a $72 million charge to deflect cost
overruns on the program.
FORMER NORTHROP CHAIRMAN WILLIAM MILLAR DIES
Northrop Corp.'s former chairman William Millar died in Pasadena, CA,
as the age of 92.
ROCKWELL CHANGES NAME OF SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS DIVISION
Rockwell International Corp. announced the name of its Space
Transportation Systems Div. has been changed to the Space Systems Div.
The division president, Robert G. Minor, said the new name better
reflects the division's move beyond its role as space shuttle orbiter
prime contractor into such areas as space operations support, systems
and cargo integration and logistics support.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $30.6 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. was awarded a $30.6 million Army contract for an
armored-vehicle facility for Pakistan.
IAE CONSORTIUM WON AIRCRAFT ENGINE ORDER FROM MEXICANA AIRLINES
International Aero Engines (IAE), an aircraft engine consortium based
in East Hartford, CT, won an order valued at as much as $330 million
from Mexicana Airlines. The engines will power 16 firm and 14 option
orders for Airbus A320 aircraft, for use on routes to North and Central
America and within Mexico. The shareholders in IAE are United
Technologies Corp., Rolls-Royce Ltd., Japanese Aero Engines Corp., MTU
(West Germany), and FiatAvio (Italy).
LMSC AWARDED MARSHALL CONTRACT WORTH $550 MILLION
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC) was awarded a three-and-one-half-
year NASA Marshall Space Flight Center contract worth $550 million for
design and construction of facilities to build and test advanced solid
rocket motors for the space shuttle fleet. The contract complements
the $971 million production contract awarded to LMSC on May 11 for the
first 20 motors.
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN ARMY ROCKET MOTOR TESTING CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. was given a $15.1 million Air Force contract for
rocket motor testing.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON C-17 AIRCRAFT SUPPORT EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. won a $47 million Air Force contract for C-17
aircraft support equipment.
TRW AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $11.4 MILLION
TRW Inc. was awarded an $11.4 million Air Force job for management
information systems.
UTC ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT WORTH $29 MILLION
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was issued a $29 million Navy contract
for helicopter and aircraft parts.
RFP UPDATE:
Due to Memorial Day no RFPs were issued on May 28, 1990.
May 29, 1990
LANGLEY TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER FOR SILICON GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS
NASA Langley Research Center intends to place a delivery order against
a Non-Mandatory GSA Schedule contract with Silicon Graphics, Ref. Doc.
GS00K90AGS5773, for IRIS 4D/210 VGXB Workstations and associated
peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the required equipment or its
equivalent are invited to submit, in writing, a substantive statement
clearly stating the ability to fill this requirement. Vendors
responding to this notice with GSA schedule contracts should include
contract number and expiration date. No solicitation will be issued.
Responses must be submitted within 15 calendar days of this notice.
Inquiries concerning this procurement should reference 1-075-3520.0641.
Contact: Gale Poulson
Mail Stop 138
NASA Langley Research Center
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2433
LANGLEY ISSUED SOLICITATION TO ALLIANT COMPUTER SYSTEM
NASA Langley Research Center issued solicitation 1-117-2240.0615 for
Alliant Computer System Corp.'s FX-80/3 Real Time Control Computer
System (RTCCS) or equal. If equal products are proposed, the
Government will require the offeror to run a benchmark on the proposed
system to verify that it will meet the Government's requirements.
Approximate issuance date is June 14, 1990. All responsible sources
may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.
Contact: NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 144
Industry Assistance Office
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE MACINTOCH WORKSTATION HARDWARE
NASA Ames Research Center, under solicitation IFB2-34409(JLB), plans to
procure, on a brand name or equal basis, four Apple MacIntosh IIX and
assorted peripherals. All responsible sources may submit a bid which
shall be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Lupe Velasquez
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 241-1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 604-4386
GOVERNMENT TO PURCHASE ACSL LICENSES ON APOLLO COMPUTERS
The Government intends to purchase seven (7) ACSL licenses on Apollo
computers from Mitchall and Gauthier Associates. All responsible
sources may respond to this synopsis and all such responses will be
fully considered to determine if a solicitation is warranted.
Responses and GSA schedule contract numbers, if applicable, must be
received in this office within 15 calendar days after publication of
this notice.
Contact: Bobbie Jenkins
Commander
U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Attn: AMSMI-PC-FAA
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-5875
May 30, 1990
ACQUISITIONS OF SERVICES TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT DECISION CENTER NEEDED
The Defense Supply Service-Washington, on behalf of the Defense Systems
Management College, intends to acquire services necessary for the
development of a Management Decision Center. The tasks envisioned to
meet this requirement include, but are not limited to, development of
the concept of operations, requirements definition, facility design,
and the development of construction specifications, hardware
specifications, recommendations for software systems and
recommendations for operational testing. RFP MDA903-90-R-0098 will be
released on or about June 20, 1990. Responses should be received
within 15 calendar days of the publication date of this announcement in
the CBD. Written requests only, no telephone calls will be accepted.
When responding, please reference the RFP number.
Contact: Gregory J. Nowak
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
No relevant RFPs for May 31, 1990.
June 1, 1990
DARPA REQUIRES TEMPEST MACINTOSH IIX EQUIPMENT
Under solicitation MDC972-90-R-0004, the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) requires TEMPEST MacIntosh IIx (or IIcx or
IIfx) microcomputers with assorted peripherals. All equipment and
peripherals must be TEMPEST certified, conform to NASCIM 5100 standards
and appear on the National Security Agency's Preferred Products List
(PRL) or (ETPL). For compatibility with existing DARPA equipment, only
MacIntosh IIx, IIcx, and IIfx computers are acceptable. The Government
reserves the right to single, multiple or total award. No telephone
requests will be honored.
Contact: Angela Coonce
DARPA/CMO
1400 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209-2308
FAX: (202) 697-8237
|
| 20.86 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 6/11 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jun 20 1990 14:58 | 620 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 19-Jun-1990 06:49pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 6/11
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 11, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing Group
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
**************************************************************************
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
**************************************************************************
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword access from the $ prompt
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 11, 1990
GENERAL:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES RESIGNS
BOSTON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE HOSTING SOVIET SPACE PROGRAM EXHIBIT
PICTURES FIND APPARENT BLACK HOLE AT THE CORE OF THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
DEFENSE:
BETTI APPROVES INVENTORY REDUCTION PLAN FOR THE PENTAGON
REP. SOLOMON ATTACHED AMENDMENT TO TRADE BILL
PENTAGON PROPOSED $4 BILLION ARMS PACKAGE TO SAUDI ARABIA
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES $15.8 BILLION FOR FOREIGN OPERATIONS BILL
HOUSE HAS 205 SUPPORTERS OF AMENDMENT TO END B-2 STEALTH BOMBER PROGRAM
U.S. AND KOREAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON KFP
NASA:
MAGELLAN FINISHED FOUR-DAY DRY RUN OF VENUS MAPPING MISSION
MARTIN MARIETTA & TRW SELECTED FOR ROBOTIC SATELLITE SERVICER STUDIES
SHUTTLE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED NEW FLIGHT MANIFEST FOR 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO RECEIVE F-16XL AIRCRAFT
INTERNATIONAL:
TURKEY TO BUILD SATELLITE GROUND STATION TO RECEIVE LANDSAT DATA
MAJORITY OF JAPAN'S AIRCRAFT SPENDING GOES TO DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES REPORTS PROFIT DOWN FOR THE YEAR
MITSUBISHI AND DAIMLER-BENZ TAKE FIRST STEPS TO AEROSPACE COOPERATION
INSAT 1D SATELLITE FOR INDIA WAS LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
KRISTALL TECHNOLOGY MODULE SUCCESSFULLY DOCKED WITH MIR SPACE STATION
BUSINESS:
GE AND COMSAT LABS TO MAKE TERMINALS AVAILABLE TO UNIVERSITIES
HONEYWELL REACHED AGREEMENT WITH INTEL TO MANUFACTURE MILITARY SYSTEMS
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AIR FORCE SUSPENSION LIFTED
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ANNOUNCED CUT TO DSEG DIVISION
TRW SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY GROUP FORM TEAM FOR SIRTF SPACECRAFT
CONTRACT AWARDS:
FORD AEROSPACE AWARDED CONTRACT TO OPERATE SATELLITE-CONTROL NETWORK
GENERAL DYNAMICS WAS GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $91.5 MILLION
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR 3,006 MAVERICK MISSILES
LMSC CHOSEN BY AIR FORCE TO DEVELOP SOARS SYSTEMS
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN AIR FORCE SPACE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACTS FOR F/A-18 WORK
PRATT & WHITNEY GOT A $312 MILLION ORDER FROM INTERNATIONAL LEASE
RAYTHEON ISSUED NAVY ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
ROCKWELL WON $49.3 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
TRW GIVEN SATELLITE COMPONENTS CONTRACT WORTH $16.1 MILLION
RFP UPDATE:
June 11, 1990
FORT MONROE, LEAVENWORTH, SILL AND BLISS REQUIRE A FRONT END PROCESSOR
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM VIATECH SYSTEMS
TRADOC TO PLACE CONTRACT WITH INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES
AFCAC POSTPONED TACTICAL AIR FORCES WORKSTATION RFP
June 12, 1990
AFDW PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST ENTRE COMPUTER CENTER
June 13, 1990
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER REQUIRES PAYLOAD DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
No relevant RFPs for June 14-15, 1990.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES RESIGNS
Thomas Faught, executive director of the National Center for Advanced
Technologies (NCAT), Washington, DC, announced his resignation for
personal reasons. Mr. Faught will remain at the center through June to
help with the transition to a new director. NCAT is a non-profit
foundation which coordinates the scientific and technical capabilities
of government, industry and academia to promote understanding of the
importance of advanced technologies, act as a data source for research
and testing information relating to advanced technologies development
and serve as a research planning and advisory organization. No
successor has been named.
BOSTON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE HOSTING SOVIET SPACE PROGRAM EXHIBIT
The Boston Museum of Science is featuring a Soviet space program
exhibit, the first of its kind in the U.S. The exhibit includes 50
artifacts such as full-scale engineering models of Phobos and Vega
satellites and the Lunakod 2 lunar rover. Eight Soviet technicians are
in Boston to explain the equipment to those who visit the exhibit,
which is cosponsored by Glavcosmos. In September, the exhibit will
begin a tour of several other major U.S. cities.
PICTURES FIND APPARENT BLACK HOLE AT THE CORE OF THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
Pictures produced by a computer from three years' worth of observations
made with the Very Large Array radiotelescope in Soccorro, NM, show
what appears to be a black hole at the core of the Milky Way galaxy.
The pictures reveal a very large object, a million times as massive as
our sun, that appears to be rapidly spitting out blobs of gas.
Scientists who have believed for years that there is probably a black
hole - a supermassive object so heavy that even light cannot escape the
grip of its gravitational field - at the center of our galaxy, will
use the information to understand the structure and history of our
galaxy and of galaxies in general.
DEFENSE:
BETTI APPROVES INVENTORY REDUCTION PLAN FOR THE PENTAGON
Under Secretary of Defense for acquisition John A. Betti approved a
plan to improve the Pentagon's management of its inventory of over $100
billion in spare parts and equipment. The Inventory Reduction Plan
will apply Total Quality Management principles to the inventory process
and accelerate the use of modern automated data processing systems.
Mr. Betti asked the military services and the Defense Logistics Agency
to establish a program to reduce inventories to meet expected force
structure cuts.
REP. SOLOMON ATTACHED AMENDMENT TO TRADE BILL
Rep. Gerald B. Solomon (R-NY) attached an amendment to the Export
Facilitation Act of 1990 which would forbid the export of any
"satellite of United States origin that is intended for launch from a
launch vehicle owned by the People's Republic of China." Two of the
three Hughes satellites President Bush cleared for launch on Long March
boosters have not yet been shipped.
PENTAGON PROPOSED $4 BILLION ARMS PACKAGE TO SAUDI ARABIA
The Pentagon notified Congress of a proposed $4 billion arms package to
Saudi Arabia. The package contains $600 million for modification and
systems integration work on five Saudi E-3 AWACS aircraft and eight KE-
3 tankers, including mission, navigation, engine and aircraft
protection systems. The Saudi Arabian National Guard would get 2,000
Hughes TOW 2A antitank missiles, 116 TOW launchers and 1,117 General
Motors light armored vehicles. The Defense Dept. also notified
Congress of the proposed $385 million sale of 20 new-production General
Dynamics F-16A/B fighters to Portugal.
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE APPROVES $15.8 BILLION FOR FOREIGN OPERATIONS BILL
The House Appropriations subcommittee approved a $15.8 billion FY 1991
foreign operations bill that cuts U.S. military aid by 12.5% outside
the Mideast and substantially increases economic assistance to Africa
and Eastern Europe. The bill cuts over $1.1 billion from President
Bush's budget for grants to finance military sales. The measure also
imposes new limits lowering U.S. military aid to Greece and Turkey to
20% under current appropriations levels. Eastern Europe's assistance
would grow to about $500 million, nearly $200 million above the Bush
administration's request. Also, $800 million was approved for sub-
Saharan Africa, a 40% increase above current funding.
HOUSE HAS 205 SUPPORTERS OF AMENDMENT TO END B-2 STEALTH BOMBER PROGRAM
Rep. Jim Slattery (D-KS) announced there are 205 supporters of an
amendment to terminate the B-2 stealth bomber program and voiced
confidence that they could pick up the remaining 13 votes needed to win
on the House floor. If B-2 opponents can win the House they may go to
conference to carry their argument that building and testing the 15 B-
2s already funded will allow the Air Force to capture the stealth
technology. Air Force Secretary Donald Rice testified last week that
it would cost $35.4 billion to build the first 15, test them and then
wind up the program. There is less support for the B-2 in the House
than in the Senate.
U.S. AND KOREAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON KFP
The Pentagon announced that U.S. and Korean government officials will
soon sign an agreement under which South Korea would get 120 F/A-18
aircraft. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Korea is now
considering is "very prudent in terms of its treatment of technology
transfer," said Henry S. Rowen, assistant secretary of defense for
International Security Affairs. Under the Korean Fighter Program
(KFP), Korea would get its F/A-18s in three phases. The first shipment
would be 12 off the shelf fighters in phase 1, 36 to be built in South
Korea from kits in phase 2, and limited license production of 72 in
phase 3.
NASA:
MAGELLAN FINISHED FOUR-DAY DRY RUN OF VENUS MAPPING MISSION
The Magellan interplanetary probe finished a four-day dry run of its
Venus mapping mission, exercising the imaging radar, attitude control
and the Deep Space Network communications system on Earth. Previously,
there had been problems with intermittent star calibration failures,
but a software fix seems to have taken care them. The Magellan staff
are preparing for the critical Venus orbit injection scheduled for
August 10.
MARTIN MARIETTA & TRW SELECTED FOR ROBOTIC SATELLITE SERVICER STUDIES
NASA selected Martin Marietta and TRW Space & Technology Group to
conduct Phase B studies for a spacecraft that would autonomously dock
with satellites and telerobotically service them. The Satellite
Servicer System will combine the Flight Telerobotic Servicer, a multi-
armed robot Martin Marietta is developing for the space station, with
the Orbital Maneuvering vehicle designed by TRW. The two companies are
negotiating the $1.3 million, one-year study contract with Johnson
Space Center. The program is also funded by the Defense Dept.
SHUTTLE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED NEW FLIGHT MANIFEST FOR 1990
Shuttle director Robert L. Crippen announced a new NASA flight
manifest. The changes were made because the Astro space shuttle flight
hardware must be repaired, forcing the cancellation of the flight, and
thus a change in the entire schedule for 1990. Mr. Crippen listed the
new manifest for 1990. The Defense Dept. Mission 38 with the Atlantis
shuttle and a five astronaut crew is scheduled for mid-July. It is a
four-day mission with a secret payload. The Astro Mission 35 is
planned for mid-August with a seven astronaut crew on a 10-day flight.
Next, the Ulysses solar-polar Mission 41 with the shuttle Discovery and
a five man crew is set for October 5. The Gamma Ray Observatory
retains its early November launch slot. The Atlantis will fly five
astronauts on a five-day mission. Then in early December, shifted from
August 29, the Space Life Science Laboratory with a crew of seven
astronauts aboard the Columbia will be launched.
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO RECEIVE F-16XL AIRCRAFT
Langley Research Center plans to receive one of two General Dynamics F-
16XL aircraft in NASA's inventory. The F-16XL will be used to study
high-lift devices such as vortex flaps and their potential application
to a High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). Langley will then retire its
Convair F-106B, which has been performing vortex flap research. The
convair's delta wing platform is unsuitable for HSCT-related vortex
flap experiments.
INTERNATIONAL:
TURKEY TO BUILD SATELLITE GROUND STATION TO RECEIVE LANDSAT DATA
Turkey announced plans to build a satellite ground station to receive
and process data from Landsat, the U.S. remote-sensing satellite
system, in time for the launch of Landsat 6 at the end of 1991. The
Turkish-government-owned Post, Telegraph and Telephone (PTT)
organization will oversee the construction and operation of the station
and plans to solicit bids for the construction of the facility. Turkey
will use the remote-sensing data to supplement natural resource
planning for the country.
MAJORITY OF JAPAN'S AIRCRAFT SPENDING GOES TO DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS
In FY 1988, Japan's Self-Defense Agency spent $2.965 billion for
aircraft, and of that total expenditure, about $2.758 billion or 93%
was spent on aircraft procured from domestic manufacturers. The
percentage is consistent with statistics from recent years.
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES REPORTS PROFIT DOWN FOR THE YEAR
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines reported that its profit in the year ending
March 30 fell 8% to 340 million guilders ($178 million) from 370
million guilders. The company was hurt by costs that rose faster than
its income. KLM reported that its revenue in this most recent fiscal
year was up by 8.2% to 6.46 billion guilders from the year-earlier
level of 5.97 billion guilders, this advance was outstripped by a rise
in costs of 10% to 6.150 billion guilders from 5.581 billion guilders.
MITSUBISHI AND DAIMLER-BENZ TAKE FIRST STEPS TO AEROSPACE COOPERATION
Mitsubishi Group and Daimler-Benz AG have begun the first steps to
develop global cooperation into aerospace. Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries Ltd. will set up a study group with Daimler-Benz to conduct
research in four areas: small passenger planes, engines for those
planes, space technology and ultrasonic aircraft. The two companies
announced an agreement in March to pursue cooperation in a wide range
of aerospace related industries.
INSAT 1D SATELLITE FOR INDIA WAS LAUNCHED FROM CAPE CANAVERAL
An Insat 1D, a multipurpose satellite for the government of India, was
launched by a Delta booster from Cape Canaveral. The launch came a
year after the Ford Aerospace satellite was damaged in a launch pad
accident. The Insat 1D is intended to replace Insat 1B and ensure
continued telecommunications, direct broadcast television and weather
forecasting capabilities. It will be controlled from a facility at
Hassan Karnataka, India.
KRISTALL TECHNOLOGY MODULE SUCCESSFULLY DOCKED WITH MIR SPACE STATION
The Soviet Union's Kristall technology module successfully docked with
the Mir space station. The module carried equipment to expand Mir's
ability to grow crystals in microgravity. The module previously had
problems docking with the station due to a malfunctioning thruster.
BUSINESS:
GE AND COMSAT LABS TO MAKE TERMINALS AVAILABLE TO UNIVERSITIES
General Electric's AstroSpace Div. and Comsat Laboratories announced
they will purchase two low burst rate ground terminals for use with the
Advanced Communications Technology Satellite program and will make them
available to educational institutions. The $250,000-a-piece terminals
will be loaned to university researchers during the two-year experiment
period after the satellite is launched in May 1992.
HONEYWELL REACHED AGREEMENT WITH INTEL TO MANUFACTURE MILITARY SYSTEMS
Honeywell's Marine Systems Group said they have reached an agreement
with Intel Scientific Computers to be the original equipment
manufacturer of the primarily military systems. The signal processors
will use Intel's iPSC family of parallel supercomputers with integrated
Honeywell highspeed, high-density signal processor modules and
software. The scalable, modular signal processing systems will offer a
peak throughput of up to 16 billion floating-point operations per
second that is entirely programmable in high-order languages.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AIR FORCE SUSPENSION LIFTED
Hughes Aircraft Co., a division of General Motors Corp., announced the
Air Force removed its suspension that had temporarily barred certain
operations of Hughes missile-systems group from receiving new
government contracts. Hughes was suspended last month when it pleaded
guilty to charges of improperly using two classified Pentagon budget-
planning documents in 1984. The company than agreed to pay $3.6
million in criminal and civil penalties as part of the plea agreement.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ANNOUNCED CUT TO DSEG DIVISION
Texas Instruments (TI) announced it will cut about 1,000 workers from
its Defense Systems and Electronics Group (DSEG). William B. Mitchell,
president of the Group and a TI executive vice president, said, "in
response to constraints on defense spending" cuts would be made from
the 22,000-strong DSEG workforce. DSEG is based in Dallas, TX, but all
sites will be affected by the cuts.
TRW SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY GROUP FORM TEAM FOR SIRTF SPACECRAFT
TRW Space and Technology Group has formed a team to compete for a
telescope for NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)
spacecraft. The team members are Ball Aerospace and Eastman Kodak
Co.'s Federal Systems Division. The SIRTF telescope, scheduled for
launch in 1999, will view infrared energy that does not penetrate the
Earth's atmosphere.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
FORD AEROSPACE AWARDED CONTRACT TO OPERATE SATELLITE-CONTROL NETWORK
Ford Aerospace Corp., a division of Ford Motor Co. was awarded a $55.2
million Air Force contract for operating the satellite-control network.
GENERAL DYNAMICS WAS GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $91.5 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. was given a $91.5 million Air Force contract for
improvements to the F-16 aircraft.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR 3,006 MAVERICK MISSILES
Hughes Aircraft Co., a division of General Motors Corp., received a
$194 million contract from the Air Force for 3,006 Maverick air-to-
surface missiles. Deliveries under the contract, which represents the
final planned buy of Mavericks for the Air Force, was scheduled to be
completed in 1992.
LMSC CHOSEN BY AIR FORCE TO DEVELOP SOARS SYSTEMS
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC) was chosen by the Air Force Space
Systems Div. to develop a package of satellite sensors to detect and
describe an attack on the a spacecraft. LMSC is developing the
Satellite On-board Attack Reporting System (SOARS) under a $23 million
contract. SOARS would be used to help ground controllers ascertain
whether a malfunction aboard a spacecraft was a result of an enemy
attack or benign causes. The Air Force hopes to begin testing the
sensors in space by the mid-1990s.
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN AIR FORCE SPACE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Space Launch Systems Co. was given an Air Force Space
Systems Div. contract worth $15.1 million for testing rocket motors for
Martin's Titan 4 booster. The company will test a material called
polyacrilonitrile as a possible alternative to rayon in nozzles for the
Titan's solid rocket motor upgrade. Polyacrilonitrile is an ablative
material used in high pressure and temperature areas of the nozzles.
It reinforces the nozzle by melting on it. Testing is scheduled to be
completed by September 1994.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AWARDED NAVY CONTRACTS FOR F/A-18 WORK
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was awarded an $89.2 million Navy contract for
production of F/A-18C and F/A-18D aircraft. The company was also given
a $65.7 million contract to develop upgraded hardware and software for
the F/A-18's radar.
PRATT & WHITNEY GOT A $312 MILLION ORDER FROM INTERNATIONAL LEASE
Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Inc., got a $312
million order from International Lease Finance Corp. for 48 of its
engines, to be delivered beginning in 1994. International Lease
Finance owns and leases jet aircraft. The company placed firm orders
for 28 of Pratt & Whitney's PW2000 engines for its growing fleet of
Boeing 757 mid-range aircraft. It will also take 20 high-thrust PW4000
engines for its fleet of wide-body aircraft. A spokesperson from Pratt
& Whitney said the order was International Lease's third significant
order in two years.
RAYTHEON ISSUED NAVY ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was issued a $24.7 million Navy contract for electronics
equipment.
ROCKWELL WON $49.3 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. won a $49.3 million Air Force contract for
MX missile rocket motors.
TRW GIVEN SATELLITE COMPONENTS CONTRACT WORTH $16.1 MILLION
TRW Inc. was given a $16.1 million Air Force contract for satellite
components.
RFP UPDATE:
June 11, 1990
FORT MONROE, LEAVENWORTH, SILL AND BLISS REQUIRE A FRONT END PROCESSOR
The TRADOC Contracting Activity issued solicitation DABT60-90-R-0099
for communications equipment required for Fort Monroe, Leavenworth,
Sill and Bliss, for a Front End Processor (FEP) to replace its
appropriate FEP software. The FEP hardware shall provide the
capability to connect and communicate with a wide variety of local and
remote cluster controller devices. A fixed price contract is
contemplated. When responding, please refer to the above solicitation
number. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. Responses must state
that vendor is not currently on the Consolidated List of Debarred,
Suspended and Ineligible Contractors or otherwise ineligible to receive
Government contracts.
Contact: Joseph Farrell
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Building 1748
Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4005
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM VIATECH SYSTEMS
The Defense Supply Service - Washington, intends to acquire a
continuation of technical support services from Viatech Systems Inc.,
under contract MDA903-85-C-0502 on behalf of the U.S. Army Information
Systems Command-Pentagon (USAISC-P)/Decision Support System for a
period of six additional months past the end of the contract term with
an option to extend for an additional six months. This contract action
is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and
negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302.
Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to
respond to the requirement or to submit proposals. This notice of
intent is not a request for competitive proposals and a solicitation
document does not exist. However, all proposals received within thirty
days after the date of publication of this synopsis will be considered
by the Government. The contractor must have a secret clearance for
employees working on this project.
Contact: Susan Hopkins
Defense Supply Service - Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 695-9422
TRADOC TO PLACE CONTRACT WITH INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES
The TRADOC Contracting Activity placed a notice of intent to place a
sole source contract with International Business Services for a
quarterly base period plus three quarterly operations to Fort Lee, VA.,
for continued ADP support services to retail level logistics
operations. The services include: developing and maintaining the
systems' functional documentation; designing and developing the
systems' functional specifications; deploying the systems worldwide and
sustaining the systems (testing and training). A fixed price contract
is contemplated, refer to PRC W526AEH 0135-9069pp. No telephone
inquiries will be accepted. Responses must state that the vendor is
not currently on the Consolidated List of Debarred, Suspended and
Ineligible Contractors or otherwise ineligible to receive Government
contracts.
Contact: Joseph Farrell
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Building 1748
Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4005
AFCAC POSTPONED TACTICAL AIR FORCES WORKSTATION RFP
The Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCAC) placed a notice
concerning the Tactical Air Forces Workstations, AFCAC Project No. 308,
which was referenced in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) issued number
PSA-0105 on June 1, 1990. The RFP F19630-90-R-0014 release has been
delayed and is now expected to be release on or about the week of June
18, 1990.
Contact: Robert Havern
AFCAC
Directorate of Contracting/PKD
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8638
June 12, 1990
AFDW PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST ENTRE COMPUTER CENTER
A Notice of intent to place a delivery order against Entre Computer
Center ADP Schedule GS00S89AFS638 for sixteen (16) COMPAC Portable 386
Microcomputers with 110MB internal hard drives and other assorted
peripherals was placed by the The AFDW Contracting office. No
solicitation document exists since a notice of intent is not considered
a request for proposals. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.
Written responses, including GSA contract number, if applicable, prices
and technical data sufficient to determine capability to meet the
entire requirement must be received by this office within 15 calendar
days after publication of this notice. It should be noted that no
contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to
this notice, but will be used to determine if a comparable source more
advantageous to the government is available.
Contact: Mary Ellen Hummel
AFDW Contracting Office
Bldg. 3534
Andrews Air Force Base, DC 20331-5320
(301) 981-7308
June 13, 1990
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER REQUIRES PAYLOAD DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A notice was placed by NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center to advise of
the availability of a draft RFP for the forthcoming PDMS Phase II
procurement. PDMS Phase II will provide a payload data management
system (PDMS) for the payloads directorate at Kennedy Space Center.
The system will be comprised of commercial off-the-shelf hardware and
software which will make up a relational data base subsystem, a
technical documentation subsystem, a project management subsystem, and
a page printer subsystem. There will also be some communications
requirements. This is also an announcement of sources sought. RFP 10-
6-0028-0 is now estimated to be released in mid-August. Estimated
proposal preparation time is 45 days. Potential offerors may request a
copy of the draft RFP, and/or to be placed on the source list.
Contact: Linda Pickett
NASA, John F. Kennedy Space Center
MC: PDMS-SEB
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 853-4645
No relevant RFPs for June 14-15, 1990.
|
| 20.87 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 6/18/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Jun 29 1990 19:06 | 568 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012103
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 26-Jun-1990 05:26am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 6/18/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 18, 1990
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Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 18, 1990
GENERAL:
AIA REPORTS ON U.S. AEROSPACE INDUSTRY EARNINGS IN 1989
ROYAL BRUNEI AIRLINES SETS WORLD RECORD FOR DISTANCE
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE SPACE LAUNCH OPERATIONS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO SPACECOM
PENTAGON NOTIFIED CONGRESS OF PLANS TO SELL SOUTH KOREA HELICOPTERS
CHENEY SAID CUTTING MILITARY 25% COULD SAVE $8.6 BILLION OVER 5 YEARS
AIR FORCE GROUNDS INVENTORY OF SRAM-A STRATEGIC MISSILES
SACINTNET PROGRAM TO MOVE INTO SECOND PHASE
SEN. SAM NUNN WANTS TO KEEP MX MISSILE PROGRAM ALIVE
CHENEY ASKED CONGRESS TO CANCEL 68 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
NASA:
NASA TO REMOVE DISCONNECT VALVE FROM COLUMBIA FOR ROCKWELL TESTS
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE MAKES CUTS TO NASA'S FY 1991 BUDGET
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS TO UNDERGO TANKING TEST
NASA'S THOMPSON SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH SIX MINORITY UNIVERSITIES
NASA APPROVES PLAN TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL EXPERIMENT TRANSPORTER
INTERNATIONAL:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE SAID TURKISH AIRLINES ORDERED FIVE AIRBUS A-340s
FRANCE AND ITALY AWARD CONTRACT TO EUROSAM TEAM TO DEVELOP FAMS
MITSUBISHI TO CUT DEFENSE PRODUCTION
BRITAIN TO CUT DEFENSE BUDGET BY $1.1 BILLION
U.S. TO RETURN SOME LAND USED BY MILITARY BASES TO JAPAN
ITALY'S ALITALIA NAMED MICHELE PRINCIPE AS CHAIRMAN
AIR FRANCE TO CUT BACK FLIGHTS DUE TO SLOW TRAFFIC GROWTH
BUSINESS:
GRUMMAN AND BOEING ANNOUNCED SETTLEMENT OVER JOINT STARS DISPUTE
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AND HEWLETT-PACKARD TEAM TO MARKET WORKSTATIONS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS' FOURTH MD-11 TRANSPORT JOINS FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM
NORTHROP INVITES REPORTERS TO TOUR THE B-2 STEALTH BOMBER FACTORY
ROCKWELL INTEGRATES THREE BUSINESS UNITS INTO TACTICAL SYSTEMS DIV.
SPACE COMPUTER CORP. DELIVERS HIGH-SPEED SIGNAL PROCESSOR TO GD
CONTRACT AWARDS:
FORD AEROSPACE AWARDED CONTRACT TO OPERATE SATELLITE NETWORK
GENERAL DYNAMICS ISSUED ARMY CONTRACT FOR $19.8 MILLION
GRUMMAN CHOSEN TO DESIGN SPACE EXPERIMENT FOR A NPB DEVICE
HUGHES AIRCRAFT GOT $34.8 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA WON $89.9 MILLION CONTRACT FOR AIR FORCE SUPER PROGRAM
ROCKWELL'S COLLINS DIVISION ISSUED $42 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
UTC GIVEN $38 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT FOR CH-53E HELICOPTERS
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED $177 MILLION CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for June 18, 1990.
June 19, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE PERSONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NEEDS CAE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
June 20, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE APPLE MACINTOSH HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
No relevant RFPs for June 21, 1990.
June 22, 1990
AFCC SOLICITATION FOR STRATEGIC WAR PLANNING SYSTEM AWARDED TO GD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIA REPORTS ON U.S. AEROSPACE INDUSTRY EARNINGS IN 1989
The Aerospace Industries Association's (AIA) Research Center reported
that the U.S. aerospace industry posted a record trade balance of $22.1
billion in 1989, 24% better than the previous year's record of $17.9
billion. Military exports were down from $6.7 billion in 1988 to $6.5
billion in 1989. However, overall aerospace exports were at their
highest ever at $32.1 billion in 1989, while exports of commercial
transports reached $12.3 billion.
ROYAL BRUNEI AIRLINES SETS WORLD RECORD FOR DISTANCE
A Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 767-200ER (extended range) jet set a
world record when it landed at Nairobi, Kenya, after a 9,253 mile, 17
hour and 51 minute flight from Seattle. The record, subject to
National Aeronautic Assn. verification, beat the previous distance mark
of 8,893 miles. The aircraft carried 20 passengers and a crew of four
an average of 518 miles per hour.
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE SPACE LAUNCH OPERATIONS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO SPACECOM
The Air Force announced it will begin to transfer responsibility for
space launch operations from Systems Command to Space Command
(SPACECOM) effective October 1. The transfer process is expected to
take several years to complete. Systems Command will then concentrate
on research and acquisition responsibilities.
PENTAGON NOTIFIED CONGRESS OF PLANS TO SELL SOUTH KOREA HELICOPTERS
The Pentagon notified Congress of plans to sell South Korea $44 million
worth of Sikorsky UH-60L Blackhawk helicopters and related equipment.
Three aircraft would be included in the sale, along with two spare
General Electric T700-701C turbine engines with containers, spares and
repair parts plus contractor and logistics support.
CHENEY SAID CUTTING MILITARY 25% COULD SAVE $8.6 BILLION OVER 5 YEARS
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said cutting the U.S. military by 25%
could save $8.6 billion over five years. According to Mr. Cheney, such
a cut would retire six active-duty Army divisions, 111 Navy ships and
11 Air Force tactical fighter wings. It would also remove 442,000
troops from the military's 2.1 million active-duty ranks. The proposal
would begin in FY 1991, cutting President Bush's defense budget from
$303.3 billion to $302 billion.
AIR FORCE GROUNDS INVENTORY OF SRAM-A STRATEGIC MISSILES
The Air Force grounded its inventory of SRAM-A strategic missiles for
safety reasons. The aging short-range attack missiles were removed
from B-1B, B-52 and FB-111 aircraft on alert pending a safety review of
the missile's nuclear warhead. The review is expected to be completed
by September.
SACINTNET PROGRAM TO MOVE INTO SECOND PHASE
Officials from Unisys Defense Systems announced that they, along with
Strategic Air Command (SAC), will move into the second phase of the SAC
Intelligence Network (SACINTNET) program this winter. The second phase
will provide SAC commanders and the U.S. intelligence community with
intelligence data at rates up to 100 million bits per second.
SACINTNET, which will replace the Dept. of Defense Intelligence
Information System (DODIIS) Composite Network Front-end Internal
Network (CNIN), allows less manual handling of data as it moves through
the SACIntelligence Data Handling System (IDHS), helps analysts process
larger volumes of data and supports increased distributed processing by
use of advanced workstations. The system is expected to become
operational next May.
SEN. SAM NUNN WANTS TO KEEP MX MISSILE PROGRAM ALIVE
Senate Armed Services Chairman Sam Nunn (D-GA) said the Defense Dept.
should keep the MX missile rail garrison system alive as leverage in
negotiating a START II treaty with the Soviets and as an option in the
event that a follow-on agreement banning mobile multiple warhead ICBMs
is not reached. Senator Nunn told an audience at the Institute for
Foreign Policy Analysis that he believes it will be difficult to keep
the MX program alive, but hopes that it will survive because he
believes the U.S. needs it as leverage.
CHENEY ASKED CONGRESS TO CANCEL 68 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney asked Congress to cancel 68 military
construction projects worth $327 million. The 68 projects were chosen
from a list of 207 projects worth $1.2 billion that Mr. Cheney
considered canceling. The majority of the projects are in Europe, with
only three sites in the U.S. - in Arizona, Ohio and Texas. The list
has a variety of construction projects, including schools for military
dependents in West Germany and a "classified" housing project for the
families of those involved with the National Security Agency.
NASA:
NASA TO REMOVE DISCONNECT VALVE FROM COLUMBIA FOR ROCKWELL TESTS
NASA will remove the 17-inch disconnect valve from the external tank of
the space shuttle Columbia and send it to Rockwell International to
check to see if it was responsible for the hydrogen leak that delayed
the scheduled May 30 launch. NASA expects Rockwell and the valve's
manufacturer, Parker Hannifin Aerospace Co., to examine the valve and
install it on the tank within the week. The test will be used to
determine whether a similar valve in the shuttle needs to be removed.
The two valves work together to control the flow of hydrogen from the
external tank into the main engine on orbiter. Should the Rockwell
tests prove they are not responsible for the leaks, the valve in the
shuttle will be removed and inspected. According to NASA, the orbiter
valve is more difficult to remove.
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE MAKES CUTS TO NASA'S FY 1991 BUDGET
A House Appropriations subcommittee approved $14.3 billion for FY 1991
NASA appropriations, making substantial cuts in the Space Station and
the moon and Mars initiatives. The Administration requested $15.1
billion for FY 1991. The $2.6 billion Space Station took the biggest
hit in terms of dollars, cut $195 million in the markup.
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS TO UNDERGO TANKING TEST
The space shuttle Atlantis will undergo a tanking test on June 27 to be
sure there are no hydrogen leaks in the fuel system like those that
delayed the launch of the shuttle Columbia in May. The test involves
partially filling the external tank with hydrogen as a precautionary
move as NASA continues to investigate the cause of a hydrogen leak in
Columbia's fuel system. According to a NASA spokesperson, the test
will probably cause the launch to be postponed.
NASA'S THOMPSON SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH SIX MINORITY UNIVERSITIES
NASA Deputy Administrator J.R. Thompson signed an agreement between
NASA and a new consortium of six minority universities designed to
increase minority participation in NASA research and technology
development. Mr. Thompson hopes the program will increase the number
of American Indians, Blacks and Hispanics in the science and
engineering fields. The consortium includes North Carolina A&T State
University, New Mexico Highlands University, Central State University,
Jackson State University and Tuskegee University.
NASA APPROVES PLAN TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL EXPERIMENT TRANSPORTER
NASA officials approved a plan for developing small, recoverable
satellites that will place commercial experiments in orbit for over a
month. The Commercial Experiment Transporter (COMET) program will
build a free-flying experimental satellite weighing up to 1,800 pounds.
Program management and systems engineering will be the responsibility
of the Center for Advanced Space Propulsion at the University of
Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee.
INTERNATIONAL:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE SAID TURKISH AIRLINES ORDERED FIVE AIRBUS A-340s
The Airbus Industrie consortium said Turkish Airlines ordered five
Airbus A-340s with options on five additional aircraft in a bid to
modernize its fleet. Terms were not disclosed, however the most
recently available list price for the A-340 is about $91 million. The
airlines will use the new planes for nonstop service to the U.S. and
Asia. Turkish Airlines also ordered CFM International engines, valued
at as much as $300 million, to power the Airbus Industrie A-340 planes.
CFM is a joint venture of Snecma, the French aircraft-engine
manufacturer, and General Electric Co.
FRANCE AND ITALY AWARD CONTRACT TO EUROSAM TEAM TO DEVELOP FAMS
France and Italy are expected to announce two contract awards to the
international industry team Eurosam for full-scale development of a
Family of Antiair Missile Systems (FAMS). The contracts have a
combined value of 10.2 billion francs ($1.8 billion) over ten years.
Eurosam is a joint venture between France's Aerospatiale and Thomson-
CSF and Italy's Selenia. Development of a ground-based medium-range
missile is thought to be a vital element in Europe's long-term goal of
ending the virtual monopoly of this field by the U.S.
MITSUBISHI TO CUT DEFENSE PRODUCTION
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said it will move away from
emphasizing defense production. The company's business plan for FY
1990 includes a goal of cutting defense sales from 20% to 17% of the
company business. Mitsubishi blamed the general defense production
slow-down.
BRITAIN TO CUT DEFENSE BUDGET BY $1.1 BILLION
Britain announced it will cut its defense budget by $1.1 billion next
year and scrap plans to buy 33 jet fighters. The cuts are the deepest
in more than ten days. The total defense budget will be $345 billion.
Defense Secretary Tom King said there were plans for major reductions
in front-line army and air force units deployed in West Germany under
the auspices of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Analysts predict Britain will cut military spending by about 10 to 15%
over the next three to five years.
U.S. TO RETURN SOME LAND USED BY MILITARY BASES TO JAPAN
The U.S. agreed to return some land, used by military bases on the
Japanese island of Okinawa, to Japan. A report by the U.S.-Japan Joint
Committee on Realignment and Consolidation of U.S. Forces Facilities on
Okinawa said about 2,500 acres of land in 23 sites will be returned.
The land being returned to Japan makes up 2.5% of the acreage taken up
by U.S. military bases on Okinawa.
ITALY'S ALITALIA NAMED MICHELE PRINCIPE AS CHAIRMAN
Italy's Alitalia named Michele Principe as chairman. Mr. Principe
replaces Carlo Verri, who was killed in an automobile accident.
AIR FRANCE TO CUT BACK FLIGHTS DUE TO SLOW TRAFFIC GROWTH
Air France announced plans to cut back flights on some of its less-
traveled routes, such as Algeria and the Caribbean, and take other
cost-saving measures, due to slow traffic growth. The airline's
traffic rose only 1.8% during the first five months of 1990, compared
with a 4.3% rise in capacity.
BUSINESS:
GRUMMAN AND BOEING ANNOUNCED SETTLEMENT OVER JOINT STARS DISPUTE
Grumman Corp. and Boeing Co. said they have settled their dispute over
costs for the Joint Stars U.S. defense program. In 1985, Grumman
received a $657 million contract for a five-year development program
for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System. The value of
the contract has since increased to $850 million. Boeing also won an
$80.2 million subcontract to modify two aircraft for the radar system's
"aerial platform" but in 1987 Boeing requested a $122.5 million price
increase, Boeing alleged that Grumman's demands on the subcontract had
departed from the contract and caused costs to rise. A Grumman
spokesperson said no details of the contract would be disclosed, but
that "The settlement eliminates substantial claims by both parties
concerning responsibility for the costs of completion of the first two
Joint Stars aircraft."
HUGHES AIRCRAFT AND HEWLETT-PACKARD TEAM TO MARKET WORKSTATIONS
Hughes Aircraft Co. and Hewlett-Packard Co. have teamed to market
advanced workstations, PCs and peripherals. HP hopes the agreement
will help them penetrate the military computer market, while Hughes
plans to sell its military workstations to commercial users. Hughes
will augment its Tempest capability with the transfer of HP technology,
and the combined operations are expected to modify a wide range of HP
products like its HP 9000 Series 300 and 800 workstations for the
Tempest market. The two companies also plan to produce a high-
resolution tactical display workstation for the military.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS' FOURTH MD-11 TRANSPORT JOINS FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM
McDonnell Douglas' fourth MD-11 transport joined the aircraft's flight
test program, and the fifth and final test aircraft is set to be flying
in September. The company said they expect certification by the end of
1990. Already, 31 customers have placed 371 orders, options and
reserves for the MD-11.
NORTHROP INVITES REPORTERS TO TOUR THE B-2 STEALTH BOMBER FACTORY
Northrop Corp. executives and Air Force officials, in the middle of
congressional efforts to kill the B-2 Stealth bomber, invited reporters
inside the bomber's factory for a tour. Gen. Richard Scofield asked
the press to stop focusing on the Stealth's costs and instead
acknowledge the technological advances made on the program. Gen.
William Davitte, special Assistant for strategic modernization, said
the B-2 was the best guarantee against nuclear war.
ROCKWELL INTEGRATES THREE BUSINESS UNITS INTO TACTICAL SYSTEMS DIV.
Rockwell International Corp.'s Tactical Systems Div., formerly the
Missile Systems Div., now integrates three business segments;
battlefield weapons, standoff weapons, and electronic sensors and
acquisition systems. Paul Smith, division VP and general manager, said
of the change, "With these products added to our base, we can now
provide the Dept. of Defense and allied nations a total weapon system
from sensors to seekers to tactical missiles. Also, the name change
reflects our total capability."
SPACE COMPUTER CORP. DELIVERS HIGH-SPEED SIGNAL PROCESSOR TO GD
Space Computer Corp. delivered an extremely high-speed signal processor
capable of performing at 1 billion operations per second to General
Dynamics Valley Systems Div. The SCC-100 employs parallel processing
design that harnesses the power of many computer chips. It will be
used to interpret data gathered by an advanced infrared sensor. The
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) funded the development
of the processor while the Office of Naval Research managed the
project.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
FORD AEROSPACE AWARDED CONTRACT TO OPERATE SATELLITE NETWORK
Ford Aerospace Corp. was awarded a one-year, $55.16 million Air Force
Space Command contract to operate a network that controls satellites.
With four one-year options, the total value of the contract would be
$258.9 million.
GENERAL DYNAMICS ISSUED ARMY CONTRACT FOR $19.8 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. was issued a $19.8 million Army contract for
support for the Egyptian M-1 tank coproduction program.
GRUMMAN CHOSEN TO DESIGN SPACE EXPERIMENT FOR A NPB DEVICE
Grumman was chosen to design a space experiment for a neutral particle
beam (NPB) device under a one-year, $16.4 million Army Strategic
Defense Command (SDC) contract. SDC said Grumman will do preliminary
design work on a Pegasus space experiment with the second and third
phases of the project expected to be a full and open competition.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT GOT $34.8 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., got a $34.8
million Army contract for aircraft infrared subsystems.
MARTIN MARIETTA WON $89.9 MILLION CONTRACT FOR AIR FORCE SUPER PROGRAM
Martin Marietta's Space Systems div. won an $89.9 million contract for
work on the Air Force Aeropropulsion and Power Laboratory's SUPER
(survivable power) program. A flight test is scheduled for 1994. The
SUPER program is designed to develop and demonstrate a solar power
system that help satellites in low and medium orbits. The Martin
design uses the Survivable Low Aperture Trough Solar (SLATS) array
developed by General Dynamics. SLATS uses a Venetian blind-like series
of mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto gallium-arsenide photovoltaic
cells.
ROCKWELL'S COLLINS DIVISION ISSUED $42 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Rockwell International's Collins Government Avionics Div. was issued a
$42 million contract by the Air Force to produce JTIDS Class 2
terminals for the F-15 aircraft. Delivery of the first production
terminals is scheduled to begin April 1992. The terminals consist of a
digital data processor, which is the central computer that controls the
JTIDS network; an interface unit that allows JTIDS to communicate with
the aircraft's navigation systems, missions computers and displays; and
a receiver-transmitter that provides for transmission and receipt of
TADIL-J messages and a TACAN function.
UTC GIVEN $38 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT FOR CH-53E HELICOPTERS
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was given a $38 million Navy contract
for CH-53E helicopters.
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED $177 MILLION CONTRACT FROM THE NAVY
Westinghouse received a $177 million Naval Sea Systems Contract for
seven AN/SQQ-89 anti-submarine warfare systems. The AN/SQQ-89 is the
Navy's current multi-sensor shipboard system for detecting and tracking
submarines.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for June 18, 1990.
June 19, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE PERSONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS
NASA Ames Research Center placed solicitation IFB2-34421 (JEP) for
personal computer systems, brand name (MACINTOSH) or equal. A firm-
fixed indefinite-delivery-type contract, to cover a period of
approximately nine months, to acquire the equipment with many assorted
peripherals is contemplated. All responsible sources may submit a bid
which shall be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Joyce Pidgeon
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 241-1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 604-3004
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NEEDS CAE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center is seeking sources for computer aided
engineering (CAE) hardware and software which support schematic
capture, netlist generation, fault analysis, simulation, and printed
circuit board (PCB) layout. The CAE hardware and software are required
to be fully compatible with existing Apollo-Mentor Graphics
workstations, with keyboard architecture identical to the Apollo
keyboards. All responsible sources may submit a response to this
notice which will be considered by the Agency. All responses must be
received no later than 30 days from the publication date of this
notice.
Contact: W. Boyd Christopher
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Mail Stop SI-PRO-33
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 867-3406
June 20, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE APPLE MACINTOSH HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
The Defense Supply Service placed a notice of intent to acquire Apple
Macintosh hardware and software on Falcon Microsystems GSA schedule
contract GS00K88AGS6383. All responsible sources may respond to this
synopsis with pricing data and all such responses will be fully
considered by the Agency. No contract award will be made on the basis
of any response to this notice, as this is a synopsis of intent to
place an order against the schedule contract and shall not be a
solicitation document. The requirement is for the Strategic Defense
Initiation Organization (SDIO) in the Pentagon. Offers must be
received 15 days from the publication date of this notice. No
telephone or telegraphic requests will be accepted, and so, will not be
honored.
Contact: Jamie Iannelli
Defense Supply Service - Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 695-5975
No relevant RFPs for June 21, 1990.
June 22, 1990
AFCC SOLICITATION FOR STRATEGIC WAR PLANNING SYSTEM AWARDED TO GD
Solicitation F19630-89-D-0005 issued by the Air Force Computer
Acquisition Center (AFCC) for Strategic War Planning Systems, project
281, dated July 13, 1989, was given to General Dynamics Data Systems
Div., St. Louis, MO. General Dynamics received $165,553,887. for the
contract.
Contact: Marcia Kostoulakos
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
Hanscom, Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8634
|
| 20.88 | Aerospace Industry News, week of July 23, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 01 1990 10:12 | 574 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012382
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 31-Jul-1990 01:52am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of July 23, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 23, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 23, 1990
GENERAL:
PENN STATE USING CHAMELEON SKIN CELLS TO TEST EFFECTS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS
DEFENSE:
BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO SAVE THEIR DEFENSE BUDGET IN THE HOUSE
LEADERS OF PACIFIC ISLANDS CONCERNED OVER ARMY PLAN TO DESTROY WEAPONS
DoD SAYS CENTAUR UPPER STAGE MUST BE MODIFIED
SASC AUTHORIZED FUNDING FOR PHOENIX MISSILE IN LIEU OF AAAM
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE AND JUSTICE DEPT. OFFICIALS QUESTION NORTHROP
NASA:
KSC REPORTS SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY THRUSTER DAMAGED IN ACCIDENT
EDWARD STONE NAMED AS NEW DIRECTOR OF JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS ON SPACE STATION ROBOT
NASA OFFICIALS ESTIMATE SHUTTLES WILL BE GROUNDED FOR FOUR MONTHS
ATLAS ROCKET LAUNCHED CARRYING $189 MILLION SATELLITE
INTERNATIONAL:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIES RECEIVED ORDERS FOR 118 COMMERCIAL JETS THIS YEAR
ARIANE 4 ROCKET LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY AFTER FEBRUARY FAILURE
SPOT IMAGE PRESIDENT TO JOIN CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES
ESA AND HUNGARIAN OFFICIALS MEET TO DISCUSS SPACE COOPERATION ACCORD
BRITISH AIRWAYS GRANTED PERMISSION FOR JOIN SABENA WORLD AIRLINES
SOVIET COSMONAUTS ABLE TO CLOSE FAULTY HATCH ON KVANT-2 STATION
BUSINESS:
BANNER INDUSTRIES TO SELL 52.8% INTEREST IN BANNER AEROSPACE
BOEING'S SECOND-QUARTER NET INCOME NEARLY DOUBLED FROM LAST YEAR
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO MOVE TOP EXECUTIVES TO FORT WORTH FOR A-12 PROGRAM
GENERAL ELECTRIC TO PAY $16.1 MILLION IN FINES FOR PENTAGON FRAUD
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SPACE SYSTEMS SUED BY LLOYD'S OF LONDON
SUNDSTRAND OFFERS TO BUY THE REMAINDER OF MILTON ROY CO.
WESTINGHOUSE HAS DEVELOPED SUPERCONDUCTING DIGITAL CONVERTER FOR SDIO
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT FOR SSN-21 SUBMARINE PROGRAM
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES GIVEN $56.8 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
KAMAN SCIENCES AWARDED SDI CONTRACT WORTH $22 MILLION
LOCKHEED ISSUED $11 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED PRATT & WHITNEY CONTRACT WORTH $300 MILLION
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $298 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
RAYTHEON CHOSEN FOR $17.6 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
UNISYS AWARDED $15 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
VERAC RECEIVED ELECTRONICS INTELLIGENCE EQUIPMENT AIR FORCE CONTRACT
WESTINGHOUSE GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT RADAR
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for July 23, 1990.
July 24, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PLACE ORDER WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INC.
No relevant RFPs for July 25-26, 1990.
July 27, 1990
JSC TO PLACE CONTRACT WITH XEROX FOR WORKSTATIONS
NASA JSC TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS
JSC TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR MACINTOSH HARDWARE/SOFTWARE WORKSTATIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
PENN STATE USING CHAMELEON SKIN CELLS TO TEST EFFECTS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS
Pennsylvania State University scientists have begun using chameleon
skin cells in space experiments, testing their theory that cell
structure is altered during weightlessness, causing changes in hormone
production. They believe that changes in hormonal output may be the
cause of such changes as reduced muscle tone and bone rigidity that
take place in astronauts during space flight.
DEFENSE:
BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO SAVE THEIR DEFENSE BUDGET IN THE HOUSE
The Bush administration is planning a last-ditch lobbying blitz to try
to save the defense budget in the House. Congressional support for the
White House's defense budget has dropped severely and even Republicans
appear ready to give up. There have been a steady stream of complaints
from the Republicans that President Bush has not personally entered the
battle; therefor White House aides have scheduled a pair of White House
sessions to build support for the administration's defense priorities.
The House Armed Services Committee begins voting next week on the $283
billion defense spending bill for FY 1991.
LEADERS OF PACIFIC ISLANDS CONCERNED OVER ARMY PLAN TO DESTROY WEAPONS
The leaders in the Pacific islands of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands,
Cook Islands, New Zealand and the U.S. territory of American Samoa,
along with environmental groups, have all expressed concern about the
U.S. Army's plan to move chemical weapons from West Germany to Johnston
Atoil, 800 miles southwest of Honolulu. The Army will then destroy the
weapons there. According to the Army, destroying the weapons at
Johnston Atoll poses minimal public-health, safety and environmental
effects.
DoD SAYS CENTAUR UPPER STAGE MUST BE MODIFIED
The Defense Dept. (DoD) said the Centaur upper stage, planned for use
with the Titan 4 booster to launch classified payloads for the
military, requires modifications in order to withstand higher levels of
shock and vibration. Martin Marietta Space Launch Systems Co., which
builds the Titan 4, was given a $12.5 million increase to its Air Force
contract for redesign of the adaptor that connects the Centaur to its
payload. General Dynamics Space Systems actually builds the Centaur as
subcontractor to Martin Marietta and they will receive the majority of
the $12.5 million.
SASC AUTHORIZED FUNDING FOR PHOENIX MISSILE IN LIEU OF AAAM
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) authorized funding to
upgrade a portion of the FY 1991 Phoenix missile buy to the AIM-54C++
configuration, in order to ensure that the missile remains capable
until its successor, the Advanced Air-to-Air Missile (AAAM), is
available. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney has programmed an end to the
Phoenix in September 1992. The upgrades will include improved
electronic counter-countermeasures, a high-power transmitter borrowed
from the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and a
reprogrammable memory. The "plus-plus" version also improves the
missile's ability to survive anti-radiation missiles and next-
generation threats.
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE AND JUSTICE DEPT. OFFICIALS QUESTION NORTHROP
Members of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee and Justice Dept.
officials raised new concerns about the reliability of navigational
units Northrop Corp. supplied to the Air Force's fleet of nuclear
cruise missiles. Members of the House subcommittee said they do not
believe the claims made by Northrop and subcontractor Boeing Co. that
the navigational units do not pose any safety hazards in real-world
conditions. The navigational units are to operate at temperatures as
low as 65 below zero Fahrenheit, a standard applied throughout the
military for over thirty years. However, laboratory tests have
consistently shown that the silicone fluid called DC-200 inside the
Northrop units freezes at temperatures much warmer than the 65-below
benchmark. Hearings on the navigational units will continue in
Congress this week.
NASA:
KSC REPORTS SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY THRUSTER DAMAGED IN ACCIDENT
A Kennedy Space Center (KSC) spokesperson reported a 20-pound thruster
on the space shuttle Discovery was damaged after falling off a work
stand. The part, which costs $600,000, is one of 14 thrusters that
make up the shuttle's right orbital maneuvering system. Engineers will
examine and test the thruster to determine whether it can be repaired
for use. The thruster has a three-inch long gash that is about one-
half inch deep.
EDWARD STONE NAMED AS NEW DIRECTOR OF JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
The California Institute of Technology announced that Edward Stone has
been named director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, replacing Lew
Allen, who is retiring. Mr. Stone is currently the university's vice
president for astronomical facilities and a professor of physics. He
will continue to serve as vice president. Mr. Allen, who is currently
heading the panel investigating the cause of the problems with Hubble
space telescope, will also retire from his position as vice president
of the university.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS ON SPACE STATION ROBOT
NASA's Advanced Technology Advisory Committee reported that "excellent
progress" has been made on the space station's $337 million external
maintenance robot, but NASA does not appreciate the long-term cost-
savings promised by including more internal automation on the facility.
The report warned that the continuing lack of a formal overall space
station automation and robotics plan threatens to push the program
toward a "path of least resistance" that will limit the station to
"conventional technology...thereby jeopardizing the ability of [the
station] to evolve."
NASA OFFICIALS ESTIMATE SHUTTLES WILL BE GROUNDED FOR FOUR MONTHS
NASA officials said the space shuttle will probably be delayed for
about four months because of hydrogen fuel leaks. The shuttle
Atlantis, which failed a second leak test, must now be taken off the
launch pad for repairs.
ATLAS ROCKET LAUNCHED CARRYING $189 MILLION SATELLITE
An Atlas rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral carrying a $189
million satellite that will release colorful chemical tracers so
scientists can see the Earth's magnetic and electrical fields. The
launch was previously postponed three times in less than a week because
of weather and technical problems.
INTERNATIONAL:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIES RECEIVED ORDERS FOR 118 COMMERCIAL JETS THIS YEAR
Airbus Industries announced it has received new firm orders for 118 of
its commercial jets during the first half of 1990, a sharp drop from
252 planes in the corresponding year-earlier period. The aircraft
group said last year's total reflected a period of exceptionally high
sales and interpreted the 1990 first-half result as a sign of
"continuing strong demand for civil aircraft, albeit at a more
reasonable level for the industry." Separately, Airbus said it
received firm orders for four of its A310-300 commercial jets from Air
Afrique, which was took options on four additional aircraft.
ARIANE 4 ROCKET LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY AFTER FEBRUARY FAILURE
An Ariane 4 rocket was launched successfully from Kourou, French
Guiana, carrying two communications satellites into orbit. In
February, an Ariane launch blew up, carrying two Japanese relay
stations, which officials believe was caused by cloth clogging a line
carrying water coolant to an engine.
SPOT IMAGE PRESIDENT TO JOIN CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES
President of the Spot Image Corp., Pierre Bescond, a subsidiary of the
French owned remote-sensing satellite company, will return to France to
serve as the central director for quality control of the French space
agency, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales. Mr. Bescond will be
responsible for monitoring all safety and quality control issues for
the agency. David Julyan, executive vice president of Spot Image, will
act as president until a successor is found.
ESA AND HUNGARIAN OFFICIALS MEET TO DISCUSS SPACE COOPERATION ACCORD
A European Space Agency (ESA) delegation met in Hungary to complete
details of a space-cooperation accord with Hungarian space officials.
The officials completed the text of an accord that will be voted on by
ESA's ruling council and the Hungarian government in the fall.
Hungarian officials have also expressed interest in membership in the
13-nation ESA.
BRITISH AIRWAYS GRANTED PERMISSION FOR JOIN SABENA WORLD AIRLINES
Following a U.K. Monopolies and Mergers Commission investigation,
British Airways was given permission by the U.K. Dept. of Trade and
Industry to participate in a planned linkup with Sabena World Airlines.
British Airways wants to acquire a 20% stake in the new unit of Sabena
S.A. which is 53% owned by the Belgian government. However, the Sabena
World venture would also include KLM Royal Dutch Airlines taking a 20%
stake and the deal continues to face European Community (EC) Commission
objections.
SOVIET COSMONAUTS ABLE TO CLOSE FAULTY HATCH ON KVANT-2 STATION
Soviet television said the two cosmonauts were finally able to close a
faulty hatch on their orbiting station, during a three-and-a-half hour
walk in space. The two, Anatoly Solovyvov and Aleksandr Balandin, were
unable to close the hatch, open one-twentieth of an inch, when they
returned from a seven-hour walk on July 18. According to the report,
after they forced the hatch door shut, the were also able to
repressurize all of the sectors on the Kvant-2, one of three modules
attached to the Mir space station.
BUSINESS:
BANNER INDUSTRIES TO SELL 52.8% INTEREST IN BANNER AEROSPACE
Banner Industries Inc. announced plans to sell a 52.8% interest in its
aircraft-parts subsidiary, Banner Aerospace Inc., for $133 million
through a public stock offering. A total of 9.5 million shares of
Banner Aerospace common stock will be offered at $14 a share. The
offering is expected to produce a pre-tax profit of $60 million.
Banner intends to use proceeds from the sale, along with current cash
of $90 million, for repurchasing debt, acquisitions and other corporate
purposes.
BOEING'S SECOND-QUARTER NET INCOME NEARLY DOUBLED FROM LAST YEAR
Boeing Co. announced its second-quarter net income nearly doubled to
$387 million, compared with $195 million a year earlier, on the
continued strength of the its commercial aircraft business. Sales were
up 37% to $6.97 billion from $5.07 billion during the second-quarter
1989. Boeing's total backlog as of June 30 was $84.3 billion, of which
$78.1 billion was for commercial customers. The company reported
commercial aircraft sales volume and operating margins for the latest
quarter were partly offset by a higher effective federal tax rate.
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO MOVE TOP EXECUTIVES TO FORT WORTH FOR A-12 PROGRAM
General Dynamics Corp. said it will send several top executives,
including its president, to try to salvage the Navy's trouble-plagued
A-12 Advanced Tactical Aircraft program in Fort Worth, TX. GD's
president, Herbert F. Rogers, and others will move from St. Louis to
Fort Worth so that the executives in Texas can focus their attention to
the A-12 program. The program is now several months behind schedule
and has suffered from many composite structures problems.
GENERAL ELECTRIC TO PAY $16.1 MILLION IN FINES FOR PENTAGON FRAUD
General Electric Co. agreed to pay $16.1 million in criminal and civil
penalties related to over-charges by the Management and Technical
Services Co., a subsidiary of G.E.'s aerospace group, for overcharging
the Army for a battlefield computer system. Following a three-year
investigation on the battlefield computers, conducted by the Pentagon
and the U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia, G.E. was convicted in a jury
trial last February. The fine is one of the largest ever assessed for
defrauding the Defense Dept.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SPACE SYSTEMS SUED BY LLOYD'S OF LONDON
McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s Space Systems Co. said Lloyd's of London
filed a $6 million suit against them for alleged negligence in a failed
launch of a satellite in June 1989. The failed launch occurred at Cape
Canaveral, FL when a crane hook smashed into an $80 million
communications satellite on a Delta rocket. The satellite was insured
by Lloyds and was repaired by manufacturer Ford Aerospace Corp. for
about $10 million and then successfully launched. The suit alleges
that McDonnell Douglas "negligently and carelessly planned, simulated,
trained for and conducted the handling and removal procedure," causing
the crane cable to break while loading the satellite onto the rocket.
SUNDSTRAND OFFERS TO BUY THE REMAINDER OF MILTON ROY CO.
Sundstrand Corp. put in an offer of $126.4 million to acquire the 85%
of Milton Roy Co. that it doesn't already own. Milton Roy is a St.
Petersburg, Florida-based maker of instrumentation and control
equipment. In 1989, Milton Roy has sales of $125 million. Sundstrand,
makers of aerospace and industrial equipment, had sales of $1.60
billion last year. Sundstrand told Milton Roy that the all-cash offer
is open until July 30, unless extended by mutual agreement. The
proposal is subject to the approval of Milton Roy's directors and a due
diligence review of the company by Sundstrand as well as the
negotiation of a definitive merger agreement.
WESTINGHOUSE HAS DEVELOPED SUPERCONDUCTING DIGITAL CONVERTER FOR SDIO
Westinghouse Electric Corp. reported that their scientists have
developed a high-resolution analog-to-digital converter that uses low-
temperature superconductivity to cut power consumption by a factor of
1,000. The Westinghouse Science and Technology Center, with funding
from the Pentagon's Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO),
developed the one-centimeter-square device for potential applications
in air traffic control radar and space tracking. Westinghouse said
they are still working on producing converters that can operate at
higher temperatures and be cooled by relatively inexpensive liquid
nitrogen.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT FOR SSN-21 SUBMARINE PROGRAM
General Dynamics Corp. received a $43.3 million Navy contract for the
SSN-21 submarine program.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES GIVEN $56.8 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Hawaiian Airlines, a HAL Inc. unit, was given a $56.8 million Air Force
contract for long-range airlifting.
KAMAN SCIENCES AWARDED SDI CONTRACT WORTH $22 MILLION
Kaman Sciences Corp. was awarded an Army Strategic Defense Command
contract worth $22 million to test materials to be used in Strategic
Defense Initiative (SDI) systems. Under the contract, Kaman will
conduct both above-ground and underground tests of materials to be used
in optical and electro-optical interceptor subsystems. The tests will
be used to pinpoint critical vulnerabilities, study hardening
techniques and measuring the survivability of components. The tests
include underground experiments to study the materials' response to the
effects of a nuclear blast.
LOCKHEED ISSUED $11 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS
Lockheed Corp. was issued an $11 million Navy contract for aircraft
electronics.
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED PRATT & WHITNEY CONTRACT WORTH $300 MILLION
Martin Marietta Corp. was awarded a contract valued at about $300
million to design and develop a new jet engine thrust reverser for
Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., and to
produce 200 units. The thrust reversers, which redirect the flow of
jet engine exhaust and help brake aircraft after landing, will be
designed and produced by Martin Marietta Aero & Naval Systems in
Baltimore, MD. Production is scheduled to begin in 1993.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $298 MILLION IN AIR FORCE AND NAVY CONTRACTS
McDonnell Douglas Corp. won $298 million in contracts for Air Force F-
15 aircraft and electronics equipment, and for Navy Harpoon missile
parts.
RAYTHEON CHOSEN FOR $17.6 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was chosen for a $17.6 million Navy contract for
Sidewinder missile parts.
UNISYS AWARDED $15 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Unisys Corp. was awarded a $15 million Navy contract for Trident
missile components.
VERAC RECEIVED ELECTRONICS INTELLIGENCE EQUIPMENT AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Verac Inc. received a $24 million Air Force contract for electronics
intelligence equipment.
WESTINGHOUSE GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT RADAR
Westinghouse Electric Corp. was given a $41.7 million Air Force
contract for F-16 aircraft radar.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for July 23, 1990.
July 24, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PLACE ORDER WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INC.
The Defense Supply Service - Washington, placed a notice of intent to
place an order with Advanced Technology Incorporated (ATI) under Office
Personnel Management (OPM) contract number OPM-90-00696 for Total
Quality Management (TQM). The time period of performance will be for
an 11 month period, August 1, 1990 through July 1991. The management
will be performed on-site, at HQ AMC, Alexandria, VA. The contractor
shall assess user needs, perform introductory PC training, software
training, develop new training materials, provide enhancements and
revisions to existing LAN, input information and trouble shoot software
problems considered serviceable. No contract award will be made on the
basis of any response to this notice. Vendors who can meet the
requirements at more favorable terms to the Government are invited to
submit, in writing, a response. If no responses are received which
meet the requirements at a comparably lower cost to the Government
within 15 days of publication of this notice, an order will be placed
with Advanced Technology Incorporated, against OPM contract number OPM-
90-00696.
Contract: Denise Link
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 697-2799
No relevant RFPs for July 25-26, 1990.
July 27, 1990
JSC TO PLACE CONTRACT WITH XEROX FOR WORKSTATIONS
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to place a contract with Xerox
Corp. under GSA contract GS00K90AGS5688 for 21 Xerox Model 6085
workstations, Security Software and assorted peripherals. Vendors who
can furnish the required hardware and software are invited to submit a
written statement clearly stating their ability to meet the
requirements and specifications. No telephone calls will be accepted.
Also, it is the intent to trade in 21 each Xerox 8010 workstations;
therefor, vendors who will allow a credit for the trade-ins should
indicate the amount of the credit. Vendors responding to this notice
with a GSA Schedule contract should include the contract number and
expiration date. Written response must be submitted within 15 days of
publication and should refer to PR No. 90-145-001. All responsible
sources may submit an offer which will be considered by the agency.
Contact: Joyce M. Fields
NASA JSC
Mail Code BG41 (S33)
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-54152
NASA JSC TO PLACE DELIVERY ORDER WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to place a delivery order with
Sun Microsystems Federal, Inc. against GSA Contract GS00KAGS5748 for
computer workstations and many assorted peripherals. All responsible
sources who can furnish the required hardware and software are invited
to submit a written response within 15 days of the publication of this
notice and should refer to PR No. 90-123-023. When responding, please
include GSA Schedule Contract number, if applicable, and expiration
date.
Contact: Joyce Fields
NASA Johnson Space Center
Mail Code BG 41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4152
JSC TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR MACINTOSH HARDWARE/SOFTWARE WORKSTATIONS
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to award a contract for
MacIntosh II/Hardware/Software workstations with assorted peripherals.
This requirement is supported by an approved Justification for Other
Than Full and Open Competition for Specific Make and Model. It is
anticipated that the IFB will be issued 15 days after the release of
this publication. Bid opening will be 30 days after the release of the
IFB. FOB Destination, JSC within 45 days of contract award. All
responsible sources may submit a bid for consideration by this agency.
Vendors responding to this IFB with a GSA schedule contract, should
include the contract number and expiration date. The award will be
based on the lowest overall cost to the government.
Contact: Betty Craig
NASA Johnson Space Center
Mail Code BG 41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-2338
|
| 20.89 | Aerospace Industry news, week of July 16, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 01 1990 11:10 | 567 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012347
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 25-Jul-1990 02:09am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@YGREN@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry news, week of July 16, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 16, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 16, 1990
DEFENSE:
SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE GRANTS $289 BILLION DoD FY 1991 BUDGET
PENTAGON FACES DIFFICULT TASK OF CUTTING PERSONNEL FOR FY 1991
AIR FORCE'S ALASKAN AIR COMMAND TO BE RENAMED
PENTAGON INFORMALLY NOTIFIED CONGRESS OF PLANS TO SELL KOREA F/A-18s
SASC TO ASK CHENEY TO REPEAT HIS MAJOR AIRCRAFT REVIEW
NASA:
NASA EXPECTS THE SPACE SHUTTLE TO RESUME FLYING BY EARLY SEPTEMBER
LENOIR: SPACE STATION STILL TOO HEAVY, MAY DEMAND ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER HOPES TO BE INVOLVED IN LUNAR/MARS MISSIONS
SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR'S CONSTRUCTION AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
NASA TO BEGIN TESTING DRAG PARACHUTE SYSTEM FOR SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING
INTERNATIONAL:
SWA PROHIBITED FROM EXPANDING AT BRUSSELS AIRPORT
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH 23 PAYLOADS BY NOVEMBER 1991
ISRAELI OFFICIALS REPORT OFFEQ 2 SATELLITE BURNED UP DURING RE-ENTRY
ITALIANS AND DUTCH SIGN MOU ON SAX X-RAY SATELLITE
SOVIET COSMONAUTS MAY HAVE LEFT ESCAPE HATCH ON SPACESHIP OPEN
BUSINESS:
GRUMMAN CHAIRMAN, CEO, PRESIDENT JOHN O'BRIEN UNEXPECTEDLY RESIGNS
HONEYWELL REPORTS STRONG SECOND-QUARTER
LOCKHEED DELIVERS 59th AND FINAL F-117A STEALTH FIGHTER TO AIR FORCE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO LAYOFF AT LEAST 11% OF WORKFORCE
NORTHROP REPORTS SECOND QUARTER GAINS
TRW POSTS 10% DECLINE ON SECOND-QUARTER PROFIT
CONTRACT AWARDS:
LITTON INDUSTRIES WON $25 MILLION FORD AEROSPACE CONTRACT
LOCKHEED SPACE OPERATIONS ISSUED $82 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
MARTIN MARIETTA WON TWO NASA CONTRACTS TOTALING $24.7 MILLION
RAYTHEON GIVEN $68.3 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
ROCKWELL RECEIVED KINETIC ENERGY ASAT CONTRACT FROM ARMY
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS AWARDED NASA JPL CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
July 16, 1990
LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURAL TEST SYSTEM NEEDED FOR LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER
AFCAC TO CHANGE RFP REQUIREMENTS OF TACTICAL AIR FORCES WORKSTATIONS
NASA LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER AWARDED IBM MVS AUGMENTATION COMPUTER SYSTEM
LEWIS RESEARCH GAVE SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM RFP TO CRAY RESEARCH
July 17, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO PROCURE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
No relevant RFP for July 18, 1990.
July 19, 1990
FORT HOOD TO ACQUIRE TEXCOM AIRBORNE AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEST BOARD
July 20, 1990
TRADOC PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SUN MICROSYSTEMS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFENSE:
SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE GRANTS $289 BILLION DoD FY 1991 BUDGET
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) approved a $289 billion FY
1991 military budget authorization which eliminates funds for troubled
systems, makes cuts to new systems and adds unrequested funds to
improve existing systems. The committee terminated funds for 15
programs beyond those that Defense Secretary Dick Cheney wanted to
kill, including the Defense Dept.'s (DoD) participation in the National
Aerospace Plane ($158 million), the Milstar satellite ($1,063 billion)
and the ADATS air defense system ($438 million). Such programs as the
Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) and the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-
Air Missile (AMRAAM) were slowed down. Also, product improvement was
emphasized for existing systems like the F-15 fighter, the AH-64 and
the AHIP helicopters, and the M-1 tank.
PENTAGON FACES DIFFICULT TASK OF CUTTING PERSONNEL FOR FY 1991
Christopher Jehn, the Pentagon's assistant defense secretary for force
management and personnel said it is difficult for the Pentagon to
estimate the number of personnel cuts that need to be made due to
uncertainty about the size and schedule of the eventual cuts. Congress
has not yet settled on a firm end-strength figure for FY 1991, and Mr.
Jehn said that by early fall, "we'll have to look at the circumstances
and make a good guess as to where we think we're going to wind up and
start acting accordingly." The Bush administration proposed a cut of
38,000 military personnel in its FY 1991 defense budget request, but
congress is expected to make even deeper cuts, with the Senate Armed
Services Committee suggesting 100,000 personnel be cut and the House is
expected to propose as much as 140,000.
AIR FORCE'S ALASKAN AIR COMMAND TO BE RENAMED
The Air Force's Alaskan Air Command will be renamed the 11th Air Force
under the commander of the Pacific Air Forces based at Hickam Air Force
Base, Hawaii. The change, which takes effect August 9, is intended to
bring the Air Force structure into line with the organization of other
Alaskan Command service components.
PENTAGON INFORMALLY NOTIFIED CONGRESS OF PLANS TO SELL KOREA F/A-18s
The Pentagon informally notified Congress of tentative plans for South
Korea to procure McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets, giving Congress 30
days to accept or reject the sale. The formal notification is
scheduled for September. The delay was requested by Korea to give its
General Assembly time to approve the memorandum of understanding (MOU)
outlining the license-building agreement. According to a congressional
source, the Defense Security Assistance Agency will forward a letter to
Congress indicating that they will enter into the MOU.
SASC TO ASK CHENEY TO REPEAT HIS MAJOR AIRCRAFT REVIEW
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) intends to ask Defense
Secretary Dick Cheney to conduct a repeat of his Major Aircraft Review
with emphasis on putting the programs in a broader context of overall
military capability. SASC plans to urge Mr. Cheney to go beyond the
individual merits of each of the bit-ticket aircraft and examine
whether the collective air forces can be significantly improved with
the money saved by deferring or eliminating any or all of them.
NASA:
NASA EXPECTS THE SPACE SHUTTLE TO RESUME FLYING BY EARLY SEPTEMBER
NASA announced it will resume flying the space shuttle in mid-August or
early September. NASA said it has discovered the fuel leaks that
grounded the program, and they were not as difficult to fix as the
agency had thought. The leaks appeared to be similar on the launch
pad, but they actually had different origins and were relatively easy
to fix. NASA plans to try to fix the leak on the shuttle Atlantis on
the launch pad, by tightening or replacing dozens of bolts, and fly the
shuttle around August 10. The Atlantis is to carry a reconnaissance
satellite for the Defense Dept.
LENOIR: SPACE STATION STILL TOO HEAVY, MAY DEMAND ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS
NASA space flight chief William Lenoir said the space station is still
too heavy, and if NASA cannot bring the weight down, the station could
require additional shuttle flights for assembly in low Earth orbit.
The station was originally planned to weigh 512,000 pounds, but design
development made the actual weight go up to 656,000 pounds. Recently,
NASA engineers have cut the base design to 625,000 pounds, primarily by
changing the type of metal for the storage tanks.
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER HOPES TO BE INVOLVED IN LUNAR/MARS MISSIONS
Newly appointed Goddard Space Flight Center Director John Klineberg
said he hopes to enhance Goddard's involvement in the lunar and Mars
exploration plan from advanced communications concepts and lunar
outpost science to robotic technology. Goddard engineers and
scientists are now focusing on several areas they believe will be
helpful for lunar and Mars exploration. These areas include
astrophysics and planetary science research, mission operations and
data systems, telerobic flight systems and technology development.
SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR'S CONSTRUCTION AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
The new space shuttle Endeavour passed a major construction milestone
when its on-board electrical systems were powered up for the first
time, ten days ahead of schedule. The Endeavour is being built to
replace the Challenger, which blew up in January 1986.
NASA TO BEGIN TESTING DRAG PARACHUTE SYSTEM FOR SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING
A NASA spokesperson said that testing of a drag parachute system for
the space shuttle will begin by early August at Ames-Dryden Flight
Research Facility, Edwards Air Force Base, CA. NASA plans eight
landing tests with the chute system, with chute deployment at speeds
ranging from 140 to 200 knots, or 160 to 230 miles per hour. Shuttle
landing speeds can actually be as high as 225 knots, but the B-52 that
will be used for the test program can not land at speeds over 200 knots
because of tire limitations. The drag chutes are part of a program to
improve the landing capabilities of the space shuttles.
INTERNATIONAL:
SWA PROHIBITED FROM EXPANDING AT BRUSSELS AIRPORT
Sabena World Airlines (SWA) was found guilty by a Brussels Commercial
Court of violating a European Community (EC) competition law that
prohibits concerted practices that prevent, restrict or distort
competition. SWA, a new Brussels-based joint venture between Sabena,
British Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has a virtual monopoly on
traffic rights out of Belgium. The court ruled to prohibit SWA from
winning new takeoff and landing slots at Brussels airport for an
indefinite period, regardless of appeals. Sabena said it would appeal
the decision, while KLM and British Airways declined to comment.
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH 23 PAYLOADS BY NOVEMBER 1991
Arianespace announced intentions to launch 23 payloads on 13 Ariane 4
rockets by November 1991. The first launch, from Kourou, French
Guiana, is scheduled for next week and will carry into orbit the French
TDF 2 television satellite and the West German DFS Korpernikus 2
telecommunications satellite. The launches are then scheduled each
month until November 1991, except for two monthly breaks each year to
offset any technical delays. Only three rocket launches will carry a
single payload. According to Arianespace, they have a backlog of 39
satellites awaiting launch, with a value of $2.8 billion.
ISRAELI OFFICIALS REPORT OFFEQ 2 SATELLITE BURNED UP DURING RE-ENTRY
Israeli officials said the country's second satellite burned up on re-
entry after orbiting Earth for 97 days. Though the Israelis called the
Offeq 2 satellite an "experimental" satellite, there was speculation
that Israel was using it to spy on bordering Arab countries. The
satellite, built by Israel Aircraft Industries, Inc. (IAI), stayed in
orbit 40 days longer than expected because solar activity was less than
anticipated.
ITALIANS AND DUTCH SIGN MOU ON SAX X-RAY SATELLITE
The Italian Space Agency and the Dutch Agency for Aerospace Programs
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in which Dutch authorities
will award 55 million guilders ($30 million) in contracts to Dutch
companies to build components of the Sax X-ray satellite. Aeritalia
Space Systems Group is the prime contractor for the Sax program, which
is scheduled to be launched by a General Dynamics Atlas booster in
1993. As part of the MOU, the Dutch government will received 15% of
viewing time on the satellite.
SOVIET COSMONAUTS MAY HAVE LEFT ESCAPE HATCH ON SPACESHIP OPEN
Soviet television reported that the two cosmonauts who spent seven
hours in space to repair the spaceship that is to take them home did
not shut an escape hatch and may have to repeat the spacewalk. However
Valdimir Shatalin, head of cosmonaut training and a former cosmonaut
himself, said everything was fine and that there is no need to send up
another spaceship or have the cosmonauts return on the next spacecraft
that will take a normal replacement crew to the station.
BUSINESS:
GRUMMAN CHAIRMAN, CEO, PRESIDENT JOHN O'BRIEN UNEXPECTEDLY RESIGNS
Grumman Corp. chairman, chief executive officer and president John
O'Brien unexpectedly resigned his positions "for personal reasons."
Mr. O'Brien joined Grumman in 1954 as a flight test analyst and was
named to his current positions in 1988. Renso Caporali, formerly vice
chairman-technology of Grumman stepped in to assume Mr. O'Brien's
duties until a replacement is found. Mr. O'Brien also resigned from
the board of directors but will be available to aid in an orderly
transition.
HONEYWELL REPORTS STRONG SECOND-QUARTER
Honeywell Inc. reported a net income of $99.1 million during second-
quarter, up 32% from $74.8 million the year earlier. Honeywell
benefited from a restructuring effort and a favorable tax ruling.
Profit from continuing operations rose 54% to $92.4 million, from $60
million. Sales were up 2.1% to $1.55 billion from $1.52 billion.
According to Honeywell, its "continued solid performance" reflects the
"benefits of our profit-improvement plan and continued strong market
conditions: for its industrial and commercial-flight systems."
LOCKHEED DELIVERS 59th AND FINAL F-117A STEALTH FIGHTER TO AIR FORCE
Lockheed Corp. delivered its 59th and final F-117A stealth fighter to
the Air Force at a ceremony conducted at its Palmdale, CA, facility.
AiResearch, General Electric and Honeywell were among the 31
subcontractors on the 12-year project, which cost $6.3 billion.
Lockheed's "Skunk Works" developed the F-117A in the late 1970s, the
plane then helped pave the way for today's stealth combat planes. The
F-117A was originally developed to counter the then-new Soviet early
warning radars, surface-to-surface missiles and fighter aircraft.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO LAYOFF AT LEAST 11% OF WORKFORCE
McDonnell Douglas Corp. chairman John McDonnell explained the company
has "made some mistakes in the course of our reorganizations," and must
eliminate 14,000 to 17,000 jobs, or at least 11% of its world-wide work
force by the end of the year. The company has a $27 billion backlog of
orders for its MD-80s and MD-11s, however McDonnell Douglas has not
posted a profit at its transport aircraft unit in Long Beach,
California since 1988. The majority of the cuts will come from white
collar positions at the Long Beach unit, and skilled assemblers and
electrical workers may actually be added to help hasten the jetliner-
delivery schedule.
NORTHROP REPORTS SECOND QUARTER GAINS
Northrop Corp. reported net income of $29.3 million on 1% higher sales
of $1.41 billion in their second quarter, compared with a loss of $78.1
million during the same period last year. Northrop's Missiles and
Unmanned Vehicle Systems business segment, which at this time last year
posted the second $150 million loss on an unidentified classified
fixed-price program, enjoyed a $4.4 million profit on $12.4% stronger
sales of $106.2 million during the period. The company's Precision
Products Div., suspended from receiving new government contracts last
summer following a Justice Dept. investigation of irregularities in the
Peacekeeper program, reduced the Electronics segment operating profits.
The Electronics unit has 12% lower profits of $8.5 million on nearly
10% higher sales of $215 million.
TRW POSTS 10% DECLINE ON SECOND-QUARTER PROFIT
TRW Inc. posted a 10% decline in second-quarter profit because of
increased interest costs and a higher tax rate. The company said
operating profit was up 4% and that its major businesses "continue to
perform well in a persistently difficult environment." During its
second-quarter, net income fell to $63 million, from $70 million in
1989. Sales were up 14% to $2.1 billion from $1.84 billion. TRW's
space and defense segment posted 9% higher sales, at $862 million, and
a "slight" increase in operating profit to $61 million.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
LITTON INDUSTRIES WON $25 MILLION FORD AEROSPACE CONTRACT
Litton Industries Inc. won a contract valued at about $25 million from
Ford Aerospace Corp. to produce over 200 laser subsystems for McDonnell
Douglas Corp.'s F/A-18 attack fighter jet. The subsystems are part of
the jets' target systems, made by Ford Aerospace, a division of Ford
Motor Co. The Litton contract includes options for over 300 additional
subsystems. Litton said the subsystems would be made at the company's
Laser Systems division.
LOCKHEED SPACE OPERATIONS ISSUED $82 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Lockheed Space Operations Co. was issued an $82,409,892 cost-plus-
award-fee Air Force contract for design and development services for
the Titan IV and Centaur Space Launch Vehicles Launch Complex at
Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. The contract is scheduled to be
completed in January 1997. The Western Space and Missile Center,
Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, is the contracting activity.
MARTIN MARIETTA WON TWO NASA CONTRACTS TOTALING $24.7 MILLION
Martin Marietta Corp. won $24.7 million worth of contracts to build
science instruments for two NASA space exploration missions, the Comet
Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF) and the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics
Facility. Martin will build the Cometary Ice and Dust Experiment
(CIDEX) as part of the CRAF mission under an $11.6 million contract
with Ames Research Center. The second instrument, a charge-coupled
device imaging spectrometer, will be built under a $13.1 million
contract from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
RAYTHEON GIVEN $68.3 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. was given a $68.3 million Navy contract for Trident
missile-guidance parts.
ROCKWELL RECEIVED KINETIC ENERGY ASAT CONTRACT FROM ARMY
Rockwell International Corp. received an Army contract to design and
build its kinetic energy anti-satellite system (ASAT). Rockwell's
entry, which competed against Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas, was so
"far superior" that the Army decided that to take the two contractors
into the demonstration/validation phase was "pointless." The contract
value is still being negotiated, but is expected to be worth about $100
million over a 24-month effort.
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS AWARDED NASA JPL CONTRACT
Schaeffer Magnetics Inc. was awarded a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(JPL) contract to supply a scan mirror assembly for an instrument on
the agency's Mars Observer satellite. The two-axis, programmable scan
mirror, in series with a telescope, will be used on the satellite's
Pressure Modulator Infrared Radiometer (PMIRR). The instrument will be
used to try to determine the distribution and sources of Martian dust
over a seasonal cycle and explore the structure of the Martian
atmosphere. The Mars Observer is scheduled to be launched on a Martin
Marietta Commercial Titan expendable booster in the fall of 1992.
Terms of the agreement were not available.
RFP UPDATE:
July 16, 1990
LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURAL TEST SYSTEM NEEDED FOR LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER
The Large-scale Structural Test System (LSTS), a modular constructed,
ground-based acquisition and analysis system, is needed to provide
Langley Research Center with an efficient platform for performing
structural dynamic and flexible structure control testing for
monitoring ground-based research on large spacecraft models and
structures. The LSTS and subsequent upgrades will be accomplished over
a maximum five-year term under an indefinite quantity-type contract
providing for firm-fixed prices. A master configuration list will be
established, from which all requirements will be generated. All
responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by
the agency. When responding, please reference solicitation 1-117-
2240.0601.
Contact: Bid Distribution Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 144
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2547
AFCAC TO CHANGE RFP REQUIREMENTS OF TACTICAL AIR FORCES WORKSTATIONS
The Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCAC) announced that due to
numerous vendor questions on RFP 19630-90-R-0014, which will require
some RFP changes and clarifications, the proposal receipt date for the
Tactical Air Forces Workstations (TAF-WS), AFCAC project no. 308, will
be extended from August 2 to August 20, 1990. Additionally, due to
change in user requirements, the System U Terminal (CLIN 0095) will be
deleted. The specific changes will be contained in an RFP Amendment.
Contact: Capt. Robert Havern
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCC)
Directorate of Contracting/PKD
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8638
NASA LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER AWARDED IBM MVS AUGMENTATION COMPUTER SYSTEM
NASA Lewis Research Center's RFP3-328947 for an MVS augmentation
computer system went to International Business Machine (IBM) Corp. for
$7,859,820.
LEWIS RESEARCH GAVE SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM RFP TO CRAY RESEARCH
NASA Lewis Research Center gave RFP3-424250 for a supercomputer system
to Cray Research Inc. The amount of the award was $85 million.
July 17, 19990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO PROCURE DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Defense Supply Service-Washington, on behalf of the Force
Structure Resource and Assessment Directorate (J-8) of the Joint Staff
must design and implement a formal intra-agency Data Management System.
A building-block approach to development is desired - initially
establishing operational capability to a previously developed prototype
and incrementally expanding functional capability to accommodate the
full range of agency's mission requirements. The goal is to provide
users with ready-access to reliable and accurate data that is
standardized in format and structure. Solicitation number MDA903-91-R-
0014 will be released no sooner than 15 days from the date of this
notice. No telephone requests will be honored.
Contact: Marie Lanois
Defense Supply Service-Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 695-5461
No relevant RFP for July 18, 1990.
July 19, 1990
FORT HOOD TO ACQUIRE TEXCOM AIRBORNE AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEST BOARD
Fort Hood, TX, intends to acquire through full and open competition a
TEXCOM Airborne and Special Operations Test Board and various ADP
equipment. The equipment must interface to the existing data
acquisition and analysis equipment. The existing systems interface
through the IBM PC compatibility devices. Firms who can furnish the
required services/supplies are invited to submit clear and convincing
data substantiating their capability to furnish the requirement,
including technical and pricing data, and GSA schedule within 30 days
after publication of this notice. No solicitation is available,
therefore, requests for such documents will be considered invalid
responses.
Contact: Mae Goulette
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Fort Hood
P.O. Box Y
Fort Hood, TX 76544-5065
(817) 288-9595
July 20, 1990
TRADOC PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SUN MICROSYSTEMS
The TRADOC Contracting Activity office placed a notice of intent to
procure SPARC Stations and many assorted peripherals from Sun
Microsystems according to GSA Schedule. Responses to this notice will
be used to determine whether bonafide competition exists and whether a
formal solicitation is appropriate. No solicitation document exists.
Written responses, including GSA contract number, if applicable, price
and technical data sufficient to determine capability to meet the
requirement, must be received by the office within 15 days after this
notice. If no affirmative responses are received within this time to
determine that a comparable source more advantageous to the Government
is available, an order will be placed with the Sun Microsystems against
their current GSA Schedule. Responses or requests for the RFP must
state that the vendor is not currently on the Consolidated List of
Debarred, Suspended and Ineligible Contractors or otherwise ineligible
to receive Government contract. When responding, please reference
KVW26RX3-0129-0701/13. No telephone requests will be honored, all
responses must in writing.
Contact: Kathy Vretos
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA, Bldg. 1748
Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4005
|
| 20.90 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of July 9, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 01 1990 11:48 | 555 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012315
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 18-Jul-1990 05:22am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI@VBO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of July 9, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 9, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword access from the $ prompt is 'VTX IMSIS'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 9, 1990
GENERAL:
MAP OF EARTH BASED ON MULTINATIONAL SATELLITE IMAGERY TO BE COMPILED
DEFENSE:
AFA NAMES GENERAL MONROE HATCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
RADAR-JAMMING DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR NAVY PASSES LABORATORY TESTS
HENRY COOPER NAMED TO DIRECT THE PENTAGON'S "STAR WARS" PROGRAM
IDA REPORTS V-22 TILTROTOR EFFECTIVE AIRCRAFT FOR MANY MISSIONS
CHENEY TO CANCEL MANY CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS
SENATE ARMED SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEES MAKE LARGE CUTS TO WEAPONS SYSTEMS
NASA:
HOUSE PASSES AMENDMENT TO CUT REMAINING SETI FUNDING
UNIVERSITY OF KENT SCIENTISTS STUDYING LDEF EXPERIMENT
NASA SUSPENDS TWO SHUTTLE CREW COMMANDERS
NASA OFFICIALS STILL HAVE NOT FOUND SOURCE OF HYDROGEN LEAK
SENATOR AL GORE CHARGES NASA WITH INADEQUATE TESTING PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL:
LUFTHANSA SAID WEST GERMANY TO REDUCE STATE OWNERSHIP OF INTERFLUG
ITALY PLANS TO CONDUCT MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH BY 1993
ESA AND NASDA SIGN AGREEMENT FOR WIDE-RANGING SPACE COOPERATION
ITALY'S FRANCESCO CARASSA APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF ESA COUNCIL
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE POSTS FIRST YEAR RESULTS
CANADIAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO GROW
ESA APPROVES AGREEMENT WITH NASA FOR JOINT CASSINI MISSION TO SATURN
SWITZERLAND RECONSIDERING PURCHASE OF MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F/A-18 FIGHTERS
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO SUPPLY SAUDIA ARABIA WITH ABRAMS TANKS
HERCULES REPORTED SOLID ROCKET MOTOR FOR THE TITAN 4 BOOSTER DAMAGED
LMSC WILL SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS OF LISC BY THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS COMPLETES SALE OF ITS FIELD SERVICES DIVISION
TITAN COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF M/A-COM GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
UAL ANNOUNCED UNITED AIRLINES IS BACK IN THE NUMBER ONE SLOT
CONTRACT AWARDS:
COMPUTERLAND WON BRITISH MIDLAND AIRWAYS CONTRACT
GRUMMAN ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT FOR E-2C AIRCRAFT FOR JAPAN
MARTIN MARIETTA GOT $89.9 MILLION SDIO CONTRACT
RAYTHEON'S BEECH AEROSPACE AWARDED $61.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
ROCKWELL GIVEN $42.6 MILLION NASA CONTRACT TO CONTINUE MARSHALL SUPPORT
SILICON GRAPHICS RECEIVED $32.8 MILLION CONTRACT FROM NASA
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for July 9-10, 1990.
July 11, 1990
NASA KSC ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR COLOR PRINTER SYSTEMS
July 12, 1990
TRADOC OFFICE TO PLACE AND ORDER WITH RACAL MILGO
PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE TO REPLACE FIRE SECURITY COMPUTER
July 13, 1990
JUSTIS SPO TO HOLD EIGHTH CONTRACTORS' CONFERENCE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
MAP OF EARTH BASED ON MULTINATIONAL SATELLITE IMAGERY TO BE COMPILED
As part of the 1992 International Space Year (ISY) Celebration honoring
the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America, a global map
of Earth based solely on multinational satellite imagery will be
compiled. The $30 million project was approved by space officials from
all the major space agencies of the world. The idea was proposed by
Austria, which was adopted by the Space Agency Forum on the ISY, the
organization formed to coordinate cooperative ISY projects.
DEFENSE:
AFA NAMES GENERAL MONROE HATCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Air Force Association (AFA) named retired Air Force four-star
General Monroe Hatch as executive director of the association and the
Aerospace Education Foundation. Before retiring, Gen. Hatch was the
vice chief of staff of the Air Force. He will take over the positions
in October after a three-month training period under the current
executive director.
RADAR-JAMMING DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR NAVY PASSES LABORATORY TESTS
The Pentagon said a new radar-jamming defense system for Navy fighter
jets has passed laboratory tests, however no decision has been made on
whether to buy more of the devices. Just 100 systems have been built
by Westinghouse Electric Corp. and ITT Corp., but defense officials
want to wait for more detailed reviews of the $3 billion program before
placing orders for more.
HENRY COOPER NAMED TO DIRECT THE PENTAGON'S "STAR WARS" PROGRAM
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney named Ambassador Henry F. Cooper to
direct the Pentagon's "star wars" program. Mr. Cooper, a former space
weapons negotiator in the Reagan administration, has been one of the
program's biggest supporters since its inception seven years ago. Mr.
Cooper is the first civilian named to run the Strategic Defense
Initiative. He succeeds Lt. Gen. George L. Monahan, Jr., who retired
July 1.
IDA REPORTS V-22 TILTROTOR EFFECTIVE AIRCRAFT FOR MANY MISSIONS
The Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA) reported that the V-22
tiltrotor is the most effective aircraft for several missions beyond
the one it was designed for. In an V-22 efficiency report, IDA found
that not only is the V-22 well suited for the Marine Corps medium-lift
role, it is also effective for Navy search-and-rescue, Air Force
special operations and drug interdiction missions than other
alternative helicopters. Despite the report, Defense Secretary Dick
Cheney said he will not revive the canceled program. He said that
after reviewing the IDA study, he found no new persuading information
to justify altering his original decision.
CHENEY TO CANCEL MANY CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS
Defense officials said that Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney has
canceled tests of the nation's newest chemical weapon and is expected
to suspend all chemical weapons production facilities. Mr. Cheney also
plans to withdraw the administration's request for $141 million in new
production funds for binary chemical warheads for artillery shells and
bombs. He has also ordered that a program to develop a rocket-launched
chemical warhead be restricted to research only. Mr. Cheney's actions
are a result of the U.S.-Soviet agreement last month to cut poison gas
stockpiles.
SENATE ARMED SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEES MAKE LARGE CUTS TO WEAPONS SYSTEMS
Senate Armed Services subcommittees voted to authorize two B-2 stealth
bombers, but made substantial cuts to major weapons systems in striking
out most funding for the A-12 attack aircraft, the SSN-21 fast attack
submarine and the MX rail mobile basing system for the FY 1991 budget.
All subcommittee decisions are subject to full committee authorization.
NASA:
HOUSE PASSES AMENDMENT TO CUT REMAINING SETI FUNDING
The House passed an amendment by a voice vote to cut the remaining
funding in a current $100 million, 10-year program that detects radio
signals from outer space, a NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,
CA, project. Since 1989, $6 million has gone toward the Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program. Rep. Ronald Machtley (R-
RI), who introduced the amendment, believes the money would be better
spent on Earth. SETI Institute President Frank Drake said he believes
the Senate will support the project.
UNIVERSITY OF KENT SCIENTISTS STUDYING LDEF EXPERIMENT
At the University of Kent, Canterbury, England, scientists are
analyzing thin metal foils, one of the 57 experiments on the Long
Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), to determine the number and size of
particles that can be expected to strike spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
The sheets of foil were designed to capture and show the direction of
travel of the tiny particles that struck it. Scientists now hope to
learn more about the origins of the particles by studying the direction
from which they came.
NASA SUSPENDS TWO SHUTTLE CREW COMMANDERS
NASA announced it suspended two veteran shuttle crew commanders. Navy
Cmdr. Robert L. Gibson and Navy Capt. David M. Walker were grounded for
one year and 60 days, respectively. Cmdr. Gibson piloted an eight-day
Challenger mission in 1984, commanded a 1986 Columbia mission and an
Atlantis mission in 1988. He was grounded for being involved in a
fatal collision of stunt planes at an air show. Capt. Walker piloted a
shuttle flight in 1984, commanded a 1989 Atlantis flight and was
scheduled to command a Defense Dept. mission in March 1991. He was
suspended for flying too close to a Pan Am airliner.
NASA OFFICIALS STILL HAVE NOT FOUND SOURCE OF HYDROGEN LEAK
NASA officials reported that they still have not found the exact source
of the hydrogen leak in the space shuttle fleet. NASA engineers have
been unable to detect which valve, pipe or seal in the liquid hydrogen
rocket fuel system is leaking. The shuttles were grounded when
Rockwell International engineers detected escaping hydrogen while
conducting a hardware test on the Columbia.
SENATOR AL GORE CHARGES NASA WITH INADEQUATE TESTING PROGRAM
During a hearing of the Senate Commerce subcommittee on science,
technology and space, Sen. Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN) charged that both the
defective Hubble telescope mirrors and the space shuttle's valve leaks
are the result of an inadequate testing program at NASA. Sen. Gore
denounced NASA's failure to test the shuttle fuel line at the actual
temperatures encountered in flight and its failure to test the Hubble's
two mirrors together instead of just individually. The Senator told
four top NASA officials, "When you build a ship, you test it in the
water before you accept it."
INTERNATIONAL:
LUFTHANSA SAID WEST GERMANY TO REDUCE STATE OWNERSHIP OF INTERFLUG
Lufthansa Airlines said that West Germany plans to cut state ownership
of the East German airline Interflug to 51% from 100% following the
full unification of the two Germanys. This means that Lufthansa, which
is 51% state-owned, will retain its previously agreed upon 26% stake in
Interflug, with the other 23% being sold to third parties. The third
parties were not identified.
ITALY PLANS TO CONDUCT MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH BY 1993
Italian officials said they will expand the country's ability to
conduct microgravity research on a small scale in 1993, when Italy
begins launching recoverable capsules containing experiments into
orbit. A more powerful version of the Scout booster, the Carina, will
be used to lift a 500-kilogram capsule into orbit. Aeritalia Space
Systems Group was given an Italian Space Agency (ASI) contract valued
at 7 billion lira ($5.7 million) to design the Carina capsule and
outline a demonstration flight using an upgraded version of the Scout.
The Scout is built by LTV Missiles & Electronics Group, Dallas.
ESA AND NASDA SIGN AGREEMENT FOR WIDE-RANGING SPACE COOPERATION
The 13-nation European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan's National Space
Development Agency (NASDA) have signed an agreement for wide-ranging
space cooperation under which they will share information from remote-
sensing satellites. They will also share information on space plane
design, and continue an arrangement under which ESA assisted NASDA
officials in purchasing space-related electronic components from
European suppliers. ESA has also invited Japan to participate in
microgravity experiments planned for Eureca, the European Retrievable
Carrier, which will be launched on six- and nine-month missions
beginning in 1991 by the U.S. space shuttle.
ITALY'S FRANCESCO CARASSA APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF ESA COUNCIL
Italy's Francesco Carassa was appointed chairman of the European Space
Agency (ESA) Council for a two year term. Mr. Carassa also serves as
president of several Italian telecommunications organizations as well
as the Telecommunications Advisory Committee of ESA.
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE POSTS FIRST YEAR RESULTS
Deutsche Aerospace reported a net after-tax loss of 139 million
Deutsche marks ($84 million) in 1989, mainly due to one-time costs
incurred in forming the conglomerate. Deutsche Aerospace was formed
last year by Daimler Benz and is composed of Messerschmitt-Boelkow-
Blohm (MBB), Dornier, Motoren und Turbinen-Union and Telefunken
Systemtechnik. The 139 million does not include MBB contributions,
whose purchase was not completed until the end of the year. Company
officials said with the inclusion of MBB, they expect defense and
aerospace sales in 1990 to be about $30 billion.
CANADIAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO GROW
Aerospace Industries Assn. of Canada reported they expect total
aerospace sales by Canadian firms to continue growing at about 10% per
year with no effect from the recent political conflict over the Meech
Lake accord. About 45% of Canadian aerospace business activity takes
place in Quebec, with another 45% in Ontario. In 1989, Canadian
aerospace sales were $7.7 billion.
ESA APPROVES AGREEMENT WITH NASA FOR JOINT CASSINI MISSION TO SATURN
The European Space Agency's management council approved an agreement
with NASA for a joint Cassini mission to Saturn, scheduled for 1996.
Under the agreement, ESA will provide the Huygens probe that will be
released from NASA's Saturn orbiter spacecraft and descend to the
surface of Saturn's moon Titan.
SWITZERLAND RECONSIDERING PURCHASE OF MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F/A-18 FIGHTERS
Switzerland is reconsidering its decision to buy 34 McDonnell Douglas
F/A-18 fighters in light of recent security changes in Europe.
According to Swiss officials, the country is considering the purchase
of Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000-5 aircraft instead. The Mirage is
about 15% less expensive than the F/A-18s, but many U.S. officials
believe there is political pressure on Switzerland to buy European
aircraft. McDonnell Douglas said they expect the contract to at least
be delayed until next year.
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO SUPPLY SAUDIA ARABIA WITH ABRAMS TANKS
General Dynamics Corp. (GD) received U.S. government approval on a $3
billion-plus sale of Abrams tanks to Saudi Arabia. The anxiously
awaited contract calls for GD to supply 315 next-generation M-1 tanks
to the Saudis from 1993 through 1995. The company will also supply
support equipment, spare parts, training facilities and munitions. The
contract will probably allow GD to keep its assembly plant in Lima,
Ohio and its machine shop in Warren, MI, open. GD, the U.S.'s only
tank manufacturer, also hopes to sell the Abrams tank to the United
Arab Emirates, Sweden, Kuwait, Pakistan and Canada, pending government
approval.
HERCULES REPORTED SOLID ROCKET MOTOR FOR THE TITAN 4 BOOSTER DAMAGED
Hercules Inc. reported that a segment of a solid rocket motor for the
Titan 4 booster was damaged while being moved. The segment is a
component of a new Titan motor called the Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade,
which is to replace current Titan rocket motors in order to give the
booster greater lifting ability. Hercules said the accident will cause
an unspecified delay in a static test of the rocket motor but will not
delay the Air Force's Titan 4 program flight schedule. Hercules
Aerospace is building the motors under subcontract to Martin Marietta
Astronautics Group.
LMSC WILL SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS OF LISC BY THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. (LMSC) said it will shut down operations
of its Lockheed Integrated Solutions Co. (LISC), Fairfax, VA, by
September 1. LISC's government business will be consolidated at its
facility in Santa Clara, CA. LISC commercial programs now in Fairfax -
engineering, documentation management systems and geographic
information systems - will move to Formtek, (Pittsburgh, PA) which was
acquired by Lockheed last October.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS COMPLETES SALE OF ITS FIELD SERVICES DIVISION
McDonnell Douglas Corp. completed the sale of its computer maintenance
and hardware distribution business, McDonnell Douglas Field Services
Co., to an investor group that will operate the 1,000 employee unit as
Novadyne Computer Systems Inc. McDonnell Douglas announced the sale
last July as part of its restructuring plan for the Information Systems
Co. into McDonnell Douglas Systems Integration Co.
TITAN COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF M/A-COM GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
Titan Corp., makers of computer products and provider of services to
defense programs, said it has completed the acquisition of M/A-Com
Government Systems Inc. from M/A-Com Inc., Burlington, MA. M/A-Com
Government Systems supplies earth-based satellite communications
equipment to the government, and has about $40 million in annual
revenue. It has been renamed to Titan Linkabit Corp. Terms of the
sale were not disclosed.
UAL ANNOUNCED UNITED AIRLINES IS BACK IN THE NUMBER ONE SLOT
UAL Corp. announced that its United Airlines division regained the top
position among airlines in June for revenue passenger miles. Two years
ago, UAL lost first place to AMR Corp.'s American Airlines. United's
June revenue passenger miles were up 8.4%, to 6.91 billion, from 6.37
billion a year earlier. A revenue passenger mile is the revenue from
one passenger flown one mile. The airline contributes its growth to
its Pacific routes, where traffic rose 35.6% in June from a year ago.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
COMPUTERLAND WON BRITISH MIDLAND AIRWAYS CONTRACT
ComputerLand won a contract to supply IBM and Compaq personal computers
and software to British Midland Airways. Under the contract,
ComputerLand will provide installation, training, maintenance and
technical support to the airline's locations across the U.K. and
Europe, including London, Paris, Amsterdam and Glasgow.
GRUMMAN ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT FOR E-2C AIRCRAFT FOR JAPAN
Grumman Corp. was issued a $46 million Navy contract for E-2C aircraft
for Japan.
MARTIN MARIETTA GOT $89.9 MILLION SDIO CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp.'s Astronautics Group got an $89.9 million
contract funded by the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO)
and negotiated by the Air Force's Wright Research and Development
Center, to build a satellite solar power subsystem that can survive
natural hazards and hostile threats such as lasers, nuclear events and
pellets. The survivable power subsystem, called SUPER, will consist of
modular power assembles and deployable solar arrays that are hardened
to withstand a variety of threats.
RAYTHEON'S BEECH AEROSPACE AWARDED $61.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Raytheon Co.'s Beech Aerospace Services Inc. was awarded a $61.5
million Navy contract for logistics support of trainer aircraft.
ROCKWELL GIVEN $42.6 MILLION NASA CONTRACT TO CONTINUE MARSHALL SUPPORT
Rockwell International Corp.'s Space Systems Div. was given a new $42.6
million NASA contract to continue to provide space shuttle systems
engineering and integration services for Marshall Space Flight Center.
Rockwell has been providing the services since 1982. The contract
involves supporting Marshall's role in shuttle launch and flight
support activities, test verification, operations integration, flight
evaluation, engineering analysis, data systems operations and special
studies. The majority of the work will be done at Marshall, but
Kennedy Space Center and Stennis Space Center will also receive some
support.
SILICON GRAPHICS RECEIVED $32.8 MILLION CONTRACT FROM NASA
Silicon Graphics Inc. received an estimated $32.8 million contract from
NASA Ames Research Center to provide computer graphics workstations.
The Powervisions graphics workstations will be used in the Arms
Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation processing system network. The
network performs computational fluid dynamics and other large-scale
mathematical simulations and modeling applications for a range of NASA
users.
RFP UPDATE:
No rrelevant RFPs for July 9-10, 1990.
July 11, 1990
NASA KSC ISSUED SOLICITATION FOR COLOR PRINTER SYSTEMS
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) issued solicitation IFB 10-
0054-0 for six (6) color printer systems. All responsible sources may
submit a bid which shall be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Barton Scott
Contracting Officer
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 867-3406
July 12, 1990
TRADOC OFFICE TO PLACE AND ORDER WITH RACAL MILGO
TRADOC Contracting Activity office issued solicitation W338WP 0164-0001
as a notice of intent to place an order with Racal Milgo on a sole
source basis for the eight (8) Stand-alone combination DSU/CSU modem
and central Site Card combination CSU/DSU digital rack-mount modem
systems. Responses to this notice will be used to determine whether
bonafide competition exists and whether a formal solicitation is
appropriate. Written responses, prices and technical data sufficient
to determine capability to meet the requirement, must be received by
the office within 45 calendar days after this notice. Responses and
requests must state that contractor is not on the Suspended and
Ineligible Contractors List or otherwise ineligible to receive
Government contracts.
Contact: Joseph Farrell
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Building 1748
Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-2502
PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE TO REPLACE FIRE SECURITY COMPUTER
Solicitation F05604-90-B-0045 was placed by Patterson Air Force Base to
replace the Fire Security Computer located at Patterson. The
contractor shall provide all materials and equipment necessary to
provide and install the computer hardware and assorted peripherals.
The existing fire security computer was manufactured by Monitor
Dynamics, Inc. The solicitation is scheduled for issuance on or about
July 30, 1990 with a bid opening on or about August 30, 1990. All
responsible sources may submit a bid which shall be considered by the
agency. A solicitation package may be obtained by sending a written
request referencing F05604-90-B-0045 and title.
Contact: Charles Parker
3d Space Support Wing
PKBAC, Bldg. 982
Stop 20
Peterson Air Force Base, CO 80914-5320
(719) 554-6129
July 13, 1990
JUSTIS SPO TO HOLD EIGHTH CONTRACTORS' CONFERENCE
The Joint Uniform Service Technical Information System (JUSTIS) System
Program Office (SPO), formerly known as the Air Force Technical Order
Management System (AFTOMS) SPO, has scheduled its eighth Contractor's
Conference for August 16, 1990, from 9:00 am - 11:00 am at the Wright-
Patterson Conference Center, Bldg. 230, Area C. The purpose of the
meeting will be to discuss the scope and nature of JUSTIS in terms of
procurement effort, tri-service involvement, acquisition and technical
issues. Interested contractors who have not attended conferences in
the past and who would like to attend should contact the JUSTIS SPO for
placement on the base access list. Contractors who have formerly
attended will be placed on the access list at Gate 1C and need not
contact this office.
Contact: Emily November
AFLC/LMSC/SNT
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-5001
(513) 257-7772
|
| 20.91 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 7/2/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 01 1990 17:08 | 626 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012293
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 12-Jul-1990 02:21pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@YGREN@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 7/2/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 2, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material - For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest 3 months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News". Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS'.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 2, 1990
GENERAL:
ENERGY DEPT. ESTIMATES NUCLEAR WEAPONS CLEAN-UP COULD COST $6 BILLION
DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIR AND TRADE SHOW TO BE HELD ON JULY 19-22
"OMNIBUS SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION ACT OF 1990" INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
DEFENSE:
B-2 BOMBER BEING FITTED WITH NEW PATCHES ON CRACKED AREAS
FORMER DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE RESEARCH FOR DARPA NAMED PRESIDENT OF MCC
U.S. AND GREECE SIGN AGREEMENT ON MILITARY BASES
SDI SCIENTISTS USE RELAY MIRROR SUCCESSFULLY AFTER FOUR MONTHS
CONGRESS FINDS MILITARY SERVICES FLOUTING WEAPONS PROGRAMS LAW
BUSH TO ALLOW LAUNCHING OF U.S. COMMERCIAL SATELLITE WITH SOVIET ROCKET
NASA:
NASA INVESTIGATING SHUTTLE HYDROGEN FUEL LEAK SOURCE
THREE COMPANIES TEAM TO DEVELOP NASA ALS ENGINE
FIVE MEMBER PANEL NAMED TO INVESTIGATE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PROBLEMS
NASA AND CONTEL SIGN OWNERSHIP TRANSFER AGREEMENT ON TDRSS
SPACE STATION PDRS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF SUMMER
INTERNATIONAL:
MITSUBISHI TRUST AND BANKING TO MAKE A LOAN TO AIR CHINA
SNECMA AND GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES SIGN AGREEMENT ON GE-90 ENGINES
U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA EXPECTED TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON F/A-18 FIGHTERS
PASSENGER TRAFFIC UP REPORTS ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN AIRLINES
GEC REPORTS PRE-TAX PROFIT UP 9.4% FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31
JAPAN'S DEFENSE AGENCY PICKED NISSAN AS PRIME CONTRACTOR FOR LTV MLRS
BUSINESS:
CSC COFOUNDER AND DIRECTOR ROY NUTT DIES AT AGE 59
CONTINENTAL APPLIES FOR ROUTE AUTHORITY TO MOSCOW, BERLIN, ROME & MILAN
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT TO LAYOFF BETWEEN 2,000 and 4,000 WORKERS
HONEYWELL DIVISION COMPLETED INITIAL FLIGHT TESTS OF FMS SOFTWARE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS COMPLETES FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN REVIEW
PRATT & WHITNEY RECALL 38 PW-4000 ENGINES DUE TO COMPRESSOR PROBLEM
TAU DEVELOPS IMAGE PROCESSING AND DISPLAY SOFTWARE FOR NAVY AND NASA
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE RECEIVED ARMY STRATEGIC DEFENSE COMMAND CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS GIVEN M-1 TANK SUPPORT CONTRACT WORTH $63.5 MILLION
LOCKHEED GOT C-130 AIRCRAFT CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $85.4 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP. RECEIVED FOUR SUBORBITAL LAUNCH CONTRACTS
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH OVER $59 MILLION
SSI SERVICES GIVEN $540 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
STERLING SOFTWARE RECEIVED NASA AMES RESEARCH CONTRACT
SVERDRUP TECHNOLOGY AWARDED $300.1 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
July 2, 1990
AFDW CONTRACTING OFFICE TO PROCURE TEMPEST LAPTOP COMPUTERS
ARMY TO PURCHASE UNIX BASED, MULTI-USER, MULTI-TASK SYSTEM
No relevant RFPs for July 3, 1990.
Due to the July 4 holiday, no RFPs were issued.
July 5, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE ELECTROSTATIC PLOTTER
JOINT STARS JTF AFCAC PROJECT 302 NOTICE
July 6, 1990
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DIV. PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE MACINTOSH EQUIPMENT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
ENERGY DEPT. ESTIMATES NUCLEAR WEAPONS CLEAN-UP COULD COST $6 BILLION
The Energy Dept. announced the cost of cleaning up its nuclear weapons
plants and other facilities could go as high as $6 billion a year by
the end of the 1990s, or about twice as much as current spending
levels. A new five-year cleanup projection is estimated to cost $31.6
billion from FY 1992 through FY 1996 to remove, treat and store
radioactive and hazardous waste from the nearly 100 department sites in
the U.S. The work will likely continue through 2019. The department
cautioned that the projections represent a high-cost scenario and do
not necessarily represent how much the department will actually seek
from Congress.
DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIR AND TRADE SHOW TO BE HELD ON JULY 19-22
The Dayton International Air and Trade Show, cosponsored by the Dayton
Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Dayton Department of Aviation,
will be held on July 19-22, 1990. Contact: Dayton International
Airport, (513) 898-5901.
"OMNIBUS SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION ACT OF 1990" INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
Rep. Robert S. Walker (R-PA), ranking minority member of the House
Science, Space and Technology Committee, introduced a bill mandating
government steps to encourage the growth of the U.S. commercial space
industry. The "Omnibus Space Commercialization Act of 1990" would
require the government to purchase commercial launch services, sell
surplus government launch facilities, designate partially tax-exempt
commercial launch zones and create tax incentives for investment in
such services. The legislation also specifies that the National Space
Council would be required to submit a report to Congress one year after
its enactment on the status of laws and treaties that "affect the
ability of the U.S. to commercially exploit space" and recommend how
they may be improved.
DEFENSE:
B-2 BOMBER BEING FITTED WITH NEW PATCHES ON CRACKED AREAS
An Air Force spokesperson said the B-2 bomber is being fitted with new
patches on cracked titanium areas on its rear upper deck. The plane
has entered its second scheduled layup after its 16th flight and is now
being prepared for a series of stealth tests that should begin in about
three months. The hairline cracks that were discovered in March may
have occurred during the engine runup tests and were the result of
greater thermal expansion than expected.
FORMER DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE RESEARCH FOR DARPA NAMED PRESIDENT OF MCC
Craig Fields, ousted director of defense research and engineering with
the Defense Applied Research Projects Agency (DARPA), will assume the
new posts of president, chief technical officer and chief operating
officer at Microelectronic & Computer Technology Corp. (MCC), a private
research consortium in Austin, TX. Mr. Fields, after coming up against
the Bush Administration and some Pentagon officials by promoting a
federal role in the development of advanced semiconductor manufacturing
(HDTV) and other technologies with potentially big commercial payoffs,
was demoted to a much less visible Defense Dept. post in April and
resigned.
U.S. AND GREECE SIGN AGREEMENT ON MILITARY BASES
The U.S. and Greece signed an eight-year defense cooperation agreement
permitting two major U.S. military bases to continue operating on Greek
soil. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney was in Athens for the signing
ceremony and said the agreement "contributes to the strength of NATO,"
and provides strength for continuing the defense relationship between
the two countries. As part of the agreement, about 20 other minor U.S.
military bases on Greek soil will be closed.
SDI SCIENTISTS USE RELAY MIRROR SUCCESSFULLY AFTER FOUR MONTHS
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) scientists have used an orbiting
mirror to bounce a laser beam from the Maui Optical Observatory, Hawaii
to the Relay Mirror Experiment (RME) satellite and then back to Earth,
after four months of unsuccessful attempts. The RME laser beam
experiment has proved to be much more difficult than SDI researchers
originally believed. According to SDI officials, the testing
technology is crucial to the use of ground-based lasers as defensive
weapons. The prime contractors are Ball Space Systems Div. and Applied
Technology Associates.
CONGRESS FINDS MILITARY SERVICES FLOUTING WEAPONS PROGRAMS LAW
Congress has come down on the military services for flouting a 1984 law
requiring managers of major weapons programs to serve at least four
years in their jobs. The law is intended to establish stability and
thus increase accountability by eliminating rapid turnover. However
the House Armed Services investigations subcommittee found the services
in compliance with the law in only 11% of the 94 cases it reviewed.
According to their findings, program managers now average only 21
months on the job versus 25 in 1984.
BUSH TO ALLOW LAUNCHING OF U.S. COMMERCIAL SATELLITE WITH SOVIET ROCKET
Secretary of State James A. Baker announced President George Bush has
decided to allow the launching of a U.S. commercial satellite with a
Soviet rocket. Brent Scowcraft, the president's national security
adviser, confirmed the plan and said it did not reflect adversely on
the U.S. space program. He said, "This is a proposal, an agreement
between the Australians and the Soviets to use Soviet rocket boosters
in Australia as a...satellite launching service."
NASA:
NASA INVESTIGATING SHUTTLE HYDROGEN FUEL LEAK SOURCE
NASA officials said they are concentrating on a slightly crooked seam
between the fuel tanks and orbiter vehicles on the two space shuttles
as they search for the hydrogen leaks that have grounded the shuttle
fleet. Engineers are focusing on the angle of connection between the
external tank and the orbiter, searching for misalignment. The leaks
forced the postponement of a Columbia launch in May and will likely
force further delays for an Atlantis mission in July, the scheduled
Columbia flight in August and the Discovery mission in October. Space
flight Director William B. Lenoir said that unless the leaks are fixed
within a few weeks, NASA will not be able to keep anywhere near its
ambitious flight schedule.
THREE COMPANIES TEAM TO DEVELOP NASA ALS ENGINE
At the request of NASA; Aerojet, Pratt & Whitney and Rocketdyne have
teamed to develop a 580,000-pound-thrust engine for the Advanced Launch
System (ALS). The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding
to cooperate on the ALS engine in a effort to cut costs and risks while
using the "full range of capabilities, facilities and technologies
available within the liquid rocket engine industry."
FIVE MEMBER PANEL NAMED TO INVESTIGATE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PROBLEMS
Lew Allen, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was named to head
a panel of five optics experts to investigate the cause of the
spherical aberration in a light-gathering mirror that has caused the
recent problems with the Hubble Space Telescope. The other panel
members are Charles P. Spoelhof, retired vice president of Eastman
Kodak Co.; George A. Rodney, associate NASA administrator for safety
and mission quality; John D. Mangus, head of the optics branch, Space
Technology Div., Goddard Space Flight Center; Bob Shannon, professor of
astronomy, Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona and Roger
Angel, professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona's Steward
Observatory. The panel will examine ten years of records, equipment
and design specification to see how the 2-micron flaw could have eluded
detection before the Hubble was launched.
NASA AND CONTEL SIGN OWNERSHIP TRANSFER AGREEMENT ON TDRSS
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Contel Federal Systems signed an
agreement transferring ownership title of the Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite System (TDRSS) from Contel to NASA, 42 months earlier than
called for under the original 1976 contract. A spokesperson from
Goddard said the transfer saved NASA about $16 million, with most of
the savings resulting from unspent management fees for Contel. TDRSS
satellites relay communications between spacecraft and the White Sands
ground station.
SPACE STATION PDRS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF SUMMER
According to space station officials, the preliminary design reviews
(PDRs), which involve thousands of engineers across the program, are
expected to be completed by the end of the summer. The PDR for the
station environmental control and life support system involved nearly
500 people and identified 3,500 discrepancies that are now being worked
out. The initial software review found about 8,000 review item
discrepancies (RIDs), most of which have been resolved. The space
station design is about 20% complete.
INTERNATIONAL:
MITSUBISHI TRUST AND BANKING TO MAKE A LOAN TO AIR CHINA
Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corp. of Japan will offer a loan of $126
million to Air China, according to a Japan news agency. The loan would
be the first move by a Japanese bank to resume giving new loans to
China since the suspension of credit to the country after the military
crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. Air China would use part of
the loan to purchase new aircraft.
SNECMA AND GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES SIGN AGREEMENT ON GE-90 ENGINES
France's Snecma and General Electric Co.'s Aircraft Engines division
have signed an agreement to share in the development of its new jumbo-
jet engine, the GE-90, and is negotiating with Italy's Fiat SpA on a
similar agreement. Under the agreement, Snecma will have a 25% stake
in the GE-90 program, and will provide 40% of the assembly and test
work on the engines. According to industry analysts, Fiat is
considering a 10% stake in the project.
U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA EXPECTED TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON F/A-18 FIGHTERS
The U.S. and South Korean governments seem to have resolved their
differences over selling McDonnell Douglas Corp. F/A-18 fighters to
Seoul. An agreement is expected to be signed by next week. The 120
aircraft, $3 billion deal was stalled a couple of months ago when the
Korean's demanded that the U.S. hand over sensitive aviation
technology. It is not yet completely clear how Congressional sources
and South Korean have resolved the differences.
PASSENGER TRAFFIC UP REPORTS ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN AIRLINES
The Association of European Airlines reported that overall passenger
traffic on its 21 member airlines was off to a strong start for the
summer-vacation season, with an 11.5% increase in May compared with the
same month last year. Far East and Australian routes saw the biggest
boost, with passenger traffic rising 14% in May, the highest level in
31 months. The Association said the North Atlantic routes also fared
well.
GEC REPORTS PRE-TAX PROFIT UP 9.4% FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31
General Electric Co. (GEC) of Britain reported pre-tax profit for the
year ended March 31 was up 9.4% to 872 million pounds ($1.54 billion)
from 797 million pounds a year earlier. Strong overseas sales and
acquisitions and alliances that the electrical company built up during
the year helped to strengthen the year.
JAPAN'S DEFENSE AGENCY PICKED NISSAN AS PRIME CONTRACTOR FOR LTV MLRS
Japan's Defense Agency picked Nissan Motors as the prime contractor to
produce the LTV Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) under license in
Japan. The specific number of weapons to be procured has not yet been
determined, but the nation's Ground Self-Defense Forces expect to spend
over $650-million on the system over a five-year period beginning in
1991.
BUSINESS:
CSC COFOUNDER AND DIRECTOR ROY NUTT DIES AT AGE 59
Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) cofounder and director Roy Nutt died of
cancer at the age of 59. Mr. Nutt was on the CSC board of directors
since the formation of the company in 1972. He was also vice president
until 1988.
CONTINENTAL APPLIES FOR ROUTE AUTHORITY TO MOSCOW, BERLIN, ROME & MILAN
Continental Airlines applied for route authority to link its Newark,
New Jersey hub to Moscow, Berlin, Rome and Milan. The airline has also
recently applied for Newark-Nagoya, Japan, service. Continental hopes
to begin the Berlin flights as early as 1991, with the other
destinations being served the following year.
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT TO LAYOFF BETWEEN 2,000 and 4,000 WORKERS
Douglas Aircraft Co., a division of McDonnell Douglas Corp., announced
between 2,000 and 4,000 workers will lose their jobs as the company
tries to cut $700 million in yearly costs. If the company is able to
cut $700 million in annual cost, it hopes it can reduce its $2.5
billion in debt and improve its earnings.
HONEYWELL DIVISION COMPLETED INITIAL FLIGHT TESTS OF FMS SOFTWARE
Honeywell's Business and Commuter Aviation Systems Div. completed
initial flight tests of its flight management system (FMS) using
software designed to automatically "blend" Global Positioning Satellite
(GPS) data with existing FMS data to obtain aircraft position. The
company conducted two hours of testing with its Cessna Citation 3 jet,
with advanced tests expected to continue through July in Honeywell's
Gulfstream 4 aircraft. The GPS equipment is designed to interface with
Honeywell FMS equipment currently in use by business aircraft
operators.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS COMPLETES FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN REVIEW
McDonnell Douglas Corp., along with subcontractors General Electric
Aerospace and Delco Electronics, has finished the software critical
design review for the electronic flight control system and delivered
mission computer software for the Air Force's C-17 Airlifter. The
software, written in Ada, is scheduled to support C-17 flight tests set
to begin in June, 1991.
PRATT & WHITNEY RECALL 38 PW-4000 ENGINES DUE TO COMPRESSOR PROBLEM
Pratt & Whitney, a division of the United Technologies Corp. (UTC),
recalled all 38 of its new PW-4000 engines for wide-body planes due to
a compressor problem. A spokesperson for the company said the recall
was decided after tests at Boeing Co. disclosed that the problem could
cause an in-flight engine shutdown. Only a few of the PW-4000 engines
had been installed on planes, and none of the aircraft were in service.
The engine, the company's most powerful, accounted for about $4.7
billion in firm orders and options in the 1989 year, which ended in
February.
TAU DEVELOPS IMAGE PROCESSING AND DISPLAY SOFTWARE FOR NAVY AND NASA
Tau Corp. has developed image processing and display software that will
be used to analyze carrier approaches and landings by the Navy and NASA
Langley Research Center to analyze aircraft spin recovery. The EAGLE
software begins with conventional videotape that it converts to digital
form from computer analysis. The program is able to track multiple
objects or points of interest in a field of view and to adapt poor
background conditions in the video images. The Navy will use it to
analyze night carrier operations.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE RECEIVED ARMY STRATEGIC DEFENSE COMMAND CONTRACT
Boeing Aerospace received an Army Strategic Defense Command contract
worth as much as $480 million. The five year contract, worth $83.7
million, calls for Boeing to design a massive free-electron laser at
White Sands Missile Range, NM. The course of the project will depend
upon funding appropriated for the SDI program in the next few years.
GENERAL DYNAMICS GIVEN M-1 TANK SUPPORT CONTRACT WORTH $63.5 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. was given a $63.5 million Army contract for M-1
tank support.
LOCKHEED GOT C-130 AIRCRAFT CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
Lockheed Corp. got a $188.4 million Air Force contract for C-130
aircraft.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $85.4 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. won an $85.4 million Navy contract for F-18
fighters and T-45 trainers.
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP. RECEIVED FOUR SUBORBITAL LAUNCH CONTRACTS
Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC) received four suborbital launch contract
awards and modifications worth a total of over $20 million. The
contracts came from the Air Force Ballistic Missile Organization, the
Titan Corp., the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) and
the Army Strategic Defense Command.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH OVER $59 MILLION
Rockwell International Corp.'s Power Systems division won a
$59,594,103. cost-plus-award-fee Air Force contract to conduct research
and development (R&D) experiments, maintain support and enhance a state
of the art Optical Test Bed at the Air Force Maui Optical Station
(AMOS) and operate, maintain and support the spacetrack function of the
Maui Optical Tracking and Identification Facility (MOTIF), Hawaii. The
Aeronautical Systems Div., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is
the contracting activity.
SSI SERVICES GIVEN $540 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
SSI Services Inc. was given a $540 million Air Force contract for
support of the Arnold Engineering Development Center. The center is
the Air Force's only facility for testing large rocket engines.
STERLING SOFTWARE RECEIVED NASA AMES RESEARCH CONTRACT
Sterling Software Inc. received a three year NASA Ames Research Center
contract for software. NASA values the contract at about $210 million.
Sterling has had a similar contract with Ames since 1970, but in 1988
lost its renewal bid to Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC). Sterling
appealed the award on the basis that CSC had not submitted the low bid,
but lost. The company appealed again and won, with a panel of the
Board of Contract Appeals of the General Services Administration
concluding that CSC has misrepresented the bid.
SVERDRUP TECHNOLOGY AWARDED $300.1 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Sverdrup Technology was awarded a $300.1 million Air Force contract for
operating propulsion test facilities at the Arnold Engineering
Development Center. The center is the Air Force's only facility for
testing large rocket engines.
RFP UPDATE:
July 2, 1990
AFDW CONTRACTING OFFICE TO PROCURE TEMPEST LAPTOP COMPUTERS
The Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) Contracting Office seeks to
procure six (6) Tempest laptop computers, Grid Model 1537 or equal, and
many assorted peripherals. Interested vendors must submit their
descriptive literature and brochures within fifteen calendar days after
publication of this notice. No telephone inquires will be accepted.
No solicitation document exists at this time.
Contact: Gerry Dillon
AFDW Contracting Office
Building 3534
Andrews Air Force Base, DC 20331-5320
(301) 981-7308
ARMY TO PURCHASE UNIX BASED, MULTI-USER, MULTI-TASK SYSTEM
The U.S. Army has a requirement for a UNIX Based, Multi-User, Multi-
Task System. This system will consist of three individual workstations
or one central processing unit (with either single or multiple
processors) serving two XII WINDOW color terminals through an Ethernet
interface and one color graphic terminal directly connected to the CPU
and many other assorted peripherals. Delivery will be to Fort Eustis,
VA, no later than 60 days after the award of this contract.
Solicitation to be released on or about July 21, 1990 with a bid
opening 30 days thereafter. All requests must be in writing and must
state that the vendor is not currently on the Consolidated List of
Debarred, Suspended and Ineligible Contractors or otherwise ineligible
to received Government contracts. This solicitation DABT60-90-R-0105
is unrestricted.
Contact: Mark Hudson
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Building 1748
Fort Eustis, VA 23604
(804) 878-4908
No relevant RFPs for July 3, 1990.
Due to the July 4 holiday, no RFPs were issued.
July 5, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE ELECTROSTATIC PLOTTER
NASA Langley Research Center issued solicitation 1-58-1540.2498 for a
Hewlett Packard, HP 7600 series model 355 color electrostatic plotter
or equivalent and assorted peripherals. Destination is Langley.
Delivery required within 30 days after contract award. All responsible
sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by NASA.
Contact: Bid Distribution Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 144
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2547
JOINT STARS JTF AFCAC PROJECT 302 NOTICE
A notice was published in Commerce Business Daily (CBD) number PSA-9972
on November 21, 1989 and on May 29, 1990 referencing the Joint STARS
Joint Test Force (JTF) (Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCAC)
Project 302. The project is being resynopsized as a notification that
the solicitation will be released during a mid-July 1990 timeframe.
The scope has been reduced to delete hardware maintenance and decrease
period of performance from 60 months to 36 months.
Contact: Virginia Harter
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting/PKC
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8634
July 6, 1990
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DIV. PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS
The Electronic Systems Div. placed a notice of intent to purchase ADPE
from GSA ADPE Schedule Contract No. GS00K90AGS5773 with Silicon
Graphics Inc. for IRIS 4D/380VGX Supercomputer & FX and other assorted
peripherals. Interested parties shall submit a written response
including GSA contract number, if applicable, prices and technical data
sufficient to determine capability to meet the requirement. The
response must also state that neither the requestor nor Principal
Corporate Officials and Owners are currently suspended, debarred or
otherwise ineligible to receive contracts from any Federal Agency.
This response must be received within 15 calendar days after this
notice. No telephone inquires will be accepted. All responsible
sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Tom Diefenbach
HQ Electronic Systems Div.
Directorate of Operational Contracting
Services Div. (PKUB)
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-5000
(617) 377-4680
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE MACINTOSH EQUIPMENT
The Defense Supply Service - Washington intends to acquire, in support
of MOIA in the Pentagon, Apple Macintosh equipment and peripherals, as
referenced in Falcon Microsystems' current GSA schedule under
solicitation MDA903-90-R-0110. All responsible parties are encouraged
to respond. It is the Government's intention to issue a solicitation
on or about July 27, 1990. Only written quotes will be accepted. No
telephone calls will be accepted. When responding, please reference
8534/0934.
Contact: Salvatore D. Ales
Defense Supply Service - Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
|
| 20.92 | derospace Industry News, Week of 7/2/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 01 1990 17:09 | 626 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012293
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 12-Jul-1990 02:21pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@YGREN@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 7/2/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 2, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 2, 1990
GENERAL:
ENERGY DEPT. ESTIMATES NUCLEAR WEAPONS CLEAN-UP COULD COST $6 BILLION
DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIR AND TRADE SHOW TO BE HELD ON JULY 19-22
"OMNIBUS SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION ACT OF 1990" INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
DEFENSE:
B-2 BOMBER BEING FITTED WITH NEW PATCHES ON CRACKED AREAS
FORMER DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE RESEARCH FOR DARPA NAMED PRESIDENT OF MCC
U.S. AND GREECE SIGN AGREEMENT ON MILITARY BASES
SDI SCIENTISTS USE RELAY MIRROR SUCCESSFULLY AFTER FOUR MONTHS
CONGRESS FINDS MILITARY SERVICES FLOUTING WEAPONS PROGRAMS LAW
BUSH TO ALLOW LAUNCHING OF U.S. COMMERCIAL SATELLITE WITH SOVIET ROCKET
NASA:
NASA INVESTIGATING SHUTTLE HYDROGEN FUEL LEAK SOURCE
THREE COMPANIES TEAM TO DEVELOP NASA ALS ENGINE
FIVE MEMBER PANEL NAMED TO INVESTIGATE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PROBLEMS
NASA AND CONTEL SIGN OWNERSHIP TRANSFER AGREEMENT ON TDRSS
SPACE STATION PDRS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF SUMMER
INTERNATIONAL:
MITSUBISHI TRUST AND BANKING TO MAKE A LOAN TO AIR CHINA
SNECMA AND GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES SIGN AGREEMENT ON GE-90 ENGINES
U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA EXPECTED TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON F/A-18 FIGHTERS
PASSENGER TRAFFIC UP REPORTS ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN AIRLINES
GEC REPORTS PRE-TAX PROFIT UP 9.4% FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31
JAPAN'S DEFENSE AGENCY PICKED NISSAN AS PRIME CONTRACTOR FOR LTV MLRS
BUSINESS:
CSC COFOUNDER AND DIRECTOR ROY NUTT DIES AT AGE 59
CONTINENTAL APPLIES FOR ROUTE AUTHORITY TO MOSCOW, BERLIN, ROME & MILAN
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT TO LAYOFF BETWEEN 2,000 and 4,000 WORKERS
HONEYWELL DIVISION COMPLETED INITIAL FLIGHT TESTS OF FMS SOFTWARE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS COMPLETES FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN REVIEW
PRATT & WHITNEY RECALL 38 PW-4000 ENGINES DUE TO COMPRESSOR PROBLEM
TAU DEVELOPS IMAGE PROCESSING AND DISPLAY SOFTWARE FOR NAVY AND NASA
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE RECEIVED ARMY STRATEGIC DEFENSE COMMAND CONTRACT
GENERAL DYNAMICS GIVEN M-1 TANK SUPPORT CONTRACT WORTH $63.5 MILLION
LOCKHEED GOT C-130 AIRCRAFT CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $85.4 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP. RECEIVED FOUR SUBORBITAL LAUNCH CONTRACTS
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH OVER $59 MILLION
SSI SERVICES GIVEN $540 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
STERLING SOFTWARE RECEIVED NASA AMES RESEARCH CONTRACT
SVERDRUP TECHNOLOGY AWARDED $300.1 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
July 2, 1990
AFDW CONTRACTING OFFICE TO PROCURE TEMPEST LAPTOP COMPUTERS
ARMY TO PURCHASE UNIX BASED, MULTI-USER, MULTI-TASK SYSTEM
No relevant RFPs for July 3, 1990.
Due to the July 4 holiday, no RFPs were issued.
July 5, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE ELECTROSTATIC PLOTTER
JOINT STARS JTF AFCAC PROJECT 302 NOTICE
July 6, 1990
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DIV. PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE MACINTOSH EQUIPMENT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
ENERGY DEPT. ESTIMATES NUCLEAR WEAPONS CLEAN-UP COULD COST $6 BILLION
The Energy Dept. announced the cost of cleaning up its nuclear weapons
plants and other facilities could go as high as $6 billion a year by
the end of the 1990s, or about twice as much as current spending
levels. A new five-year cleanup projection is estimated to cost $31.6
billion from FY 1992 through FY 1996 to remove, treat and store
radioactive and hazardous waste from the nearly 100 department sites in
the U.S. The work will likely continue through 2019. The department
cautioned that the projections represent a high-cost scenario and do
not necessarily represent how much the department will actually seek
from Congress.
DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIR AND TRADE SHOW TO BE HELD ON JULY 19-22
The Dayton International Air and Trade Show, cosponsored by the Dayton
Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Dayton Department of Aviation,
will be held on July 19-22, 1990. Contact: Dayton International
Airport, (513) 898-5901.
"OMNIBUS SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION ACT OF 1990" INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
Rep. Robert S. Walker (R-PA), ranking minority member of the House
Science, Space and Technology Committee, introduced a bill mandating
government steps to encourage the growth of the U.S. commercial space
industry. The "Omnibus Space Commercialization Act of 1990" would
require the government to purchase commercial launch services, sell
surplus government launch facilities, designate partially tax-exempt
commercial launch zones and create tax incentives for investment in
such services. The legislation also specifies that the National Space
Council would be required to submit a report to Congress one year after
its enactment on the status of laws and treaties that "affect the
ability of the U.S. to commercially exploit space" and recommend how
they may be improved.
DEFENSE:
B-2 BOMBER BEING FITTED WITH NEW PATCHES ON CRACKED AREAS
An Air Force spokesperson said the B-2 bomber is being fitted with new
patches on cracked titanium areas on its rear upper deck. The plane
has entered its second scheduled layup after its 16th flight and is now
being prepared for a series of stealth tests that should begin in about
three months. The hairline cracks that were discovered in March may
have occurred during the engine runup tests and were the result of
greater thermal expansion than expected.
FORMER DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE RESEARCH FOR DARPA NAMED PRESIDENT OF MCC
Craig Fields, ousted director of defense research and engineering with
the Defense Applied Research Projects Agency (DARPA), will assume the
new posts of president, chief technical officer and chief operating
officer at Microelectronic & Computer Technology Corp. (MCC), a private
research consortium in Austin, TX. Mr. Fields, after coming up against
the Bush Administration and some Pentagon officials by promoting a
federal role in the development of advanced semiconductor manufacturing
(HDTV) and other technologies with potentially big commercial payoffs,
was demoted to a much less visible Defense Dept. post in April and
resigned.
U.S. AND GREECE SIGN AGREEMENT ON MILITARY BASES
The U.S. and Greece signed an eight-year defense cooperation agreement
permitting two major U.S. military bases to continue operating on Greek
soil. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney was in Athens for the signing
ceremony and said the agreement "contributes to the strength of NATO,"
and provides strength for continuing the defense relationship between
the two countries. As part of the agreement, about 20 other minor U.S.
military bases on Greek soil will be closed.
SDI SCIENTISTS USE RELAY MIRROR SUCCESSFULLY AFTER FOUR MONTHS
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) scientists have used an orbiting
mirror to bounce a laser beam from the Maui Optical Observatory, Hawaii
to the Relay Mirror Experiment (RME) satellite and then back to Earth,
after four months of unsuccessful attempts. The RME laser beam
experiment has proved to be much more difficult than SDI researchers
originally believed. According to SDI officials, the testing
technology is crucial to the use of ground-based lasers as defensive
weapons. The prime contractors are Ball Space Systems Div. and Applied
Technology Associates.
CONGRESS FINDS MILITARY SERVICES FLOUTING WEAPONS PROGRAMS LAW
Congress has come down on the military services for flouting a 1984 law
requiring managers of major weapons programs to serve at least four
years in their jobs. The law is intended to establish stability and
thus increase accountability by eliminating rapid turnover. However
the House Armed Services investigations subcommittee found the services
in compliance with the law in only 11% of the 94 cases it reviewed.
According to their findings, program managers now average only 21
months on the job versus 25 in 1984.
BUSH TO ALLOW LAUNCHING OF U.S. COMMERCIAL SATELLITE WITH SOVIET ROCKET
Secretary of State James A. Baker announced President George Bush has
decided to allow the launching of a U.S. commercial satellite with a
Soviet rocket. Brent Scowcraft, the president's national security
adviser, confirmed the plan and said it did not reflect adversely on
the U.S. space program. He said, "This is a proposal, an agreement
between the Australians and the Soviets to use Soviet rocket boosters
in Australia as a...satellite launching service."
NASA:
NASA INVESTIGATING SHUTTLE HYDROGEN FUEL LEAK SOURCE
NASA officials said they are concentrating on a slightly crooked seam
between the fuel tanks and orbiter vehicles on the two space shuttles
as they search for the hydrogen leaks that have grounded the shuttle
fleet. Engineers are focusing on the angle of connection between the
external tank and the orbiter, searching for misalignment. The leaks
forced the postponement of a Columbia launch in May and will likely
force further delays for an Atlantis mission in July, the scheduled
Columbia flight in August and the Discovery mission in October. Space
flight Director William B. Lenoir said that unless the leaks are fixed
within a few weeks, NASA will not be able to keep anywhere near its
ambitious flight schedule.
THREE COMPANIES TEAM TO DEVELOP NASA ALS ENGINE
At the request of NASA; Aerojet, Pratt & Whitney and Rocketdyne have
teamed to develop a 580,000-pound-thrust engine for the Advanced Launch
System (ALS). The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding
to cooperate on the ALS engine in a effort to cut costs and risks while
using the "full range of capabilities, facilities and technologies
available within the liquid rocket engine industry."
FIVE MEMBER PANEL NAMED TO INVESTIGATE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PROBLEMS
Lew Allen, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was named to head
a panel of five optics experts to investigate the cause of the
spherical aberration in a light-gathering mirror that has caused the
recent problems with the Hubble Space Telescope. The other panel
members are Charles P. Spoelhof, retired vice president of Eastman
Kodak Co.; George A. Rodney, associate NASA administrator for safety
and mission quality; John D. Mangus, head of the optics branch, Space
Technology Div., Goddard Space Flight Center; Bob Shannon, professor of
astronomy, Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona and Roger
Angel, professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona's Steward
Observatory. The panel will examine ten years of records, equipment
and design specification to see how the 2-micron flaw could have eluded
detection before the Hubble was launched.
NASA AND CONTEL SIGN OWNERSHIP TRANSFER AGREEMENT ON TDRSS
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Contel Federal Systems signed an
agreement transferring ownership title of the Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite System (TDRSS) from Contel to NASA, 42 months earlier than
called for under the original 1976 contract. A spokesperson from
Goddard said the transfer saved NASA about $16 million, with most of
the savings resulting from unspent management fees for Contel. TDRSS
satellites relay communications between spacecraft and the White Sands
ground station.
SPACE STATION PDRS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF SUMMER
According to space station officials, the preliminary design reviews
(PDRs), which involve thousands of engineers across the program, are
expected to be completed by the end of the summer. The PDR for the
station environmental control and life support system involved nearly
500 people and identified 3,500 discrepancies that are now being worked
out. The initial software review found about 8,000 review item
discrepancies (RIDs), most of which have been resolved. The space
station design is about 20% complete.
INTERNATIONAL:
MITSUBISHI TRUST AND BANKING TO MAKE A LOAN TO AIR CHINA
Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corp. of Japan will offer a loan of $126
million to Air China, according to a Japan news agency. The loan would
be the first move by a Japanese bank to resume giving new loans to
China since the suspension of credit to the country after the military
crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. Air China would use part of
the loan to purchase new aircraft.
SNECMA AND GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES SIGN AGREEMENT ON GE-90 ENGINES
France's Snecma and General Electric Co.'s Aircraft Engines division
have signed an agreement to share in the development of its new jumbo-
jet engine, the GE-90, and is negotiating with Italy's Fiat SpA on a
similar agreement. Under the agreement, Snecma will have a 25% stake
in the GE-90 program, and will provide 40% of the assembly and test
work on the engines. According to industry analysts, Fiat is
considering a 10% stake in the project.
U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA EXPECTED TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON F/A-18 FIGHTERS
The U.S. and South Korean governments seem to have resolved their
differences over selling McDonnell Douglas Corp. F/A-18 fighters to
Seoul. An agreement is expected to be signed by next week. The 120
aircraft, $3 billion deal was stalled a couple of months ago when the
Korean's demanded that the U.S. hand over sensitive aviation
technology. It is not yet completely clear how Congressional sources
and South Korean have resolved the differences.
PASSENGER TRAFFIC UP REPORTS ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN AIRLINES
The Association of European Airlines reported that overall passenger
traffic on its 21 member airlines was off to a strong start for the
summer-vacation season, with an 11.5% increase in May compared with the
same month last year. Far East and Australian routes saw the biggest
boost, with passenger traffic rising 14% in May, the highest level in
31 months. The Association said the North Atlantic routes also fared
well.
GEC REPORTS PRE-TAX PROFIT UP 9.4% FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31
General Electric Co. (GEC) of Britain reported pre-tax profit for the
year ended March 31 was up 9.4% to 872 million pounds ($1.54 billion)
from 797 million pounds a year earlier. Strong overseas sales and
acquisitions and alliances that the electrical company built up during
the year helped to strengthen the year.
JAPAN'S DEFENSE AGENCY PICKED NISSAN AS PRIME CONTRACTOR FOR LTV MLRS
Japan's Defense Agency picked Nissan Motors as the prime contractor to
produce the LTV Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) under license in
Japan. The specific number of weapons to be procured has not yet been
determined, but the nation's Ground Self-Defense Forces expect to spend
over $650-million on the system over a five-year period beginning in
1991.
BUSINESS:
CSC COFOUNDER AND DIRECTOR ROY NUTT DIES AT AGE 59
Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) cofounder and director Roy Nutt died of
cancer at the age of 59. Mr. Nutt was on the CSC board of directors
since the formation of the company in 1972. He was also vice president
until 1988.
CONTINENTAL APPLIES FOR ROUTE AUTHORITY TO MOSCOW, BERLIN, ROME & MILAN
Continental Airlines applied for route authority to link its Newark,
New Jersey hub to Moscow, Berlin, Rome and Milan. The airline has also
recently applied for Newark-Nagoya, Japan, service. Continental hopes
to begin the Berlin flights as early as 1991, with the other
destinations being served the following year.
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT TO LAYOFF BETWEEN 2,000 and 4,000 WORKERS
Douglas Aircraft Co., a division of McDonnell Douglas Corp., announced
between 2,000 and 4,000 workers will lose their jobs as the company
tries to cut $700 million in yearly costs. If the company is able to
cut $700 million in annual cost, it hopes it can reduce its $2.5
billion in debt and improve its earnings.
HONEYWELL DIVISION COMPLETED INITIAL FLIGHT TESTS OF FMS SOFTWARE
Honeywell's Business and Commuter Aviation Systems Div. completed
initial flight tests of its flight management system (FMS) using
software designed to automatically "blend" Global Positioning Satellite
(GPS) data with existing FMS data to obtain aircraft position. The
company conducted two hours of testing with its Cessna Citation 3 jet,
with advanced tests expected to continue through July in Honeywell's
Gulfstream 4 aircraft. The GPS equipment is designed to interface with
Honeywell FMS equipment currently in use by business aircraft
operators.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS COMPLETES FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN REVIEW
McDonnell Douglas Corp., along with subcontractors General Electric
Aerospace and Delco Electronics, has finished the software critical
design review for the electronic flight control system and delivered
mission computer software for the Air Force's C-17 Airlifter. The
software, written in Ada, is scheduled to support C-17 flight tests set
to begin in June, 1991.
PRATT & WHITNEY RECALL 38 PW-4000 ENGINES DUE TO COMPRESSOR PROBLEM
Pratt & Whitney, a division of the United Technologies Corp. (UTC),
recalled all 38 of its new PW-4000 engines for wide-body planes due to
a compressor problem. A spokesperson for the company said the recall
was decided after tests at Boeing Co. disclosed that the problem could
cause an in-flight engine shutdown. Only a few of the PW-4000 engines
had been installed on planes, and none of the aircraft were in service.
The engine, the company's most powerful, accounted for about $4.7
billion in firm orders and options in the 1989 year, which ended in
February.
TAU DEVELOPS IMAGE PROCESSING AND DISPLAY SOFTWARE FOR NAVY AND NASA
Tau Corp. has developed image processing and display software that will
be used to analyze carrier approaches and landings by the Navy and NASA
Langley Research Center to analyze aircraft spin recovery. The EAGLE
software begins with conventional videotape that it converts to digital
form from computer analysis. The program is able to track multiple
objects or points of interest in a field of view and to adapt poor
background conditions in the video images. The Navy will use it to
analyze night carrier operations.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING AEROSPACE RECEIVED ARMY STRATEGIC DEFENSE COMMAND CONTRACT
Boeing Aerospace received an Army Strategic Defense Command contract
worth as much as $480 million. The five year contract, worth $83.7
million, calls for Boeing to design a massive free-electron laser at
White Sands Missile Range, NM. The course of the project will depend
upon funding appropriated for the SDI program in the next few years.
GENERAL DYNAMICS GIVEN M-1 TANK SUPPORT CONTRACT WORTH $63.5 MILLION
General Dynamics Corp. was given a $63.5 million Army contract for M-1
tank support.
LOCKHEED GOT C-130 AIRCRAFT CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
Lockheed Corp. got a $188.4 million Air Force contract for C-130
aircraft.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $85.4 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. won an $85.4 million Navy contract for F-18
fighters and T-45 trainers.
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP. RECEIVED FOUR SUBORBITAL LAUNCH CONTRACTS
Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC) received four suborbital launch contract
awards and modifications worth a total of over $20 million. The
contracts came from the Air Force Ballistic Missile Organization, the
Titan Corp., the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) and
the Army Strategic Defense Command.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL WON AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH OVER $59 MILLION
Rockwell International Corp.'s Power Systems division won a
$59,594,103. cost-plus-award-fee Air Force contract to conduct research
and development (R&D) experiments, maintain support and enhance a state
of the art Optical Test Bed at the Air Force Maui Optical Station
(AMOS) and operate, maintain and support the spacetrack function of the
Maui Optical Tracking and Identification Facility (MOTIF), Hawaii. The
Aeronautical Systems Div., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is
the contracting activity.
SSI SERVICES GIVEN $540 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
SSI Services Inc. was given a $540 million Air Force contract for
support of the Arnold Engineering Development Center. The center is
the Air Force's only facility for testing large rocket engines.
STERLING SOFTWARE RECEIVED NASA AMES RESEARCH CONTRACT
Sterling Software Inc. received a three year NASA Ames Research Center
contract for software. NASA values the contract at about $210 million.
Sterling has had a similar contract with Ames since 1970, but in 1988
lost its renewal bid to Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC). Sterling
appealed the award on the basis that CSC had not submitted the low bid,
but lost. The company appealed again and won, with a panel of the
Board of Contract Appeals of the General Services Administration
concluding that CSC has misrepresented the bid.
SVERDRUP TECHNOLOGY AWARDED $300.1 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Sverdrup Technology was awarded a $300.1 million Air Force contract for
operating propulsion test facilities at the Arnold Engineering
Development Center. The center is the Air Force's only facility for
testing large rocket engines.
RFP UPDATE:
July 2, 1990
AFDW CONTRACTING OFFICE TO PROCURE TEMPEST LAPTOP COMPUTERS
The Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) Contracting Office seeks to
procure six (6) Tempest laptop computers, Grid Model 1537 or equal, and
many assorted peripherals. Interested vendors must submit their
descriptive literature and brochures within fifteen calendar days after
publication of this notice. No telephone inquires will be accepted.
No solicitation document exists at this time.
Contact: Gerry Dillon
AFDW Contracting Office
Building 3534
Andrews Air Force Base, DC 20331-5320
(301) 981-7308
ARMY TO PURCHASE UNIX BASED, MULTI-USER, MULTI-TASK SYSTEM
The U.S. Army has a requirement for a UNIX Based, Multi-User, Multi-
Task System. This system will consist of three individual workstations
or one central processing unit (with either single or multiple
processors) serving two XII WINDOW color terminals through an Ethernet
interface and one color graphic terminal directly connected to the CPU
and many other assorted peripherals. Delivery will be to Fort Eustis,
VA, no later than 60 days after the award of this contract.
Solicitation to be released on or about July 21, 1990 with a bid
opening 30 days thereafter. All requests must be in writing and must
state that the vendor is not currently on the Consolidated List of
Debarred, Suspended and Ineligible Contractors or otherwise ineligible
to received Government contracts. This solicitation DABT60-90-R-0105
is unrestricted.
Contact: Mark Hudson
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Building 1748
Fort Eustis, VA 23604
(804) 878-4908
No relevant RFPs for July 3, 1990.
Due to the July 4 holiday, no RFPs were issued.
July 5, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PURCHASE ELECTROSTATIC PLOTTER
NASA Langley Research Center issued solicitation 1-58-1540.2498 for a
Hewlett Packard, HP 7600 series model 355 color electrostatic plotter
or equivalent and assorted peripherals. Destination is Langley.
Delivery required within 30 days after contract award. All responsible
sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by NASA.
Contact: Bid Distribution Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 144
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2547
JOINT STARS JTF AFCAC PROJECT 302 NOTICE
A notice was published in Commerce Business Daily (CBD) number PSA-9972
on November 21, 1989 and on May 29, 1990 referencing the Joint STARS
Joint Test Force (JTF) (Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCAC)
Project 302. The project is being resynopsized as a notification that
the solicitation will be released during a mid-July 1990 timeframe.
The scope has been reduced to delete hardware maintenance and decrease
period of performance from 60 months to 36 months.
Contact: Virginia Harter
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting/PKC
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8634
July 6, 1990
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DIV. PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS
The Electronic Systems Div. placed a notice of intent to purchase ADPE
from GSA ADPE Schedule Contract No. GS00K90AGS5773 with Silicon
Graphics Inc. for IRIS 4D/380VGX Supercomputer & FX and other assorted
peripherals. Interested parties shall submit a written response
including GSA contract number, if applicable, prices and technical data
sufficient to determine capability to meet the requirement. The
response must also state that neither the requestor nor Principal
Corporate Officials and Owners are currently suspended, debarred or
otherwise ineligible to receive contracts from any Federal Agency.
This response must be received within 15 calendar days after this
notice. No telephone inquires will be accepted. All responsible
sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Tom Diefenbach
HQ Electronic Systems Div.
Directorate of Operational Contracting
Services Div. (PKUB)
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-5000
(617) 377-4680
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE MACINTOSH EQUIPMENT
The Defense Supply Service - Washington intends to acquire, in support
of MOIA in the Pentagon, Apple Macintosh equipment and peripherals, as
referenced in Falcon Microsystems' current GSA schedule under
solicitation MDA903-90-R-0110. All responsible parties are encouraged
to respond. It is the Government's intention to issue a solicitation
on or about July 27, 1990. Only written quotes will be accepted. No
telephone calls will be accepted. When responding, please reference
8534/0934.
Contact: Salvatore D. Ales
Defense Supply Service - Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
|
| 20.93 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 6/25/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 01 1990 18:02 | 597 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012190
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 02-Jul-1990 10:05pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CRS@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 6/25/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 25, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 25, 1990
GENERAL:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE FORECASTS LARGE GLOBAL DEMAND FOR COMMERCIAL JETS
DEFENSE:
REPORT FINDS THIRD WORLD ARMS SALES CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN 1989
NEW DEPUTY ASSISTANT SEC'Y FOR COMMUNICATIONS, COMPUTERS AND LOGISTICS
SENATOR ROTH INTRODUCED BILL CONCERNING ETHICS REFORM ACT
PENTAGON TO CUT 78 GENERALS AND ADMIRALS FROM THEIR POSTS
NUNN CALLS FOR MILITARY RESOURCES TO BE USED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
NASA::
NASA FINDS MAJOR FLAW IN THE MIRRORS OF THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY SHOWS NO MAJOR DAMAGE AFTER ACCIDENT
GODDARD PICKS FOUR CONTRACTORS FOR PHASE B OF THE ATDRSS PROGRAM
NASA TO LAUNCH CRRESS SATELLITE ON JULY 17
NASA FUNDING PENN STATE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS
GAO MAKES RECOMMENDATION TO NASA ON LARGE FORMAT CAMERA
LENOIR SAYS PROPOSED SPACE STATION CUTS ARE TOO DEEP
NASA GROUNDS FLEET OF SPACE SHUTTLES DUE TO FUEL LEAK
INTERNATIONAL:
RADARSAT TO MARKET DATA FOR CANADA'S CENTRE FOR REMOTE SENSING
THAI AIRWAYS ORDERS FIVE BOEING 747-400s
EC COUNCIL MINISTERS GAVE SUPPORT TO AIR TRANSPORT LIBERALIZATION
ITALY'S TELESPAZIO PURCHASED 2.3% OF SPOT IMAGE
AUSTRALIA TAKES DELIVERY OF ITS 75th AND FINAL F/A-18 AIRCRAFT
EC COMMISSION OBJECTS TO A THREE AIRLINE LINKUP
BUSINESS:
FORD AEROSPACE'S SSD BROKE GROUND FOR SATELLITE ENGINEERING BUILDING
GRUMMAN OFFERING EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVES TO EMPLOYEES
FORMER HUGHES AND RAYTHEON EMPLOYEES CONVICTED IN "OPERATION UNCOVER"
LOCKHEED SANDERS TO FURTHER REDUCE WORKFORCE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO DEVELOP STRATEGY TO REDUCE COSTS
MOTOROLA TO LAUNCH NETWORK OF SATELLITES
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AT&T TECHNOLOGIES ISSUED $13.9 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
BOEING RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR THE SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAM
FMC GIVEN GUIDED-MISSILE LAUNCH SYSTEMS CONTRACT
FORD AEROSPACE AWARDED CONTRACT FOR AIR FORCE SATELLITE NETWORK CONTROL
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED HELICOPTER AND JET FIGHTER ENGINES CONTRACT
HUGHES AIRCRAFT CHOSEN FOR ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $10.4 MILLION
INGALLS RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT FOR CRUISER YARD SERVICES
LITTON SYSTEMS AWARDED NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $33.4 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $42.1 MILLION
MIT RECEIVED $35.48 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
UTC GIVEN ARMY CONTRACT FOR HELICOPTER MODIFICATIONS
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED AIRCRAFT RADAR CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for June 25-26, 1990.
June 27, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE UPDATES FOR PPBERS SYSTEM
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE MOTOROLA DELTA SERIES 3000 COMPUTER SYSTEM
June 28, 19990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE IBM PROFESSIONAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING SERVICES
June 29, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER REQUIRES IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE FORECASTS LARGE GLOBAL DEMAND FOR COMMERCIAL JETS
The European consortium Airbus Industrie published a new study
forecasting that global demand for commercial jets will total about
12,220 planes for the period from 1990 through 2008. The report found
that about 5,500 aircraft of the estimated total would be needed to
replace aging jets now in service. The rest would be needed to keep up
with traffic growth estimated at an annual average of 5.5% for the
period.
DEFENSE:
REPORT FINDS THIRD WORLD ARMS SALES CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN 1989
A Congressional Research Service report found that arms sales to third
world nations continued to decline in 1989, falling 26% from 1988 to
$29.6 billion, the lowest level since 1983. The report projected a
continued shrinking market for major arms exporters as regional
conflicts diminish. France had the biggest drop, going from $3.2
billion in 1988 to $300 million in 1989. West German sales were up
from $83 million to $1.3 billion. The U.S. and the USSR dominate the
world market with 64% of all sales. The U.S. share was up from 23% in
1988 to 26% in 1989, despite a drop in sales from $9.3 billion to $7.7
billion.
NEW DEPUTY ASSISTANT SEC'Y FOR COMMUNICATIONS, COMPUTERS AND LOGISTICS
Lloyd K. Mosemann, former logistics deputy assistant, was named to the
newly created position of deputy assistant secretary for
communications, computers and logistics by Air Force Secretary Donald
B. Rice. The Pentagon said Mr. Mosemann will provide "strategic
direction, acquisition policy and oversight" for Air Force
communications and computer systems. His responsibilities will include
overseeing all software acquisition and support, including that which
runs weapon systems.
SENATOR ROTH INTRODUCED BILL CONCERNING ETHICS REFORM ACT
Senator William V. Roth Jr. (R-DE), ranking Republican on the Senate
Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced a bill that proposed to
abolish the Ethics Reform Act's current "revolving door" provision
which prohibits government procurement officials from working on the
same contract they handled in government service for two years after
leaving the government. Sen. Roth said he was not necessarily
endorsing the Administration's bill, but felt it was a good starting
point for the Senate to begin with debate and negotiations which will
allow them to reach a consensus.
PENTAGON TO CUT 78 GENERALS AND ADMIRALS FROM THEIR POSTS
The Pentagon announced it will cut 78 generals and admirals from its
current total of 1,073 over four years as part of the major reduction
in defense spending. According to the plan, the Army will lose 33 of
its 407 generals, the Air Force 27 out of 338 and the Marine Corps
three out of 70. The Navy will lose 15 of its 258 admirals. Defense
Dept. spokesperson Pete Williams said during the announcement that the
cuts were recommended to Defense Secretary Dick Cheney by Gen. Colin
Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, based on a study made by
Mr. Powell's staff. The decision about which command positions will be
eliminated has not yet been made.
NUNN CALLS FOR MILITARY RESOURCES TO BE USED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA), chairman of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, said the Defense Dept. and intelligence resources should
address ecological problems, as environmental destruction is "a growing
national security threat." Sen. Nunn's goals are twofold: to retain
the extensive national security research apparatus at the Pentagon,
Energy Dept. and the Central Intelligent Agency (CIA) and to turn much
of its focus to the national security threat posed by the degradation
of the environment. The program he suggests would draw from the
research talent available to the military and intelligence
establishment, as well as its computers, planes, ships, satellites and
other resources to address environmental concerns.
NASA:
NASA FINDS MAJOR FLAW IN THE MIRRORS OF THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
NASA engineers found a major flaw in the main light-gathering mirrors
of the Hubble Space Telescope that will effect its ability to view the
depths of the universe for several years. During a news conference,
NASA reported that there is a distortion in one of the two mirrors used
to focus light aboard the orbiting observatory, but they are not sure
which one. Some of the instruments on the spacecraft will not be
affected by the problem. However, the wide-field and planetary camera
that was to perform 40% of the telescope's scientific work will not be
usable.
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY SHOWS NO MAJOR DAMAGE AFTER ACCIDENT
Shuttle Director Robert Chippen announced that the right payload bay
door of the space shuttle Discovery, which was accidently caught by a
payload bay door that tore it upward on June 4, shows no sign of major
damage and the incident will not delay the October 5 STS-41 launch of
the Ulysses probe. According to Mr. Chippen, a technician's error
cause an overhead bridge that was attached to the right payload bay
door to move while both doors were being configured for closure. The
move caused the aft centerline corner of the door to flex upward until
the pressure on it was relieved. The was no structural damage, only
some minor delamination that could not be specifically tied to the
accident. An investigative panel is scheduled to release a formal
report in July.
GODDARD PICKS FOUR CONTRACTORS FOR PHASE B OF THE ATDRSS PROGRAM
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center picked four contractors to negotiate
separate firm-fixed price definition design study contracts for the
Advanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (ATDRSS). The
contractors selected were Ford Aerospace Corp.'s Space Systems Div.,
General Electric Co.'s Astro-Space Div., Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Space
and Communications Group and TRW's Inc.'s Space and Technology Group.
The ATDRSS is the next generation of the Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite System and is set to operate through the year 2012. The 11-
month, $7.5 million Phase B contracts will mark the second phase of the
three phase ATDRSS procurement program.
NASA TO LAUNCH CRRESS SATELLITE ON JULY 17
NASA said the launch of the Combined Release and Radiation Effects
Satellite (CRRES) on a General Dynamics Atlas 1 booster is set for July
17. The satellite will be used to study the Earth's magnetosphere and
ionosphere.
NASA FUNDING PENN STATE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS
NASA is funding a Pennsylvania State University's Center for Locomotion
Studies project to build a simulator for studying the effects of
weightlessness on humans. NASA decided to fund the project in order to
increase opportunities for studying weightlessness at a lower cost than
is now possible for the agency. Developed by Penn State professor
Peter Cavanaugh, the device will mimic weightlessness by using a series
of elastic cords to suspend an astronaut in a horizontal position
facing the ceiling of the laboratory.
GAO MAKES RECOMMENDATION TO NASA ON LARGE FORMAT CAMERA
The General Accounting Office (GAO) recommended to NASA that a large
precision film camera for the space shuttle either be installed on a
NASA high-altitude aircraft or be donated to the Smithsonian National
Air and Space Museum in Washington. The $11.4 million Large Format
Camera (LFC) flew in space in the cargo bay of the space shuttle
Columbia in October 1984. NASA planned to fly the LFC again in 1986,
but the January 1986 Challenger accident canceled the flight plans. A
1987 NASA study found that it would cost approximately $20 million to
prepare and fly the camera again. Itek Optical Systems, Lexington, MA,
built the camera under a 1977 NASA contract.
LENOIR SAYS PROPOSED SPACE STATION CUTS ARE TOO DEEP
William B. Lenoir, NASA associate administrator for space flight, said
the Space Station program has already been cut as much as possible and
to absorb the $195 million in FY 1991 funding cuts made by a House
Appropriations subcommittee without raising life cycle costs by several
times that amount would be nearly impossible. Mr. Lenoir went on to
say that the cuts cannot be found in the program as it is presently
structured. He said the cuts assume it would not need any reserve
funds to cover problems that may develop after the preliminary design
review and that he is not comfortable with that approach.
NASA GROUNDS FLEET OF SPACE SHUTTLES DUE TO FUEL LEAK
NASA grounded its fleet of space shuttles after discovering a fuel leak
on the shuttle Atlantis similar to a leak found in May on the shuttle
Columbia. William Lenoir, NASA's associate administrator for space
flight said the shuttle will not fly again until they understand the
problem and have a fix. Both shuttles have leaks of hydrogen fuel
somewhere in an assemblage of piping the leads from the shuttle's
external fuel tank to the orbiter. NASA technicians have not been able
to determine the cause of the leak.
INTERNATIONAL:
RADARSAT TO MARKET DATA FOR CANADA'S CENTRE FOR REMOTE SENSING
Canada's Centre for Remote Sensing made an agreement with Radarsat
International of Richmond, British Columbia, for them to market,
produce and distribute Landsat data for the center. The center
operates the receiving station in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, that
collects data from Landsat 4 and 5, the U.S. remote sensing satellites.
The agreement marks the first time a private Canadian company will sell
remote-sensing data.
THAI AIRWAYS ORDERS FIVE BOEING 747-400s
Thai Airways International, the national carrier of Thailand, ordered
five Boeing 747-400s valued at approximately $800 million. The orders
bring the airline's total purchase to eight 747-400s.
EC COUNCIL MINISTERS GAVE SUPPORT TO AIR TRANSPORT LIBERALIZATION
The European Commission (EC) Council of Ministers gave support to air
transport liberalization beginning in 1993 and approved modest interim
measures to take effect this fall. The temporary measures will be part
of the EC's second phase of liberalization and will give the airlines
slightly more flexibility to set fares and increase market share. The
ministers agreed to a new interim pricing structure relaxing the
existing system of fare zones within which the airlines can alter fares
and loosen the capability restrictions on routes.
ITALY'S TELESPAZIO PURCHASED 2.3% OF SPOT IMAGE
The Italian telecommunications company Telespazio of Rome purchased a
2.3% share of SPOT Image, the French company that operates the SPOT
Earth-observation satellites. Telespazio is a state-owned company that
operates satellite communications systems for the Italian government.
SPOT Image shareholders approved the purchase and augmentation of the
company's capital to accommodate the Telespazio purchase, which is
effective July 1.
AUSTRALIA TAKES DELIVERY OF ITS 75th AND FINAL F/A-18 AIRCRAFT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. reported that Australia has taken delivery of
its 75th and final F/A-18 aircraft. The program, which was worth $2
billion, was completed when Australian Minister for Defense Robert Ray
accepted the plane during a ceremony at Australia's Fairbairn air base.
EC COMMISSION OBJECTS TO A THREE AIRLINE LINKUP
The European Community (EC) Commission objected to the linkup of
British Airways, Sabena and KLM on the grounds that some aspects of the
pact violate EC competition rules. Negotiations will soon begin on how
to modify the linkup to meet the EC competition rules. The linkup is
effectively Sabena unit, Sabena World Airlines, British Airways and
KLM. British Airways and KLM each have a 20% stake in the venture,
with the remainder held by Sebena, now a holding company.
BUSINESS:
FORD AEROSPACE'S SSD BROKE GROUND FOR SATELLITE ENGINEERING BUILDING
Ford Aerospace's Space Systems Div. (SSD) broke ground for a $14
million building in Palo Alto, California, that will consolidate its
satellite engineering operations. The building, scheduled to be
completed in the fall of 1991, will house antenna, spacecraft and
systems engineering activities, as well as offices of advanced systems,
flight assurance and program management officials. The site is
adjacent to SSD's current location.
GRUMMAN OFFERING EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVES TO EMPLOYEES
Grumman Corp. is offering early retirement incentives to 6,000
employees, or 21% of its work force, in order to bring the employment
level down along with its share of government contracts. The plan was
devised following a company-wide cost-cutting study. The company's
need to cut employment follows the Defense Dept.'s decision to cut
spending and set expiration dates for such programs as the carrier-
based A-6E bomber and the EA-6B radar-jamming aircraft, which is
scheduled to go out of production next year. Production funds for
Grumman's F-14D Navy fighter will run out in 1993. Last year, the
company cut about 10% of its employment through layoffs and attrition.
FORMER HUGHES AND RAYTHEON EMPLOYEES CONVICTED IN "OPERATION UNCOVER"
A former marketing official at Hughes Aircraft, a division of General
Motors Corp., and a former market-research manager at Raytheon Co.'s
Missile Systems division, were convicted of conspiring to exchange
sensitive Pentagon planning documents. Prosecutors asserted that the
two men conspired with employees of other defense contractors to
illegally acquire and trade classified Pentagon documents. They face a
maximum five year sentence. The convictions were part of the
"Operation Uncover" investigation.
LOCKHEED SANDERS TO FURTHER REDUCE WORKFORCE
Lockheed Sanders, Inc. announced they will reduce their workforce by up
to 800 personnel by the end of the year and cut spending on supplies,
facilities, travel and contract services in an effort to adjust to cuts
in Defense Dept. spending. According to the company, employment for
the division reached its peak at 7,100 in 1986 and now stands at 5,900
following layoffs of about 1,000 employees last year and 250 in March
of this year.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO DEVELOP STRATEGY TO REDUCE COSTS
By August, McDonnell Douglas Corp. plans to develop a strategy to
reduce costs by at least $700 million per year, mainly through
"substantial layoffs across the corporation," said Chairman John F.
McDonnell. The company will cut back in ways beyond the layoffs, said
Mr. McDonnell, including overtime, travel, new hiring, consultants,
advertising and support activities. He emphasized; however, that
quality and on-time delivery must not be compromised.
MOTOROLA TO LAUNCH NETWORK OF SATELLITES
Motorola Inc. announced it will launch a network of 77 satellites that
will allow cellular telephone users to make international calls from
anywhere on Earth. The Iridium network will consist of 77 small
satellites orbiting at low altitude that will allow communications by
portable radiotelephones from any place, even ships and airplanes, to
anywhere. Motorola said they hope to launch two test satellites by
1992, while the 77 satellites are expected to be launched between 1994
and 1996.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AT&T TECHNOLOGIES ISSUED $13.9 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
American Telephone & Telegraph Technologies Inc., a unit of American
Telephone & Telegraph Co. (AT&T), was issued a $13.9 million Navy
contract for oceanographic service.
BOEING RECEIVED AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR THE SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAM
Boeing Co. received a $20.9 million Air Force contract for the space
launch program.
FMC GIVEN GUIDED-MISSILE LAUNCH SYSTEMS CONTRACT
FMC Corp. was given a $76.6 million Navy contract for guided-missile
launching systems.
FORD AEROSPACE AWARDED CONTRACT FOR AIR FORCE SATELLITE NETWORK CONTROL
Ford Aerospace Corp., a unit of Ford Motor Co., was awarded a $55
million contract by the Air Force Space Command to continue to aid the
Air Force in operation of its world-wide network for controlling U.S.
military satellites. If the Air Force exercises four one-year options,
the contract would be worth $259 million through 1995. Ford Aerospace
has operated the control network since the late 1950s.
GENERAL ELECTRIC ISSUED HELICOPTER AND JET FIGHTER ENGINES CONTRACT
General Electric Co. was issued a $27.2 million contract for Army
helicopter engines and Air Force jet fighter engines.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT CHOSEN FOR ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $10.4 MILLION
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., was chosen for a
$10.4 million Army contract for aircraft infrared equipment.
INGALLS RECEIVED NAVY CONTRACT FOR CRUISER YARD SERVICES
Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc., a division of Litton Industries Inc.,
received a $26.4 million Navy contract for cruiser yard services.
LITTON SYSTEMS AWARDED NAVY AND ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $33.4 MILLION
Litton Systems Inc., a division of Litton Industries Inc., was awarded
a $33.4 million contract for Navy submarine navigation systems and Army
helicopter equipment.
MARTIN MARIETTA GIVEN ARMY CONTRACT WORTH $42.1 MILLION
Martin Marietta Corp. was given a $42.1 million Army contract for air
defense systems and night vision sensors.
MIT RECEIVED $35.48 MILLION NASA CONTRACT
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will build a charged
coupled device for the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility (AWAF)
spacecraft under a $35.48 million, no-fee NASA contract. Martin
Marietta Corp. is the major subcontractor.
UTC GIVEN ARMY CONTRACT FOR HELICOPTER MODIFICATIONS
United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was given a $17.9 million Army contract
for helicopter modifications.
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVED AIRCRAFT RADAR CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
Westinghouse Electric Corp. received a $76.2 million Air Force contract
for aircraft radar.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for June 25-26, 1990.
June 27, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE UPDATES FOR PPBERS SYSTEM
The Defense Supply Service - Washington, in support of the Office of
the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management) (OASA(FM),
Deputy for Financial Management Systems Integration (SAFM-FS), plans to
acquire technical and functional support to the Program Performance and
Budget Execution Review System (PPBERS). The system operates using an
IBM 3081K, 64M mainframe under S.370 architecture. Personnel require
security clearances at the Secret level. The contract will include
four one-year options. The solicitation number is MDA903-90-R-0106 and
will be available no sooner than fifteen days from the date of this
publication. Any request for the RFP received after its issue date
will not be honored. No telephone requests for the solicitation will
be accepted.
Contact: Denise Link
Defense Supply Service - Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
(202) 697-2799
GODDARD TO ACQUIRE MOTOROLA DELTA SERIES 3000 COMPUTER SYSTEM
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center plans the acquisition of a Motorola
Delta series 3000 computer system and related peripherals under
solicitation 5-67493/095. The equipment to be purchased is and must be
fully compatible with three existing systems using the Motorola MVME
products. This system is to be used for the development and testing of
hardware and software products for use in satellite simulators and
other Simulation Operations projects. Any firms desiring consideration
must fully identify, in writing, their capability to provide this
equipment within 15 days of publication of this synopsis. No collect
calls or telephone requests will be accepted.
Contact: Dawn Murvin
NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-6164
June 28, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY TO ACQUIRE IBM PROFESSIONAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING SERVICES
The Defense Supply Service - Washington intends to acquire IBM
Professional Systems Engineering Services against IBM GSA Schedule
GS00K90AGS5691. Systems programming will be performed on IBM 9370
family computers. Contractor personnel shall have a secret security
clearance on file with DISCO. If no affirmative written responses are
received within 15 days after publication of this notice to the effect
that a comparable source is available, an order will be placed with IBM
Corp. against their GSA schedule contract listed above. If a response
is received that meets the requirements, and analysis indicates
competitive acquisition would be more advantageous to the Government, a
formal RFP may be issued. No telephone requests will be honored. A
request for the RFP will not be considered an affirmative response,
however, if issuance of an RFP is determined to be appropriate, you
will be included on the mailing list.
Contact: Salvatore Ales
Defense Supply Service - Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20210-5200
June 29, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER REQUIRES IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM
NASA Langley Research Center issued solicitation 1-121-1270.0229 for an
image processing system. The required image processing system will be
used for real time acquisition and processing of Standard RS-170 video
signals. The approximate bid opening date is August 15, 1990. All
responsible sources may submit a bid which will be considered.
Contact: Bid Distribution Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 144
Industry Assistance Office
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2547
|
| 20.94 | Aerospace Industry News, week of July 30, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Aug 07 1990 10:51 | 584 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012513
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 07-Aug-1990 06:51am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of July 30, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 30, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 30, 1990
GENERAL:
THE SOLAR POWERED SUN-SEEKER AIRCRAFT CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP POSTPONED
DEFENSE:
THE HOUSE APPROVED $8.3 BILLION MILITARY-CONSTRUCTION BILL
CHENEY CUTS HIS STAFF OF GENERALS AND ADMIRALS IN HALF
SEN. NUNN SAID SASC REJECTS SEA LANCE ANTISUBMARINE ROCKET TERMINATION
BUSH TO BACK 25% REDUCTION IN U.S. ARMED FORCES
AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND FORMS DIVISION TO CONTROL DoD LAUNCH SITES
DOD LAUNCHES EIGHTH SATELLITE IN 21-SATELLITE NETWORK
SENATE APPROVES $289 BILLION DEFENSE DEPT. SPENDING BILL
NASA:
U.S. TO FLY OZONE MONITORING EQUIPMENT ABOARD SOVIET & JAPANESE CRAFT
AMES RESEARCH CENTER SCIENTISTS DISCOVER MOON IN SATURN'S RING
CORRECTIVE OPTICS FOR HUBBLE'S CAMERA MAY NOT BE INSTALLED TILL 1993
NASA TO PREPARE COLUMBIA FOR LAUNCH IN EARLY SEPTEMBER
INTERNATIONAL:
ESA EXPECTS TO RECEIVE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ON HERMES BY NOVEMBER
EC COMMISSION MAY CUT PRODUCTION SUBSIDIES TO AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
CHARLES BIGOT ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF ARIANESPACE
SWISS CROSSAIR AND CZECH SLOVAIR TO TEAM TO CREATE TATRA AIR
EAST GERMANY TO CONTINUE TO PURCHASE SOVIET MILITARY EQUIPMENT
TWO SOVIET COSMONAUTS LAUNCHED TO MIR SPACE STATION
BUSINESS:
HUGHES ELECTRONICS SUFFERS 27% DROP IN SECOND-QUARTER EARNINGS
LOCKHEED CHAIRMAN: COMPANY'S FIXED-PRICE DEVELOPMENT TROUBLES ARE OVER
LTV'S AIRCRAFT PRODUCTS GROUP REPORTS LOSSES IN SECOND QUARTER
MARTIN MARIETTA POSTS 15.6% HIGHER SALES IN SECOND QUARTER
ROCKWELL SERVED A FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ORDER BY THE EPA
UTC'S PRATT & WHITNEY TO CUT 4,000 JOBS IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
CONTEL RECEIVED DATA-PROCESSING SYSTEMS CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
GENERAL ELECTRIC WON $101 MILLION IN DEFENSE CONTRACTS
GM'S EDS UNIT GIVEN $700 MILLION MILITARY CONTRACT FOR COMPUTERS
HONEYWELL SPACE SYSTEMS ISSUED CONTRACT AS PART OF THE GGS PROGRAM
LITTON GOT NAVY CONTRACT FOR MISSILE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $303.4 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
STANFORD TELECOMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED NASA GODDARD CONTRACT
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ISSUED ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
UNISYS AWARDED $16.6 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for July 30, 1990.
July 31, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PLACE ORDER AGAINST SUN MICROSYSTEMS
CSC MAY TAKE DELIVERY AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS FOR IRIS WORKSTATIONS
JSC TO PLACE ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS
August 1, 1990
KSC ISSUED SOLICITATION TO SYMBOLICS FOR XL400 WORKSTATION
No relevant RFPs for August 2, 1990.
August 3, 1990
AMES RESEARCH PLACED SOLICITATION FOR COLOR/GRAPHICS TERMINALS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
THE SOLAR POWERED SUN-SEEKER AIRCRAFT CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP POSTPONED
The Sun-Seeker, a solar powered airplane, which is attempting to set a
record for such craft, had to postpone its flight after engineers
decided adjustments were needed to the pitch of the propeller. A Sun-
Seeker spokesperson said the 10-day trip from Lake Elsinore, CA, to
Kitty Hawk, NC, is now scheduled to begin next week, pending results of
test flights and favorable weather conditions.
DEFENSE:
THE HOUSE APPROVED $8.3 BILLION MILITARY-CONSTRUCTION BILL
The House approved an $8.3 billion military-construction bill that
would cut the Pentagon's budget for overseas facilities by over 60% and
bar any expenditures for a new North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) air base in southern Italy in FY 1991. Members took a voice
vote and choose to delay any decision on the new Crotone air base in
Italy for at least a year. In fact, total U.S. contributions for
NATO's infrastructure would be cut by 41% from current levels.
CHENEY CUTS HIS STAFF OF GENERALS AND ADMIRALS IN HALF
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney ordered that the number of generals and
admirals assigned to his staff be cut from 27 to 13. He said the spots
must be eliminated, saved for civilians or given to lower ranking
military officers. The cuts are part of the Defense Dept.'s plan to
pare the nation's armed forces in response to defense budget cuts.
SEN. NUNN SAID SASC REJECTS SEA LANCE ANTISUBMARINE ROCKET TERMINATION
Sam Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), said
the committee has rejected Defense Secretary Dick Cheney's proposed
termination of the Sea Lance antisubmarine rocket program because the
Navy continues to have a requirement for it and operational tests have
been very positive. Sen. Nunn said no replacement or alternatives to
the Sea Launch have been found, so the committee does not believe it
should be terminated. He also said that SASC approved 11 of 13
terminations proposed by Mr. Cheney and the 15 other programs the
committee wanted to end.
BUSH TO BACK 25% REDUCTION IN U.S. ARMED FORCES
Pentagon sources said that President George Bush will back a 25%
reduction in U.S. armed forces over the next few years. The President
will support programs such as the B-2 Stealth bomber and the Strategic
Defense Initiative (SDI) as he calls for a 25% cut in military forces
by the mid-1990s.
AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND FORMS DIVISION TO CONTROL DoD LAUNCH SITES
The Air Force Space Command plans to establish the 9th Space Div. at
Patrick Air Force Base, effective October 1, to handle the increased
responsibilities associated with controlling launch sites used to put
Defense Dept. (DoD) satellites in orbit. Col. Jimmey R. Morrell,
currently the commander of the Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Wing
at Falcon Air Force Base, CO., will head the organization and will be
promoted to brigadier general. The division will be responsible for
the Eastern and Western Space and Missile Test Range Centers and Cape
Canaveral Air Force Base, FL. Division is being established as part of
an Air Force plan to transfer responsibility for space launch
operations from Air Force Systems Command to Space Command by October
1.
DOD LAUNCHES EIGHTH SATELLITE IN 21-SATELLITE NETWORK
The Defense Dept. launched the eighth satellite in a 21-satellite
network designed to allow military units to pinpoint their position
anywhere on Earth. The satellite was launched from a Delta II rocket
from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SENATE APPROVES $289 BILLION DEFENSE DEPT. SPENDING BILL
The Senate approved a $289 billion Pentagon spending bill which
effectively bars future deployment of any proposed space-based anti-
missile system, or Star Wars, for at least a decade. For the first
time, the Senate imposed strict spending limits and long-range
priorities on the program's various technologies. The bill earmarks
$3.67 billion for the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program,
turning it into another long-term research effort, forcing it to
reshape its goals. Support for SDI is expected to be even weaker in
the House. The defense bill also withholds production of full-scale
development money for four of the Pentagon's major aircraft programs,
but continues production of the B-2 Stealth bomber if the plane passes
radar-eluding tests.
NASA:
U.S. TO FLY OZONE MONITORING EQUIPMENT ABOARD SOVIET & JAPANESE CRAFT
NASA announced that the U.S. will put monitoring equipment aboard
Soviet and Japanese spacecraft in two joint unmanned missions to gauge
damage to the earth's ozone shield. A U.S. device called the Total
Ozone Mapping Spectrometer is scheduled to fly on a Soviet spacecraft
in 1991 and on a Japanese craft four years later. The instrument will
provide crucial environmental data on the yearly variability of the
ozone hole over the Antarctica. The stratospheric ozone shield
protects the earth from ultraviolet rays and is being destroyed by man-
made pollutants such as chloroflurocarbons.
AMES RESEARCH CENTER SCIENTISTS DISCOVER MOON IN SATURN'S RING
Scientists at Ames Research Center have discovered, through images sent
back from the Voyager 2 spacecraft, that there is a small, bright moon,
no more than 12 miles wide, in the outermost major ring of Saturn. The
discovery confirms Ames scientists predictions that the 18th moon of
Saturn existed, they believed this because ripples in the outer-most
major ring appeared. Dr. David Morrison, chief of space science at
Ames, likened the finding to the discovery of Neptune in 1846, when its
existence and position were predicted by scientists who observed its
gravitational influence on Uranus.
CORRECTIVE OPTICS FOR HUBBLE'S CAMERA MAY NOT BE INSTALLED TILL 1993
Hubble chief scientist, Ed Weiler, said the corrective optics for the
flawed Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC)
cannot be orbited and installed before the first half of 1993. The
announcement came as a warning that delays in determining the precise
"prescription" for the tiny corrective mirrors may also delay a repair
mission. However, he estimates that various teams working the problem
will have determined enough about the problem by the end of August to
order the corrective lenses and begin grinding them to a rough
configuration.
NASA TO PREPARE COLUMBIA FOR LAUNCH IN EARLY SEPTEMBER
NASA officials said they have begun to prepare the space shuttle
Columbia for an early September launch, now that the Atlantis has
failed its third test for leaking liquid hydrogen. Columbia carries
the Astro-1 mission, which is a series of astronomy experiments that
will stay in the shuttle cargo bay.
INTERNATIONAL:
ESA EXPECTS TO RECEIVE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ON HERMES BY NOVEMBER
The European Space Agency (ESA) said it expects to receive proposals in
November for full-scale development of the Hermes spaceplane following
the recently completed definition phase of the program. The definition
phase details a typical 12-day mission profile to the space station
Freedom and the Hermes, a man-tended free flier. ESA said after a
review of the proposals, contract awards will probably be given next
July for the development of two flight qualified spacecraft and six
ground-based models.
EC COMMISSION MAY CUT PRODUCTION SUBSIDIES TO AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
According to European Community (EC) Commission sources, the EC may
substantially cut production subsidies to Airbus Industrie to try to
resolve a long dispute with the U.S. Commission negotiators, acting on
behalf of the four countries that make up Airbus - Britain, France,
Spain and West Germany - have offered to cut all production subsidies
on aircraft with over 100 seats. This category includes the Airbus 330
and 340 aircraft that are at the heart of the dispute. The U.S. trade
delegation has said that if the commission makes such a move, it would
not take the issue to the Geneva-based General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade.
CHARLES BIGOT ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF ARIANESPACE
Charles Bigot was unanimously elected chairman and chief executive
officer of Arianespace SA, Arianespace Participation and S3R by the
three company's board of directors. Mr. Bigot has been director
general of Arianespace Inc. since 1982. In his new position he
replaces founder Frederic D'Allest, who left the company to devote more
time to Locstar, where he is president.
SWISS CROSSAIR AND CZECH SLOVAIR TO TEAM TO CREATE TATRA AIR
Crossair, Switzerland's regional carrier, has teamed with Czechoslovak
air-ambulance and agricultural-spraying operator, Slovair, to create a
commuter airline called Tatra Air. Tatra Air will begin flying next
spring, initially from Bratislava to Munich and Zurich with a 37-seat
Saab 340 turboprop leased from Crossair. According to Crossair, Tarta
would have a capital base of 21 million Czechoslovak crowns ($1.3
million), a third of which will come from Crossair and the rest from
Slovair.
EAST GERMANY TO CONTINUE TO PURCHASE SOVIET MILITARY EQUIPMENT
A spokesperson for the government of East Berlin said they plan to go
ahead with plans to purchase millions of dollars worth of Soviet
military equipment, even though the forces they will equip will
probably be disband after reunification. According to the source, East
Germany is contractually bound to buy the equipment over the next six
months because the contracts were signed years ago. The majority of
the equipment is missile boats and Mi-24 training helicopters.
TWO SOVIET COSMONAUTS LAUNCHED TO MIR SPACE STATION
Soviet cosmonauts Gennadiy Manakov and Gennadiy Strekalov were launched
in the Soyuz TM-10 spacecraft from the Tyuratam complex. They will
join the two cosmonauts, who will return to Earth on August 9, at the
Mir space station. According to observers who monitored the mission,
the launch seemed very routine and successful.
BUSINESS:
HUGHES ELECTRONICS SUFFERS 27% DROP IN SECOND-QUARTER EARNINGS
Hughes Electronics Corp., a division of General Motors Corp., said
continued development costs for future spacecraft were partly
responsible for a 27% drop in second-quarter earnings. Hughes reported
$189 million in earnings on record revenues of $3 billion for the
quarter, down from $240 million on revenues of $2.9 million.
LOCKHEED CHAIRMAN: COMPANY'S FIXED-PRICE DEVELOPMENT TROUBLES ARE OVER
Lockheed Corp.'s Chairman and chief executive Daniel M. Tellop said his
company's fixed-price development troubles are behind them and the
nearly half billion dollars written off in fixed-price overruns last
year should be the last. Between FY 1985 and 1988, the Pentagon
obligated $736 million to fixed-price development efforts at Lockheed,
but "we're cleaned out now," said Mr. Tellop. He said that so far this
year, after two quarters, there were no fixed-price write-offs
"anywhere on the horizon in 1990."
LTV'S AIRCRAFT PRODUCTS GROUP REPORTS LOSSES IN SECOND QUARTER
LTV Corp.'s Aircraft Products Group reported operating losses of $9.4
million in the second-quarter, $8 million more than losses turned in by
the group during the same period in 1989 excluding a one-time $50
million charge taken in second quarter last year. The company said
that in several of its aircraft programs, there was no profit at all
during second quarter. The company also posted its Boeing (commercial
aircraft) programs at break-even because contracts for the currently
produced shipsets have not been finalized. The division's sales were
essentially unchanged from the same period a year earlier, as military
program sales fell by $36 million and commercial program sales were up
by $36 million.
MARTIN MARIETTA POSTS 15.6% HIGHER SALES IN SECOND QUARTER
Martin Marietta Corp. posted 15.6% higher sales, due in part to the
Titan 4, for its second quarter. Norman Augustine, the company's
chairman and chief executive officer, said the Titan 4 space launch
system and Lantirn night vision and targeting system helped to raise
the sales volume. Martin's sales for the quarter were $1.66 billion,
up from $1.43 billion during the same period last year. Earnings for
the first six months were $161.61 million, compared with $146.13
million for 1989. Martin's Astronautics Group builds the Titan 4 in
conjunction with the Air Force Space Systems Div.
ROCKWELL SERVED A FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ORDER BY THE EPA
Rockwell International Corp. was served with a federal enforcement
order by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) charging hazardous
waste violations at its facility in Palmdale, CA. According to
Rockwell, a March EPA audit of its Palmdale facility determined that
there were nine violations of applicable environmental regulations.
Five of these violations were corrected within one week of the
inspection and another one was corrected in July. The EPA has proposed
a civil penalty of $54,400 in addition to paying the penalty, Rockwell
was ordered to come into compliance with Federal hazardous waste
regulations within the next 30 days.
UTC'S PRATT & WHITNEY TO CUT 4,000 JOBS IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS
United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney aircraft engine unit said
it must eliminate 4,000 jobs, or 11% of its domestic work force, over
the next three years. The cuts will be largely through attrition and
will be split between operations in Connecticut and West Palm Beach,
Florida. According to a company spokesperson, Pratt & Whitney has a
$20 billion backlog of orders for commercial jetliner engines and the
flow of new orders remains strong, however with deliveries spread over
the next ten years, the company fears the workload will not offset the
decline in military sales. Military contracts accounted for about 35%
of the unit's revenue last year. By 1993, that figure is expected to
drop to 25% of all revenue.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
CONTEL RECEIVED DATA-PROCESSING SYSTEMS CONTRACT FROM THE AIR FORCE
Contel Corp.'s Contel Federal Systems Inc. received a $33.2 million Air
Force contract for data-processing systems.
GENERAL ELECTRIC WON $101 MILLION IN DEFENSE CONTRACTS
General Electric Co. won $101 million in defense contracts for
shipboard weapons and computer equipment for the Navy and jet engine
parts for the Air Force.
GM'S EDS UNIT GIVEN $700 MILLION MILITARY CONTRACT FOR COMPUTERS
General Motors Corp.'s Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Corp., was given a
$700 million, eight-year contract to provide the Army, Navy and Defense
Logistics Agency with general purpose computers. The contract calls
for EDS to provide up to 20,000 computers and systems for general
office uses by the agencies by 1995. EDS will also supply engineering,
installation, training and maintenance of the systems. Government
officials said the total spending authorization for the project is $1.3
billion, but they estimate that actual spending will be around $700
million.
HONEYWELL SPACE SYSTEMS ISSUED CONTRACT AS PART OF THE GGS PROGRAM
Honeywell Space Systems Group was issued a $3.5 million contract to
provide stabilizing equipment for a space-based laboratory in a polar
orbit, which is part of the U.S. Global Geospace Science (GGS) program.
GGS is the U.S. portion of a combined effort by the European Space
Agency, Japan and the U.S., called the International Solar Terrestrial
Physics Program, which has been organized to launch nine satellites
that will study the relationship between the sun and Earth. GGS's
polar laboratory will be equipped with a range of plasma physics
equipment designed to investigate particles and elements of the Earth's
upper atmosphere from a polar orbit.
LITTON GOT NAVY CONTRACT FOR MISSILE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS
Litton Systems, a division of Litton Industries Inc., got a $13.9
million Navy contract for missile guidance systems.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WON $303.4 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. won a $303.4 million Army contract for 66 AH-64
attack helicopters.
STANFORD TELECOMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED NASA GODDARD CONTRACT
Stanford Telecommunications Inc. received a NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center contract with a potential value of $30 million over five years,
to provide systems engineering support for the Advanced Tracking and
Data Relay Satellite System (ATDRSS) and the Advanced Network Control
Center. The company will provide engineering support in the areas of
telemetry, tracking, command services, return services, video/voice
services and control systems. Stanford will then assess the
requirements of each function, study its impact on other functions,
conceive ways to enhance each function, develop specifications for each
one and report on its findings. It is a three-year contract with a
two-year option.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ISSUED ARMY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACTS
Texas Instruments Inc. was issued a $10.8 million contract for Army
electronics and Air Force laser-guided bombs.
UNISYS AWARDED $16.6 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Unisys Corp. was awarded a $16.6 million Army contract for computer
systems.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for July 30, 1990.
July 31, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO PLACE ORDER AGAINST SUN MICROSYSTEMS
NASA Langley Research Center intends to place a delivery order against
a Non-Mandatory GSA Schedule contract with Sun Microsystems, Inc.,
reference, Doc. GS00K90AGS5748 for SPARC I+ Stations with associated
peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the required equipment or its
equivalent are invited to submit, in writing, a substantive statement
clearly stating the ability to fill this requirement within 15 calendar
days of this notice. When, and if, a response is received from a non-
schedule vendor that meets the requirement and an analysis indicates
that a competitive acquisition would be more advantageous to the
Government, a formal solicitation may be issued. Inquiries concerning
this procurement should reference 1-075-2300.0702.
Contact: Gale Poulson
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2433
CSC MAY TAKE DELIVERY AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS FOR IRIS WORKSTATIONS
Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) proposes to place a delivery order
against GSA ADP Schedule contract No. GS00K90AGS5773 with Silicon
Graphics for the purchase of Iris Workstations with turbo graphics and
other assorted hardware, software and maintenance. Vendors who can
furnish the required equipment or its equivalent are invited to submit,
in writing, a substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fill
this requirement within 15 calendar days of this notice. When, and if,
a response is received from a non-Schedule Vendor that meets the
requirement and an analysis indicates that a competitive acquisition
would be more advantageous to the Computer Sciences Corp., a formal
solicitation will be issued.
Contact: Charlotte Williams
Computer Sciences Corp.
16511 Space Center Blvd.
Mail Stop 14
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 280-2255
JSC TO PLACE ORDER AGAINST SILICON GRAPHICS
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to place an order against
Silicon Graphics under GSA contract GS00K90AGS5773 for personal IRIS
workstations and assorted peripherals. Vendors who can furnish the
required equipment or its equivalent are invited to submit, in writing,
a substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fill this
requirement within 15 calendar days of this notice. All responsible
sources may submit an offer and it will be considered by the Agency.
When responding, please reference PR number 00179009.
Contact: Betty Craig
NASA Johnson Space Center
BG 41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-2338
August 1, 1990
KSC ISSUED SOLICITATION TO SYMBOLICS FOR XL400 WORKSTATION
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) issued solicitation PR 0053-
2042 for Symbolics, Inc. XL400 workstations and assorted peripherals.
All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered
by the agency.
Contact: Barton Scott
Contracting Office
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 867-3406
No relevant RFPs for August 2, 1990.
August 3, 1990
AMES RESEARCH PLACED SOLICITATION FOR COLOR/GRAPHICS TERMINALS
NASA Ames Research Center placed solicitation IFB2-34521 for a firm-
fixed price requirements contract to cover a basic one-year period of
performance and a one-year option period of performance to acquire
brand name, or equal, IBM color/graphics computer terminals and
assorted peripherals. All responsible sources may submit a bid which
shall be considered by the Agency.
Contact: Joyce Pidgeon
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 241-1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 604-3004
|
| 20.95 | Aerospace Industry News, week of August 6, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Aug 17 1990 16:16 | 654 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012593
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 14-Aug-1990 05:03am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of August 6, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 6, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 6, 1990
GENERAL:
AIA REPORTS CIVIL AVIATION MARKET HELPED U.S. AEROSPACE EXPORTS
DEFENSE:
WHITE HOUSE MAY EXEMPT MOST MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM AUTOMATIC CUTBACKS
SDIO REPORT URGES CONGRESS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM
GEN. LEMUEL SHEPHARD, FORMER COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, DIES
NAVY, ARMY AND NASA DEVELOPING HERCULES DEVICE
AIR FORCE CREATES COMPUTER SERVICE TO ACCESS EGLIN PROCUREMENT NEEDS
AIR FORCE TO TAKE DELIVERY OF SECOND B-2 WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAULING NAVAL FLEET COSTS EXCEEDED EXPENSES
NASA:
SETI INSTITUTE OBJECTS TO HOUSE DECISION TO CUT FUNDS
DESIGN FLAW FOUND IN GOES-NEXT SATELLITE MIRROR
ELEVEN MEMBER PANEL TO REVIEW NASA GOALS FOR MOON/MARS EXPLORATION
JAPAN AND NASA SIGN SPACE SCIENCE COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
NASA SEEKS WAYS TO CUT CRAF-CASSINI PROGRAM BUDGET EXCESSES
NASA'S TOMS INSTRUMENT TO FLY ABOARD SOVIET METEOR 3 SPACECRAFT
NASA MANAGERS DECIDE AGAINST TANKING TEST FOR SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA
HUBBLE INVESTIGATING PANEL MAY HAVE FOUND FLAW IN MAIN MIRROR
INTERNATIONAL:
ISRAEL CONDUCTS FIRST TEST OF THE ARROW MISSILE
PENTAGONAL INITIATIVE GROUP TAKING STEPS TO STRENGTHEN CENTRAL EUROPE
TWO SOVIET COSMONAUTS DOCK WITH MIR SPACE STATION
BRITISH AIRWAYS POSTS 62% RISE IN PRE-TAX PROFIT FOR FIRST HALF OF 1990
CHINA TO LAUNCH SEVERAL SATELLITES AS PART OF A NEW FIVE-YEAR PLAN
ROYAL AIR FORCE HARDEST HIT BY BRITISH DEFENSE CUTS
BAE RECEIVED ORDERS FOR 35 BAE JETSTREAM SUPER 31s FROM AMR EAGLE
BUSINESS:
EOSAT ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD SECOND GROUND STATION IN NORMAN, OK
LMSC'S SOFTWARE FIX FOR HUBBLE WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL END OF SEPTEMBER
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS'S JOEL SMITH TO LEAVE THE TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT DIV.
ORBITAL SCIENCES REPORTS 50% RISE IN SECOND QUARTER SALES
SUNDSTRAND SAID INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL PAY SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION
USAIR REPORTS JULY TRAFFIC UP 4.3% FROM LAST YEAR
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOLLINGER WAS GIVEN A $91.3 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
GE ASTRO-SPACE CHOSEN BY DOE TO WORK ON NASA'S CRAF AND CASSINI PROBES
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RECEIVED $20 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ISSUED $39 MILLION NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACT
RAYTHEON RECEIVED STINGER ANTITANK MISSILES CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
ROCKWELL GIVEN FOUR YEAR EXTENSION OF NASA CONTRACT
TEXTRON AWARDED NAVY HELICOPTER IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT
TRW WON ARMY CONTRACT FOR STINGER-RMP MISSILES
RFP UPDATE:
August 6, 1990
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER NEEDS 3-D FLOW CODE PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT
GODDARD ISSUED SOLICITATION TO ACQUIRE UNISYS CORP. EQUIPMENT
August 7, 1990
AMES PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST LORAL INSTRUMENTATION
AFIT SEEKING SOURCES IN RELATION TO ADPE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
No relevant RFPs for August 8, 1990.
August 9, 1990
STENNIS SPACE CENTER TO BUY VARIOUS MACINTOSH ENGINEERING WORKSTATIONS
No relevant RFPs for August 10, 1990.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIA REPORTS CIVIL AVIATION MARKET HELPED U.S. AEROSPACE EXPORTS
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) reported that a "booming
civil aviation market" pushed U.S. aerospace exports to a $7.2 billion
favorable trade balance during the first quarter of this year.
However, declining defense spending and increasing foreign competition
dropped the U.S.'s world market share to the lowest point in ten years.
AIA found the favorable trade balance, 45% better than first quarter
last year, was largely due to the $4.2 billion in exports of new
commercial transports, a 75% increase over 1989. Total aerospace
exports for the 1990 quarter were up 38% to $9.8 billion, from $7.1
billion during the same period last year.
DEFENSE:
WHITE HOUSE MAY EXEMPT MOST MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM AUTOMATIC CUTBACKS
The White House said that due to the expected high cost of the Persian
Gulf operation, President Bush may exempt most military personnel from
automatic cutbacks that are scheduled to go into effect on October 1.
While the White House has the authority to exempt personnel from the
cuts, congressional officials maintain that $20 billion in savings
would have to be found elsewhere in the Pentagon budget. The cuts
would probably come from areas such as research and development. White
House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said there were no preliminary
estimates on how much the Persian Gulf operation would cost, but a
protracted effort could cost millions of dollars.
SDIO REPORT URGES CONGRESS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM
The Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) released its "1990
Report to the Congress on the Strategic Defense Initiative," which
argues that the U.S. should continue the strategic defense program
despite the changes in the Soviet Union. The report focused on the
fact that the Soviets continue to modernize their arsenal of strategic
nuclear weapons in order to make their point. The report went on to
say, "The current situation is marked by considerable uncertainty, and
the Soviet Union remains a nuclear superpower. In short, the
opportunities are great, but so are the uncertainties and risks."
GEN. LEMUEL SHEPHARD, FORMER COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, DIES
Gen. Lemuel C. Shephard Jr., former Commandant of the Marine Corps died
of bone cancer in San Diego at the age of 94. Gen. Shephard was a
decorated veteran of both World Wars and the Korean War. He retired in
1959.
NAVY, ARMY AND NASA DEVELOPING HERCULES DEVICE
The Navy, Army and NASA are developing a new hand-held device that
would enable astronauts aboard the space shuttle to locate the
positions of objects on the Earth's surface both quickly and
accurately. The Hand-held, Earth-oriented, Real-time, Cooperative,
user-friendly Location and Environmental System (HERCULES) device may
be tested during a shuttle mission in 1992. The military is most
interested in developing HERCULES' ability to pinpoint the locations of
foreign military targets.
AIR FORCE CREATES COMPUTER SERVICE TO ACCESS EGLIN PROCUREMENT NEEDS
The Air Force said it has created an on-line computer service at Eglin
Air Force Base, FL, that allows potential bidders to gain access to
information on Eglin procurement requirements an estimated seven to ten
days faster than when it is published in the Commerce Business Daily.
The Acquisition Computer Bulletin Board for Industry provides two-way
telephone access to information on contract requirements for Eglin 24
house a day, seven days a week except for two hours each weekday
morning when the system is serviced. Contact Eglin Air Force Base's
Policy and Contract Clearance Office at (904) 882-3107 or ext. 3147.
AIR FORCE TO TAKE DELIVERY OF SECOND B-2 WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
The Air Force will take delivery of the second flight-worthy B-2
Stealth bomber within the next two weeks, about the same time the first
aircraft enters its stealth testing phase. The Northrop Corp.'s B-2
air vehicle two (AV2) left the paint shop last week and is currently
undergoing engine run-ups prior to delivery to the Air Force. Once the
plane is accepted by the service, the Air Force will perform taxi tests
and fly the plane from Palmdale, CA to Edwards Air Force Base where it
will undergo in-flight load tests. The Air Force said the B-2 is
expected to fly by early fall.
MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAULING NAVAL FLEET COSTS EXCEEDED EXPENSES
The General Accounting Office (GAO) found the cost of maintaining and
overhauling the nation's naval fleet exceeded original estimates by
about 30%, with expenses of $3.7 billion over a three-year period. The
GAO report, commissioned by Rep. Les Aspin (D-WI), chairman of the
House Armed Services Committee, found cost growth and schedule overruns
at eight public shipyards and 44 private shipyards across the U.S.
between FY 1985 and FY 1988. Public shipyards generally work on more
sophisticated ships, such as submarines, carriers and nuclear powered
surface ships, while private shipyards build auxiliary and amphibious
ships. The GAO blamed the private shipyards for the overruns and an
inability to determine beforehand what repair work must be done.
NASA:
SETI INSTITUTE OBJECTS TO HOUSE DECISION TO CUT FUNDS
Following a House decision to eliminate 1991 Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) funds, SETI Institute scientists
began writing letters to Congress to plead for continued funds.
Proponents of the SETI program have asked Congress for $12 million.
Reps. Ron Machley (R-RI) and Silvio Conte (R-MA) were behind the
decision to eliminate 1991 NASA SETI funds, and are the targets of the
letter writing campaign. The Institute's executive Thomas Pierson
called Mr. Conte a "court jester" and said the two men are "a glaring
example of the sorry state of science education in America's decision
makers."
DESIGN FLAW FOUND IN GOES-NEXT SATELLITE MIRROR
A design flaw was discovered in a mirror of the new $1 billion series
of weather satellites, threatening to delay their launching, which
would leave weather forecasters without vital pictures to track storms
and hurricanes, a situation that would constitute a national emergency.
The mirrors are meant to reflect light from telescopes of the next
generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-
NEXT), which are now under construction. The craft are the main
satellites the nation relies on for weather pictures. A single
satellite is now in orbit but could fail before a replacement is
launched. The problem with the mirror for the GOES-NEXT is that when
the advanced satellites are heated, as sunlight would do in outer
space, they warp. Five satellites are being build by Ford Aerospace,
with construction supervised by NASA.
ELEVEN MEMBER PANEL TO REVIEW NASA GOALS FOR MOON/MARS EXPLORATION
NASA Administrator Richard Truly and Vice President Dan Quayle
appointed 11 members of the space community to serve on the Advisory
Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program. The focus of the
panel will be to establish effective international space cooperation
and productive space science as key issues facing NASA as it begins the
long-term moon and Mars exploration project. Norman Augustine,
chairman and chief executive officer of Martin Marietta Corp. was named
the panel's chairman. No first meeting date has been established.
JAPAN AND NASA SIGN SPACE SCIENCE COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
Japanese Minister of State for Science and Technology Tomoji Oshima and
NASA Administrator Richard Truly signed a series of U.S.-Japan space
science cooperation agreements during meetings in Tokyo. The two
countries agreed to NASA flying a Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer
instrument on Japan's Advanced Earth Observation Satellite in 1995 and
to exchange data with the Environmental Agency of Japan from a Japanese
atmospheric spectrometer instrument on the satellite. The also agreed
that NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
and the Communications Research Laboratory of Japan will exchange space
physics data. NASA and Japan's National Space Development agency will
also continue cooperative development of microgravity science on U.S.
space shuttle Spacelab missions. Joint projects in astronomy, cosmic
ray research, ocean dynamics, cloud height measurements and tropical
rainfall studies were also discussed.
NASA SEEKS WAYS TO CUT CRAF-CASSINI PROGRAM BUDGET EXCESSES
NASA officials said that although its Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby
(CRAF)-Cassini program now exceeds its congressionally mandated budget
cap, the $70 million overrun can be eliminated by greater commonality
between the two different spacecraft. Congress approved the CRAF-
Cassini program in NASA's 1990 budget with the stipulation that the
total development cost not exceed $1.6 billion. However, if the costs
for all the instruments proposed for the two satellites are totaled,
their sum currently pushes the program over the limit. The agency has
made preliminary instrument selections for CRAF and has just received
instrument proposals for Cassini. It now plans to investigate how many
of those instruments could be used in common.
NASA'S TOMS INSTRUMENT TO FLY ABOARD SOVIET METEOR 3 SPACECRAFT
Under an agreement signed in Moscow, NASA's Total Ozone Mapping
Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument will be launched in 1991 aboard a Soviet
Meteor 3 spacecraft. The TOMS mission is to collect environmental data
about the annual variations found in holes of the ozone layer over
Antarctica. The TOMS instrument has been in use since 1978 aboard the
Nimbus 7 satellite, monitoring global ozone concentrations with a
special emphasis on depletion of the ozone over the Southern
Hemisphere.
NASA MANAGERS DECIDE AGAINST TANKING TEST FOR SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA
Managers at NASA have decided against a tanking test on the space
shuttle Columbia before it carries the Astro-1 observatory into orbit
in early September. Space flight chief William Lenoir said, "If we did
a tanking test it doesn't help me, and not doing a tanking test helps
just a little bit on schedule." If a leak is found during a tanking
test or during actual tanking before flight, there is not enough time
to roll back the Columbia, make repairs and fly before Ulysses. There
will be about three weeks between launching Columbia and preparing to
launch Discovery in early October with the Ulysses solar probe.
HUBBLE INVESTIGATING PANEL MAY HAVE FOUND FLAW IN MAIN MIRROR
The panel investigating the Hubble Space Telescope said it found a flaw
in a device used to make the telescope's main mirror. The flaw is
believed to be behind the spacecraft's problems. The device, called a
reflective null corrector, was used to measure the curvature of the
primary mirror as it is being ground and coated in 1981 and may have
been flawed. NASA said the investigator's test found a 1-millimeter
discrepancy between the design and the execution of the device which
would lead to the spherical aberration similar to that observed in the
Hubble's primary mirror.
INTERNATIONAL:
ISRAEL CONDUCTS FIRST TEST OF THE ARROW MISSILE
Israel conducted its first test of a new anti-ballistic missile, called
Arrow, as Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir warned of "heavy tragedy" for
any nation attacking Israel. The Arrow, developed to combat the
medium-range ballistic missiles of the kind possessed by Iraq, was
viewed as an attempted deterrent to Iraqi threats to start a missile
attack on Israel. The U.S. provided 80% of the $158 million first
phase cost of the Israeli Aircraft Industries (AIA)-built missile.
PENTAGONAL INITIATIVE GROUP TAKING STEPS TO STRENGTHEN CENTRAL EUROPE
At their first summit last week, the leaders of Austria, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Italy and Yugoslavia, all members of the new regional alliance
called the Pentagonal Initiative group, signed political and economic
accords concerning improved transportation, telecommunications
agreements, environmental projects, technical research and tourism.
The group was formed in order to help balance the emerging power of a
unified Germany. One the first projects the group plans is four main
roads and six railroads to tie Central Europe together, plus expanded
air and sea shipping.
TWO SOVIET COSMONAUTS DOCK WITH MIR SPACE STATION
The two soviet cosmonauts launched from the Tyuratam complex last week,
docked their Soyuz TM-10 spacecraft with the Mir space station after
the longest launch-to-dock-time for a Soviet manned spacecraft. Total
time was 50 hours and 14 minutes, 20 minutes longer than the launch-to-
dock time for the previous record holder. According to Geoffrey Perry
of the Kettering Group in England, the length of time had nothing to do
with any problems. The cosmonauts join two others who have been aboard
Mir since early this year and are scheduled to return to Earth on
August 9.
BRITISH AIRWAYS POSTS 62% RISE IN PRE-TAX PROFIT FOR FIRST HALF OF 1990
British Airways PLC posted a pre-tax profit for the first quarter ended
June 30 of 156 million pounds ($291.9 million), a 62% rise over last
year's 96 million pounds. Profit rose despite a slower rise in sales
and the strong pound's adverse effect on the carrier's international
earnings. Sales were up just 14% to 1.33 billion pounds from 1.17
billion during the first half of 1989.
CHINA TO LAUNCH SEVERAL SATELLITES AS PART OF A NEW FIVE-YEAR PLAN
China's vice-minister of its aerospace industry Sun Jiadong said his
country plans to launch a large-capacity communications satellite and
two new meteorological satellites as part of a Five-Year Plan which
covers 1991 -1995. If the new satellites are successful, they will
help improve China's domestic communications and meteorological
services and also may boost China's ability to compete internationally
in satellite sales. The country has yet to compete with the U.S.,
Japan and Europe in the satellite marketplace.
ROYAL AIR FORCE HARDEST HIT BY BRITISH DEFENSE CUTS
Britain's Defense Ministry said the Royal Air Force will be the hardest
hit by the U.K.'s $1.11 billion cut in this year's $39 billion defense
budget. The RAF budget will be cut by $360 million, compared to the
$306 million loss by the Royal Navy and $288 million from the Army.
Research and development efforts will also be cut by $120 million.
BAE RECEIVED ORDERS FOR 35 BAE JETSTREAM SUPER 31s FROM AMR EAGLE
British Aerospace PLC's U.S. unit said that AMR Corp.'s AMR Eagle Inc.
regional airline subsidiary placed a follow-on order for 35 BAE
Jetstream Super 31s, with options for 15 others. BAe said the total
value of the order is about $200 million. The order exercises options
for 25 aircraft AMR Eagle had reserved as part of the Jetstream
transaction announced in June 1989, with an additional 10 aircraft.
AMR Corp. is the parent company of American Airlines.
BUSINESS:
EOSAT ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD SECOND GROUND STATION IN NORMAN, OK
The Earth Observation Satellite Co. (EOSAT) announced plans to build a
second ground station located in Norman, OK. The remote-sensing
company is the sole investor in the station, expected to cost about $6
million, and will mean the company will be able to cover the contiguous
U.S. using one ground station. EOSAT now relies on a Canadian-owned
ground station in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to provide coverage for
the western U.S. The ground station is scheduled to be completed in
December 1991, to coincide with the launch of the Landsat 6 satellite.
LMSC'S SOFTWARE FIX FOR HUBBLE WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL END OF SEPTEMBER
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.'s (LMSC) software fix for the unexpected
"jitter" that rocks the Hubble Space Telescope as it passes between day
and night in orbit is taking longer than scheduled to test and will not
be ready until the end of September. A LMSC spokesperson said the
software, written to make the telescope's guidance program "robust"
enough to overcome the 10-inch roll induced by thermal expansion of the
spacecraft's solar panels, has been delayed because of the way the
program interacts with other software.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS'S JOEL SMITH TO LEAVE THE TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT DIV.
McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s Joel Smith, one of the principal architects
of the company's so-called "total quality" manufacturing systems, will
leave the company's transport aircraft division. It was reported that
Mr. Smith is leaving the troubled division "to complete an advance
degree" at Pepperdine University, however there has been recent
grumbling by some personnel that the company has not followed through
with its original aims of last year's reorganization in the Long Beach,
CA branch. Many workers feel that senior managers have ignored Mr.
Smith's key principals, specifically: teamwork between white-collar and
blue-collar employees.
ORBITAL SCIENCES REPORTS 50% RISE IN SECOND QUARTER SALES
Orbital Sciences Corp., which provides small launch vehicles including
Pegasus, reported a 50% rise in second quarter sales. Sales for the
quarter were $27.03 million, representing an after-tax loss of
$295,000, compared with sales of $1.56 million during the same period
last year. The company attributed the decrease in losses to the start
in production of the air-launch Pegasus rocket. Total revenues for the
first half of the year were $49.47 million, a 42% rise over the same
period in 1989.
SUNDSTRAND SAID INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL PAY SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION
Sundstrand Corp. announced that insurance companies have agreed to pay
$15 million to settle shareholder litigation against some current and
former officers and directors of the defense contractor, arising from
its 1988 plea of guilty to defense fraud charges. Sundstrand did not
say how much of the $15 million it would receive; plaintiffs' lawyers
are seeking a portion, plus expenses, for bringing the so-called
shareholder derivative actions in federal court in Chicago and state
court in Delaware. The company paid a then record $115 million to
settle the government's procurement fraud charges. Company
shareholders in turn sued officers and directors for the damage to
them. Harry C. Stonecipher, president and chief executive officer,
said, "Sundstrand is extremely pleased that this litigation has been
resolved."
USAIR REPORTS JULY TRAFFIC UP 4.3% FROM LAST YEAR
USAir, a unit of USAir Group Inc., reported that July traffic was up
4.3% to 3.2 billion revenue passenger miles from 3.07 billion a year
earlier. A revenue passenger mile is one paying passenger flown one
mile. For the first seven months of the year, traffic rose 4.6% to
20.5 billion revenue passenger miles from 19.6 million in 1989.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOLLINGER WAS GIVEN A $91.3 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Bollinger Machine Shop & Shipyard Inc. was given a $91.3 million Navy
contract for eight coastal patrol boats.
GE ASTRO-SPACE CHOSEN BY DOE TO WORK ON NASA'S CRAF AND CASSINI PROBES
General Electric's Astro-Space Div. was chosen by the Dept. of Energy
(DOE) to fabricate radioisotope thermoelectric generators (TRGs) for
NASA's Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF) and Cassini Saturn space
probes. According to the DOE, the contract has a potential value of
$100 million over the next six years, but sources involved believe the
actual figure will be closer to the $60 million to $70 million range.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RECEIVED $20 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., received a $20
million Air Force contract for radar equipment.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ISSUED $39 MILLION NAVY AND AIR FORCE CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Corp. was issued a $39 million contract for Navy T-45
trainers and Air Force F-15 aircraft parts.
RAYTHEON RECEIVED STINGER ANTITANK MISSILES CONTRACT FROM THE ARMY
Raytheon Co. received a $12.2 million Army contract for Stinger
antitank missiles.
ROCKWELL GIVEN FOUR YEAR EXTENSION OF NASA CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. was given four year extension on its NASA
contract to conduct tests to improve the safety and performance of the
space shuttle's main engines. Under the $819.8 million contract
extension, the company's Rocketdyne Div. will conduct an extensive test
program designed to improve the engines' high-pressure turbopumps and
other features.
TEXTRON AWARDED NAVY HELICOPTER IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT
Textron Inc. was awarded a $14.1 million Navy contract for helicopter
improvements.
TRW WON ARMY CONTRACT FOR STINGER-RMP MISSILES
TRW Inc. won a $12,182,491 modification to a firm-fixed-price Army
contract for 1,383 Stinger-RMP missiles. The work is scheduled to be
completed by August 31, 1992. The Army Missile Command, Redstone
Arsenal, AL is the contracting activity.
RFP UPDATE:
August 6, 1990
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER NEEDS 3-D FLOW CODE PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT
NASA Lewis Research Center issued solicitation 3-419542 R2 for the
development of a 3-D Flow Code package to predict performance and
stability of aircraft with leading edge ice contamination. The
contractor shall develop and deliver a full aircraft 3-D flow analysis
program package for predicting changes in aircraft performance and
stability and control characteristics resulting from leading edge ice
contamination. This contract will consist of a basic package and three
options. The basic work will consist of testing any existing codes
against a Contract supplied sub-scale or full-scale iced swept wing
aircraft experimental database, testing any existing codes against
Government flight data, and planning code modification to allow the
analysis of leading edge ice contamination configurations. All
responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by
the agency.
Contact: Kurt Straub
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2769
GODDARD ISSUED SOLICITATION TO ACQUIRE UNISYS CORP. EQUIPMENT
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center issued solicitation 540-71196/095 for
the acquisition of a Unisys Corp. SVT-1120 terminals and related
peripherals. The equipment will be used to support the NASA
Communications network by providing interfaces to the Control and
Status System. Any firms desiring consideration must fully identify,
in writing, their capability to respond to the requirement or to submit
a proposal within 15 days of publication of this synopsis. No
telephone requests will be accepted.
Contact: Vivian Smith
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-6264
August 7, 1990
AMES PLACED DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST LORAL INSTRUMENTATION
A notification of intent to place a delivery order against GSA
nonmandatory ADP schedule contract GS-00K-90-AGS-5245 with Loral
Instrumentation was placed by NASA Ames Research Center. Ames planes
to acquire ADS Data Acquisition System Model 104A, Data Processor
COM151 and other assorted peripherals. Suppliers of identical or
similar items that will perform the same end-use function(s) may submit
data to demonstrate their ability to satisfy this requirement. If no
affirmative responses are received within 15 calendar days from the
date of listing of this synopsis in the CBD, the Contracting Officer
will proceed with this acquisition to Loral Instrumentation.
Contact: David Palmer
NASA Ames Research Center
Dryden Flight Research Facility
Mail Stop D-ASD
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, CA 93525-0273
(805) 258-3344
AFIT SEEKING SOURCES IN RELATION TO ADPE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is seeking sources in
relation to the acquisition of ADPE Hardware and Software including
maintenance services using ADA language. System must support
development of large scale projects, ADA compilations, but more
importantly, it must design tools, MIL-STD documentation generations,
project historical databases, syntax/-sematics directed editing and
generate machine code for other computers. For technical reasons AFIT
is contemplating a sole source acquisition.
Contact: Lucila Castel
Contract Specialist
HQ Wright Patterson Contract Center
Specialized Contracting Div.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433
(513) 257-4872
No relevant RFPs for August 8, 1990.
August 9, 1990
STENNIS SPACE CENTER TO BUY VARIOUS MACINTOSH ENGINEERING WORKSTATIONS
NASA John C. Stennis Space Center issued solicitation IFB 13-SSC-B-90-
13 for various Apple MacIntosh Engineering Workstations. No telephone
requests for the solicitation package will be accepted.
Contact: Jane Johnson
NASA Procurement
John C. Stennis Space Center
Building 1100
Stennis Space Center, KS 39529
(601) 688-3681
No relevant RFPs for August 10, 1990.
|
| 20.96 | Aerospace Industry News, week of August 13, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 22 1990 09:59 | 584 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012798
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 21-Aug-1990 10:38pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CRS@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of August 13, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 13, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 13, 1990
GENERAL:
INTERNATIONAL SPACE CAMP FORMED TO PROMOTE SCIENCE AND SPACE STUDIES
VIRGINIA'S CIT AND FLORIDA'S TRDA COMMIT MONEY FOR R&D PROJECTS
DEFENSE:
CHENEY PROPOSES SCALING BACK PLANS TO PURCHASE SEAWOLF SUBMARINES
NAVY HAS NOT YET ISSUED STOP WORK ORDER ON SALE OF F/A-18 TO KUWAIT
BETTI RELEASED $300 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR AMRAAM
F-117A STEALTH FIGHTERS AND F-4G AIRCRAFT DEPLOYED TO THE MIDDLE EAST
HASC RECOMMENDS PRODUCTION DECISION ON ACM BE REVIEWED IN FY 1992
OPPONENTS OF V-22 OSPREY TILTROTOR MAY RE-THINK POSITION
NASA:
NASA BELIEVES HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE WILL BE EASY TO FIX
JSC TO BUILD NEUTRAL BUOYANCY LABORATORY
NASA TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED SEPTEMBER LAUNCH DATES FOR SPACE SHUTTLE
NASA PIONEER VENUS DATA SUGGESTS VENUSIAN LIGHTNING CAUSED BY CLOUDS
SPACE DEBRIS FIGURES NOT HIGH ENOUGH FOR ENSURE SPACE STATION SURVIVAL
NASA ENGINEERS LOOK FOR CLUES AS TO WHY CONTACT WITH MAGELLAN WAS LOST
INTERNATIONAL:
EUROPE'S FIRST PRIVATE SATELLITE NETWORK GETS BIDS FOR THIRD SATELLITE
TWO COSMONAUTS COME HOME AFTER COMPLETING SIX MONTHS ON MIR STATION
AUSTRALIA TO ESTABLISH TWO SPACE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY ASKS FOR 18% RISE IN MILITARY BUDGET
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO PRESS FOR NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY
BUSINESS:
COLUMBIA COMMUNICATIONS FILES REQUEST WITH FCC TO LEASE NASA'S TDRSS
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT NAMED NEW VP OF C-17 MILITARY CARGO PLANE PROGRAM
GE AIRCRAFT ENGINE DIVISION MUST ELIMINATE 1,500 JOBS
LOGICON AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO ACQUIRE HADSON CORP. SUBSIDIARY
NORTHROP CONDUCTED TESTS OF THE YF-23A ADVANCED TACTICAL FIGHTER
ORBITAL COMMUNICATIONS TENTATIVELY RESERVED SPACE ON 1991 ARIANE FLIGHT
STANFORD TELECOMMUNICATIONS STUDYING TRANSMISSION HARDWARE FOR MOTOROLA
FORMER TELEDYNE DIVISION PRESIDENT CHARGED IN SCHEME TO DEFRAUD NAVY
THIOKOL POSTS RISE IN EARNINGS, SALES AND OPERATING INCOME
CONTRACT AWARDS:
CSC AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $31.9 MILLION
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED NAVY AIRCRAFT ENGINES CONTRACT
KAMAN AEROSPACE WON MULTIYEAR CONTRACT FROM GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES
MARTIN MARIETTA ISSUED $185 MILLION CONTRACT
PRATT & WHITNEY WON CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT ENGINES
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL RECEIVED NAVIGATIONAL SATELLITES CONTRACT
ROME RESEARCH GIVEN $21.2 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
August 13, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER PLACES CORRECTION TO MACINTOSH SOLICITATION
TRADOC PLACED NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD APPLE HARDWARE CONTRACT
August 14, 1990
TRADOC PLACES DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST IBM GSA SCHEDULE CONTRACT
Nne relevant RFPs for August 15-17, 1990.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
INTERNATIONAL SPACE CAMP FORMED TO PROMOTE SCIENCE AND SPACE STUDIES
The U.S. Space Camp program has expanded to include student and teacher
representatives from 20 countries in order to form the first
International Space Camp. The camp is designed to foster an interest
in science and space studies for young people throughout the world.
The sixty students have met with former astronaut Sen. John Glenn (D-
OH) and NASA Administrator Richard Truly. They also visited Marshall
Space Flight Center and Kennedy Space Flight Center in Cape Canaveral.
VIRGINIA'S CIT AND FLORIDA'S TRDA COMMIT MONEY FOR R&D PROJECTS
Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and the Florida
Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) have committed
$50,000 each to fiance research and development (R&D) projects in
Virginia and Florida universities and companies. Both the CIT and the
TRDA are especially interested in activities concerning small
satellites, remote sensing and environmental monitoring.
DEFENSE:
CHENEY PROPOSES SCALING BACK PLANS TO PURCHASE SEAWOLF SUBMARINES
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney proposed scaling back plans to purchase
superquite Seawolf submarines and the most advanced class of destroyers
in a move intended to cut about $7 billion from Navy procurement plans
through the mid-1990s. The Seawolf attack subs and the Arleigh Burke-
class guided-missile destroyers are among the most expensive and prized
Navy programs. Mr. Cheney's announcement means that despite the
current military build-up in Saudi Arabia, the military services must
make serious budget cuts.
NAVY HAS NOT YET ISSUED STOP WORK ORDER ON SALE OF F/A-18 TO KUWAIT
The Navy has not yet issued a stop work order on its Foreign Military
Sales contract with McDonnell Douglas to build 40 F/A-18s for Kuwait,
despite its capture. The F/A-18s are already in the production
pipeline, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 1992. As part of
the $2 billion deal, McDonnell Douglas was also required to buy back
Kuwait's 30 A-4KUs, which the F/A-18s were to replace. The Navy is
expected to try to absorb the F/A-18s or possibly modify the aircraft
to meet the requirements of other foreign customers.
BETTI RELEASED $300 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR AMRAAM
Pentagon acquisition chief John A. Betti released over $300 million in
funding for the troubled Advanced Medium Range Air-to Air Missile
(AMRAAM) and ordered the full-rate of production decision be made next
April. Mr. Betti released a memo outlining the results of an August 10
Defense Acquisition Board review of AMRAAM, released $218 million in
long-lead funding for Lot IV missiles and another $89 million to keep
the program going until the Milestone IIIB full-rate decision. Mr.
Betti also asked that the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC)
will review AMRAAM's operational requirements in time for a December
review.
F-117A STEALTH FIGHTERS AND F-4G AIRCRAFT DEPLOYED TO THE MIDDLE EAST
The Pentagon confirmed that F-117A Stealth fighters from Tonopay Test
Range, Nevada, are being deployed to the Middle East for operation
Desert Shield. F-4G Wild Weasel defense suppression aircraft are also
being deployed from George Air Force Base, CA, the First Marine
Expeditionary Brigade and the John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier and
battle group.
HASC RECOMMENDS PRODUCTION DECISION ON ACM BE REVIEWED IN FY 1992
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) said the question of whether
to maintain two production sources for the Advanced Cruise Missile
(ACM) should be reviewed in FY 1992. HASC also recommended that the
Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) defer a full-rate production decision
until operational tests are completed. The Air Force has recommended
that the total ACM buy should be reduced from 1,461 to 1,000.
OPPONENTS OF V-22 OSPREY TILTROTOR MAY RE-THINK POSITION
According to congressional sources, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait has
helped the case of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor among those in
congress who are either opposed to, or have not yet decided on, the
helicopter. Though it is difficult to compare the Osprey's performance
to CH-47s or other existing Marine Corps helicopters in the Persian
Gulf, supporters have pointed to the failed Desert One mission to
rescue American hostages from Iran in 1980 as an example of the V-22's
usefulness. The helicopters used then crashed after having to refuel,
the V-22 would not have to do that. House Armed Services Chairman Les
Aspin (D-WI) said that "the last I heard, (Defense Secretary Dick)
Cheney still doesn't like the V-22, but I'd like to know what he thinks
now that he could use a few of them."
NASA:
NASA BELIEVES HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE WILL BE EASY TO FIX
Lew Allen, head of the team investigating the flaw in the Hubble Space
Telescope and director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said the
mirror flaw can be easily fixed in a space shuttle mission tentatively
scheduled for mid-1993. The flawed primary mirror has a spherical
aberration caused by a 1.3 millimeter error in a measuring device used
to grind the mirrors. Charles Pellerin, director of astrophysics for
NASA and a member of the investigation board, said the error the fairly
simple to correct. Mr. Pellerin said that all that needs to be done is
the Hubble's wide-field planetary camera, which takes pictures of space
must be replaced. The replacement camera is already being built and
will be manufactured to correct the error.
JSC TO BUILD NEUTRAL BUOYANCY LABORATORY
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) plans to build a $30-$40 million
facility for space-suited astronauts to practice assembling space
station components under water. JSC will begin construction on the
Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in December, with completion scheduled for
June, 1993. The pool will be 135 ft. X 235 ft. X 60 ft. deep, so deep
that astronauts will have to decompress after training sessions. They
will exit into decompression chambers through a door halfway down the
side of the pool.
NASA TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED SEPTEMBER LAUNCH DATES FOR SPACE SHUTTLE
NASA space shuttle managers have tentatively scheduled Sept. 4 or 5 as
the most likely launch dates to return the shuttle program to flight
after being grounded four months due to hydrogen leaks in two shuttle
vehicles. The orbiter Columbia and the Astro ultraviolet telescope
payload will thus begin final launch checkout on Pad 39 at Kennedy
Space Center (KSC). The Atlantis, which had been on Pad 39, was moved
back to the Vehicle Assembly Building so that engineers could begin to
analyze the cause of its hydrogen leaks.
NASA PIONEER VENUS DATA SUGGESTS VENUSIAN LIGHTNING CAUSED BY CLOUDS
Magnetic fields investigator on the NASA Pioneer Venus spacecraft
Christopher Russell said there is new evidence that indicates that
lightning on the planet Venus may be caused by storm processes similar
to those on Earth. Mr. Russell said previous studies on Venusian
lightning had associated it with volcanic activity, but he has found
the lightning occurs in the afternoon, just as it tends to do on Earth,
suggesting the lightning is related to cloud activity. He drew most of
his conclusions from radio data from the Pioneer Venus orbiter as it
circled the cloud-obscured plant 4,000 times, between 1979 and 1990.
SPACE DEBRIS FIGURES NOT HIGH ENOUGH FOR ENSURE SPACE STATION SURVIVAL
An independent advisory panel reported that probability figures used by
Space Station designers working to shield critical areas from
collisions with micrometeorites and space debris are not rigorous
enough to ensure the Station will survive throughout its 30-year
lifetime. Edward F. Crawley, a researcher in space engineering at MIT
and a member of NASA's Space Station Advisory Committee, told the
committee that the design criterion that calls for a .995 probability
the Station will survive one year without a "failure for catastrophic
elements" is far to low. The panel also advised that the debris-
protection designers' problem is compounded by the growing incidence of
space debris in the orbital range that the Station will occupy.
NASA ENGINEERS LOOK FOR CLUES AS TO WHY CONTACT WITH MAGELLAN WAS LOST
NASA engineers began studying data from Magellan's memory banks, hoping
to find clues as to why the unmanned space probe temporarily
malfunctioned during its mission around Venus. The engineers lost
contact with the Magellan this week, but a steady hookup was re-
established a day later.
INTERNATIONAL:
EUROPE'S FIRST PRIVATE SATELLITE NETWORK GETS BIDS FOR THIRD SATELLITE
Europe's first privately owned satellite network, Societe Europeennee
des Satellites, said many international aerospace companies are bidding
to supply the company with a third satellite. The Luxembourg-based
company's first satellite, Astra 1a, was launched by the European
Ariane rocket in December 1988. It than began transmitting to
television stations across Europe in February 1989. The Sky Channel,
the music channel MTV and Eurosport are among the many users of the
Astra 1a. A second satellite, Astra 1b, is scheduled to be launched at
the end of this year.
TWO COSMONAUTS COME HOME AFTER COMPLETING SIX MONTHS ON MIR STATION
Completing a six-month mission aboard the Soviet space station Mir,
cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyev and Alexander Baladin successfully landed
their Soyuz TM9 capsule on the Kazakhstan steppe. Reentry of the TM-9
spacecraft was performed on schedule and according to the mission
profile. Mr. Solovyev said there were no difficulties with the TM-9
stemming from its damaged thermal blankets that had to be repaired in
July while the spacecraft was docked with Mir. The blankets were
apparently torn during the Soyuz launch last February. As a result of
the blanket problem, the TM9 was subjected to colder than normal
temperatures while docked to Mir.
AUSTRALIA TO ESTABLISH TWO SPACE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
Australia plans to establish two Space Industry Development Centers to
conduct research leading to space products and services, such as solid-
state power amplifiers and satellite communications ground terminal
equipment. The centers, one at the Royal Melbourne Institute of
Technology and the other at the South Australian Institute of
Technology, are part of Australia's new initiative to develop a
stronger space industry strategy for the country.
SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY ASKS FOR 18% RISE IN MILITARY BUDGET
South Korea's Defense Ministry asked for an 18% rise in the military
budget for 1991, with about half the increase to go for pay raises.
However, the Economic Planning Board proposed a boost of less than 10%
for next year. The Defense Ministry's proposal, for military spending
equivalent to $11 billion, would represent almost 29% of the nation's
total 1991 budget.
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO PRESS FOR NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY
The Japanese government said that following an international review of
the 20-year-old Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the country will press
for stronger enforcement measures to stop the spread of nuclear arms.
The reviewing-committee session in Geneva, Switzerland is expected to
extend the treaty far beyond its expiration date in 1995. Japan will
ask that all nations that possess atomic weapons allow the
International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect their nuclear facilities,
they will also seek stronger controls on the export of nuclear
technology and press for nonsignatory nations to join the treaty for
greater arms-reduction efforts by members of a nuclear "club" of
nations that possess atomic weapons.
BUSINESS:
COLUMBIA COMMUNICATIONS FILES REQUEST WITH FCC TO LEASE NASA'S TDRSS
Columbia Communications Corp., an entrepreneurial firm in Honolulu,
Hawaii, has filed a request with the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to lease transponders aboard NASA's Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). Columbia also signed a contract to pay
NASA $61.38 million for rights to lease 24 C-band transponders on TDRSS
for six years and paid out an additional $2.2 million for insurance and
other expenses. The company has been fighting a year-long battle in
the U.S. District Court and with the Small Business Administration to
reverse a decision by NASA to disqualify Columbia from the bidding
process.
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT NAMED NEW VP OF C-17 MILITARY CARGO PLANE PROGRAM
Douglas Aircraft Co., a division of McDonnell Douglas Corp., named
David A. Little vice president deputy general manager of its C-17
military cargo plane program. Mr. Little was previously general
manager of the program. He succeeds Jack Hayden, who assumed the newly
created post of vice president-deputy general manager for fiscal
management and support. The move is part of the company's continuing
effort to strengthen performance on the Air Force contract.
GE AIRCRAFT ENGINE DIVISION MUST ELIMINATE 1,500 JOBS
General Electric Co.'s aircraft engine division plans to eliminate
1,500 jobs, mostly through attrition, due to military spending
cutbacks. A company spokesperson said that even though its commercial
business is doing very well, the backlog of orders "will not be enough"
to offset the predicted cuts. Backlog is currently about $20 billion,
with orders for delivery over the next ten years. The layoffs reflect
the cancellation of the Navy's P-7 antisubmarine attack aircraft, a
reduction in the Air Force's program for B-2 bombers and the delayed
production schedule for the Navy's A-12 fighter plane, among others.
The cuts will come from the unit's Lynn, MA and Evendale, Ohio, plants.
LOGICON AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO ACQUIRE HADSON CORP. SUBSIDIARY
Logicon Inc. announced it has agreed in principle to acquire the
Ultrasystems Defense Inc. subsidiary of the Oklahoma City-based Hadson
Corp.
NORTHROP CONDUCTED TESTS OF THE YF-23A ADVANCED TACTICAL FIGHTER
Northrop Corp. conducted tests of the YF-23A advanced tactical fighter
prototype made one 90-kt. and two 60-kt. taxi runs, the first since a
30-kt. test on July 7. According to a Northrop spokesperson, a 120-kt.
test was tentatively set for this week, but officials first need to
understand why tire fuse plugs melted after the 90-kt. run, and why the
hydraulic leak occurred.
ORBITAL COMMUNICATIONS TENTATIVELY RESERVED SPACE ON 1991 ARIANE FLIGHT
Orbital Communications Corp., a division of Orbital Sciences Corp., has
tentatively reserved space on an April 1991 Ariane flight for the
launch of the first DATASAT X satellite. The company filed an
application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to
construct a constellation of low Earth orbiting satellites to provide
two-way communications services. A company spokesperson said they
would rather launch on a Pegasus rocket, however the next Pegasus
launch has been delayed until at least December as a result of delays
in manufacturing its main payload. Therefor, the company wanted to
"hedge its bets" by reserving a space on the Ariane flight.
STANFORD TELECOMMUNICATIONS STUDYING TRANSMISSION HARDWARE FOR MOTOROLA
Stanford Telecommunication's Space Systems Operation, Burlington, MA,
said it is studying transmission hardware for use on Motorola's future
satellites that will provide worldwide mobile telephone service.
Stanford plans to identify the best designs of modulators and
demodulators for the low Earth orbit satellites. This equipment
decodes transmission signals sent from ground-based receivers to the
satellite, then encodes them for transmission back to Earth. The
signals are then picked up by another ground-based receiver or Earth
station. Motorola plans to launch 77 small satellites into low Earth
orbit in order to provide continuous mobile transmission service
worldwide for small, portable telephones.
FORMER TELEDYNE DIVISION PRESIDENT CHARGED IN SCHEME TO DEFRAUD NAVY
A former president of a division of Teledyne Inc. was charged with
making false statements to the Defense Dept. in connection with an
alleged scheme to defraud the Navy on a helicopter contract. Cirino
Giampapa was president of Teledyne Hydra-Power, a division of the
parent company's Teledyne Industries Inc. unit, which paid $11.9
million last year to cover overcharges stemming from the scheme, as
well as interest and penalties. Teledyne Hydra-Power was charged with
submitting false claims to the Navy totaling $4.5 million between 1980
and 1986.
THIOKOL POSTS RISE IN EARNINGS, SALES AND OPERATING INCOME
Thiokol Corp.'s 16% rise in earnings in its first year as a separate
entity was attributed to a surge in space shuttle production activity.
The company posted earnings of $41.4 million in the business year
ending June 30, compared with $35.6 million in 1989. Space-related
programs, which accounted for nearly half of Thiokol's total sales last
year, was up 12% over last year to $568 million. Operating income was
up 61% to $45.2 million. Thiokol was created July 1, 1989 from Morton
Thiokol, Inc.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
CSC AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $31.9 MILLION
Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) was awarded a $31.9 million Air Force
contract for upgrading the Military Airlift Command's information-
processing system.
GENERAL ELECTRIC RECEIVED NAVY AIRCRAFT ENGINES CONTRACT
General Electric Co. received a $35.9 million Navy contract for
aircraft engines.
KAMAN AEROSPACE WON MULTIYEAR CONTRACT FROM GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES
Kaman Aerospace Corp., a unit of Kaman Corp., won a multiyear contract
from GE Aircraft Engines, a unit of General Electric Co., to
manufacture fan reverser fixed structures for GE's new CF6-80E
commercial jet engines. The contract, which covers production through
the late 1990s, has an initial value of $85 million, with options for
additional output. Kaman said the total value of the contract, with
options, could exceed $150 million.
MARTIN MARIETTA ISSUED $185 MILLION CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Corp. was issued a $185 million contract to produce an
additional 400 thrust reversers for jet engines made by General
Electric Corp. The order increases to 1,200 the number of thrust
reversers that the company is under contract to produce for GE through
1996.
PRATT & WHITNEY WON CONTRACT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT ENGINES
Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., won a $156
million Air Force contract for F-16 aircraft engines.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL RECEIVED NAVIGATIONAL SATELLITES CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp. received a $25.9 million Air Force
contract for navigational satellites.
ROME RESEARCH GIVEN $21.2 MILLION AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Rome Research Corp. was given a $21.2 million Air Force contract for
system integration and engineering support.
RFP UPDATE:
August 13, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER PLACES CORRECTION TO MACINTOSH SOLICITATION
NASA Ames Research Center placed solicitation IFB2-34409(JLB), which
was originally publicized in the Commerce Business Daily dated May 29,
1990. Ames has since issued, under the same solicitation number, a
correction. The RFP now requires 33 Macintosh IIci CPU with 4MB Ram,
1.4 MB and many assorted peripherals. All other items remain
unchanged. Bidders who responded to the previous synopsis need not
respond to this. Please refer to the solicitation number when
responding.
Contact: Lupe M. Velasquez
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 241-1
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 604-4386
TRADOC PLACED NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD APPLE HARDWARE CONTRACT
The TRADOC Contracting Activity placed solicitation W33RQM 0177-0801 as
a notice of intent to award, on a sole-source basis, an order for Apple
Computer hardware, connectivity, installation and repair, accessories
and programs for Fort Benning, GA: Macintosh IICI hard disk, 80 disk
and 4 MB RAM and many assorted peripherals. No solicitation document
exists and no telephone inquiries will be accepted. Written responses
including GSA contract number, if applicable, prices and technical data
sufficient to determine capability to meet the requirement, must be
received by this office within 45 calendar days after notice. If no
affirmative responses are received within this time to determine that a
comparable source more advantageous to the Government is available, an
order will be placed with Macintosh. A request for a solicitation will
not be considered an affirmative response; however, if issuance of a
solicitation is determined to be appropriate, you will be included on
the bidder's mailing list. Responses/requests for proposal must state
that the vendor is not currently on the Consolidated List of Debarred,
Suspended and Ineligible Contractors or otherwise ineligible to receive
Government Contracts.
Contact: Lottie Manning
TRADOC Contracting Activity
ATCA
Building 1748
Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4005
August 14, 1990
TRADOC PLACES DELIVERY ORDER AGAINST IBM GSA SCHEDULE CONTRACT
TRADOC Contracting Activity placed a notice of intent to place a sole
source delivery order against International Business Machines (IBM) GSA
contract for Fort Benning, CA consisting of an IBM Machine Upgrade
4381-P21 to P22 and other assorted peripherals. No solicitation
document exists and no telephone inquiries will be accepted. Written
responses, including GSA contract number, if applicable, prices and
technical data sufficient to determine capability to meet the
requirement, must be received by this office within 30 calendar days
after this notice. If no affirmative responses are received within
this time to determine that a comparable source more advantageous to
the Government is available, an order will be placed with IBM against
their current GSA schedule. All responses must state that vendor is
not currently on the Consolidated List of Debarred, Suspended and
Ineligible Contractors, or otherwise ineligible to receive Government
contracts.
Contact: Anne Hudson
TRADOC Contracting Activity
Attn: ATCA
Building 1748
Ft. Eustis, VA 23604-5538
(804) 878-4005
No relevant RFPs for August 15-17, 1990.
|
| 20.97 | Aerospace Industry News, week of August 20 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Aug 31 1990 13:01 | 569 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012872
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 28-Aug-1990 08:39am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of August 20
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 20, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 20, 1990
GENERAL:
FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL '90 FLYING DISPLAY AND EXHIBITION IN SEPT.
DEFENSE:
PENTAGON TO CALL UP AS MANY AS 49,700 RESERVE TROOPS
AIR FORCE MARKS COMPLETION OF TEST OPERATIONS CONTROL CENTER
VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO TAKE STEPS TO STOP ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS
AIR FORCE RECEIVED BOEING JET THAT WILL SERVE AS PRESIDENT'S PLANE
CRAF STAGE 1 ACTIVATED BUT FURTHER CIVIL AIR MOBILIZATION UNLIKELY
HASC STRESSES R&D IN REPORT ON FY 1991 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL
PRESIDENT BUSH PROMISES TO FIGHT CONGRESS FOR HIGHER DEFENSE SPENDING
NASA:
NASA NAMES WINNERS OF THE SOLID PROPULSION INTEGRITY PROGRAM AWARD
NASA SETS SEPT. 1 AS TARGET LAUNCH DATE FOR SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA
NASA FORMS GROUP OF OFFICIALS TO OVERSEE COMMERCIAL SPACE APPLICATIONS
COMPUTER MEMORY REPLACED ON MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PUTS ITSELF IN SAFING MODE
INTERNATIONAL:
NASA MAY PURCHASE COMPUTERS FOR SPACE STATION FROM IBM
JAPAN AND MONGOLIAN SCIENTIST HAVE TEAMED TO FIND TOMB OF GENGHIS KHAN
GERMAN MICROGRAVITY USER SUPPORT CENTER TO BE RESTRUCTURED
ITALY TO ASSIST KENYA IN BECOMING FIRST AFRICAN SPACE POWER
BRITISH SATELLITE BROADCASTING SPACECRAFT ACHIEVED TESTING ORBIT
BUSINESS:
SEVEN BOEING 767s GROUNDED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS AFTER CRACKS WERE FOUND
NORTHROP/MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ATF FIRST FLIGHT POSTPONED
SIERRA RESEARCH PLEADED GUILTY TO RECEIVING INSIDE MILITARY INFORMATION
SUNDSTRAND TO REPURCHASE UP TO 5% OF ITS OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK
UNISYS TO LAY OFF ANOTHER 200 WORKERS FROM ITS DEFENSE GROUP
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING'S DE HAVILLAND UNIT GIVEN ORDERS FOR COMMUTER AIRPLANES
CONTEL AWARDED NAVY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES CONTRACT
GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES WON ORDERS FOR ITS CF6-80C2 TURBOFAN ENGINE
HUGHES AIRCRAFT CHOSEN AS SUBCONTRACTOR FOR MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
LOGICON ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT TO ANALYZE SOFTWARE ON TOMAHAWK MISSILE
ROCKETDYNE GOT $819.8 MILLION CONTRACT EXTENSION FROM NASA
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $10 MILLION
UNISYS'S DEFENSE SYSTEMS AWARDED CONTRACT TO UPGRADE GREECE'S TOPEDOS
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for August 20, 1990.
August 21, 1990
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE IBM POWER STATIONS
August 22, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER NEEDS COMPUTATIONAL CAPABILITY RESOURCES
August 23, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PLACE ORDER WITH GRID SYSTEMS CORP.
August 24, 1990
AIR FORCE CAC EXTEND PROPOSAL DATE FOR TACTICAL AIR FORCE WORKSTATIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL '90 FLYING DISPLAY AND EXHIBITION IN SEPT.
The Farnborough International '90 Flying Display and Exhibition,
sponsored by British Aerospace will be held from September 2 through 9,
1990 in Farnborough, England. Among the events and exhibitions
will be displays of aviation, electronics, avionics, military and
aerospace technologies.
DEFENSE:
PENTAGON TO CALL UP AS MANY AS 49,700 RESERVE TROOPS
The Pentagon announced it will call up as many as 49,700 reserve troops
over the next five weeks and send many of them to Saudi Arabia. The
units that will be called have not yet been named. Defense Secretary
Dick Cheney approved the request from the services for the call-ups and
has authorized them to require active-duty soldiers, sailors and airmen
already in the Middle East to delay plans to retire or quit. The Defense
Deptartment said that the reservists called into active duty will
serve 90-day tours, which may be extended by another 90 days.
AIR FORCE MARKS COMPLETION OF TEST OPERATIONS CONTROL CENTER
The Air Force formally marked the completion of construction of its
new, $19.5 million test operations control center for the rocket launch
facilities in Florida. The center will be used as the range control
facility for the Air Force's Eastern Test Range. It will also support
pre-launch checkout, launch and flight-testing for the military, NASA
and commercial space and ballistic missile test programs. The Air
Force expects to install about $58 million worth of instrumentation at
the Test Operations Control Center.
VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO TAKE STEPS TO STOP ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS
Following the General Accounting Office (GAO) finding that erroneous
payments to more than 1,200 deceased veterans have cost the Dept. of
Veterans' Affairs as much as $5.7 million, department officials are
taking steps to stop the payments. Auditors for the GAO said the
department could have reduced the payments by matching VA benefit
payment files with death information maintained by the Social Security
Administration. The VA office pays over $14.7 billion a year in
disability compensation and pension benefits to over 2.8 million
veterans and nearly 1 million surviving spouses and dependents.
AIR FORCE RECEIVED BOEING JET THAT WILL SERVE AS PRESIDENT'S PLANE
Nearly two years after the originally scheduled delivery date, the Air
Force received a brand-new jumbo jet that will serve as President
Bush's airplane. The President's spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, said
that the plane, a Boeing 747, is specially equipped with private
quarters and special communications equipment. The plane was delivered
to the Air Force in Wichita, Kansas and then sent to Andrews Air Force
Base for training flights. The jet was delayed by engineering and
technical problems with aircraft wiring.
CRAF STAGE 1 ACTIVATED BUT FURTHER CIVIL AIR MOBILIZATION UNLIKELY
Gen. Hansford T. Johnson, head of the Transportation Command, said the
Air Force airlift assets are stretched to the limits by moving forces
to the Middle East, requiring initial activation of the Civil Reserve
Air Fleet (CRAF), but further civil air mobilization is unlikely. Gen.
Johnson went on to say that the deployment of the Military Airlift
Command has forced it to operate nearly two and a half times its normal
schedule. In order to supplement the force, Stage 1 of the CRAF plan
was implemented. Stage 1 involves taking 3% of the civil passenger
fleet and 8% of the civil cargo fleet for military operations.
HASC STRESSES R&D IN REPORT ON FY 1991 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) said that the research
portion of the U.S. defense research and development (R&D) activity
should be emphasized now that the military threat from the Soviet Union
is subsiding and the defense budget is being reduced. In the HASC
report on the FY 1991 defense authorization bill, the committee said
the U.S. must concentrate on R&D if it is to maintain its position as a
technology leader. The report said, "more emphasis should be placed on
improving existing systems instead of initiating new starts." However,
the report stated that new systems, "must represent revolutionary
advances. Key to this approach is a robust technology base that can
contribute breakthroughs essential for revolutionary development."
PRESIDENT BUSH PROMISES TO FIGHT CONGRESS FOR HIGHER DEFENSE SPENDING
President George Bush promised to fight Congress for higher defense
spending in FY 1991 and asked a group from the Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW) to "help me...get Congress to adequately fund" the defense
budget. In his speech to a VFW group, President Bush said that the
cuts by both armed services committees were too high, but that those
recommended by the House were particularly "unacceptable." Citing the
Middle East crisis as an example of an unexpected situation the U.S.
did not anticipate, Mr. Bush said the U.S. must continue to remain
strong militarily.
NASA:
NASA NAMES WINNERS OF THE SOLID PROPULSION INTEGRITY PROGRAM AWARD
NASA named the four winners of the Solid Propulsion Integrity Program
(SPIP) award. The four were chosen for their contributions to the
development of the engineering capability for solid rocket motors. The
winners are: Hercules Aerospace Corp. for its organization of
infrastructure; PDA Engineering for its new approaches to nozzle
thermal responses; Southern Research Institute for its research and
development of new ways in which to measure material properties; and
United Technologies Chemical Systems Div. for its development of
improved engineering test tools for motor validation.
NASA SETS SEPT. 1 AS TARGET LAUNCH DATE FOR SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA
Following a Flight Readiness Review, NASA set a target launch date of
Sept. 1 for launch of the space shuttle Columbia. The STS-35 mission
will orbit the Astro-1 payload.
NASA FORMS GROUP OF OFFICIALS TO OVERSEE COMMERCIAL SPACE APPLICATIONS
Administrator Richard H. Truly said NASA has established a high-level
group of officials to oversee commercial space applications. The Space
Commerce Steering Group will be headed by Deputy Administrator James R.
Thompson Jr. and will consist of the associate administrators for space
flight, space science and publications, aeronautics, exploration and
technology, space operations and external relations, along with the
assistant administrator for procurement, the comptroller and the
general council. The group will focus on defining future NASA policies
related to space commerce. Mr. Truly said, "Our goal is to stimulate
the involvement and investment of U.S. industry in space - non-
aerospace industry and the newer entrepreneurial firms interested in
space endeavors as well as the traditional aerospace industry sector."
COMPUTER MEMORY REPLACED ON MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT
Officials at NASA said they have replaced part of the computer memory
of the Venus-orbiting Magellan spacecraft and that steady radio contact
with the craft has been established. Engineers temporarily lost radio
contact with the craft twice within the week. With full communications
restored, NASA commanded the Magellan to transmit data on its physical
condition and to search for reasons as to the cause of the radio
disruptions. "Corrupted words" were found in the memory unit of one of
the on-board computers and began transmitting a rewritten version of
the faulty computer contents. Trouble with the memory in a backup
computer was detected shortly after the Magellan began orbiting Venus
on August 10.
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PUTS ITSELF IN SAFING MODE
The Hubble Space Telescope put itself into a safing mode after a
"jitter" caused by thermal expansion on its solar panels during
transition between daylight and darkness tripped gyroscopes that keep
the spacecraft from falling out of control. A NASA spokesperson said
the "software sun point safe mode" is the easier of the two safing
conditions for ground controllers to turn off. Lockheed Missiles &
Space Co. is now working on software to make the Hubble's guidance
system more "robust" to the jitters and less cautious.
INTERNATIONAL:
NASA MAY PURCHASE COMPUTERS FOR SPACE STATION FROM IBM
The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASA) contacted IBM
about the possible purchase of their computers for use on its portion
of the international space station. NASA plans a laboratory module
and an exposed instrument platform outfitted with a robot arm for the
station. This equipment is to then be attached in 1998 to the space
station. IBM Federal Systems Div. is developing computers for NASA's
station modules and buying IBM computers would save NASA the cost of
qualifying one from Japan's NEC Corp. IBM would need to apply for a
special export license from the State Dept. to sell the computer to
Japan.
JAPAN AND MONGOLIAN SCIENTIST HAVE TEAMED TO FIND TOMB OF GENGHIS KHAN
Japanese and Mongolian scientists have teamed to locate the tomb of
Genghis Khan, conqueror and ruler of parts of China and the Soviet
Union during the 13th century. It is known that he was buried in
Mongolia in 1227, but his tomb has never been found. The Japanese
newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun and the Mongolian Science Academy now plan to
use images from Landsat's multi-spectral camera and the French Spot
Image Corp.'s high-resolution visible sensors to pinpoint several areas
where the tomb might be.
GERMAN MICROGRAVITY USER SUPPORT CENTER TO BE RESTRUCTURED
The German Aerospace Research Establishment will restructure its
Microgravity User Support Center in Cologne in anticipation of upcoming
microgravity missions planned for the 1990s. The center provides users
with access to informational data taken from past space missions, and
will control 28 material and biological experiments planned for the
European platform called the European Retrievable Carrier (Eureca), due
to be launched in 1991. The 34 million Deutsche mark ($19 million)
restructuring will allow the center to interpret Eureca information and
the space station program.
ITALY TO ASSIST KENYA IN BECOMING FIRST AFRICAN SPACE POWER
Italy would like to assist Kenya in becoming the first African space
power and would also like to expand its space co-operation there.
Italy launches scout-class expendable boosters from a platform off the
coast of Kenya called the San Marco launch range. Italy has also
sponsored a series of seminars in Rome for Kenyan scientists and
engineers and will continue to promote the study of satellite
communications and data gathering techniques within the African nation.
BRITISH SATELLITE BROADCASTING SPACECRAFT ACHIEVED TESTING ORBIT
The second of two British Satellite Broadcasting direct broadcast
spacecraft achieved its testing orbit following a successful launch
aboard a McDonnell Douglas Delta II booster from Cape Canaveral,
Florida. The Marcopolo 2 satellite will remain in testing orbit at 50
west longitude for about a month before transfer to it final station at
31 west.
BUSINESS:
SEVEN BOEING 767s GROUNDED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS AFTER CRACKS WERE FOUND
Seven Boeing 767s were grounded by British Airways PLC after routine
maintenance revealed cracks in six of the jetliners in the pylons
connecting the engines to the wings. The planes, powered by Rolls-
Royce RB211-524E engines, have only been flying with British Airways
since last February. The design of the 767s is "unique to that engine
and airframe construction," according to a Boeing spokesperson. "There
isn't any reason to expect this problem would show up in any other
Boeing airplane." British Airways currently has ten more 767s on order
from Boeing.
NORTHROP/MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ATF FIRST FLIGHT POSTPONED
The first flight of the Northrop/McDonnell Douglas version of the
Advanced Tactical Fighter (AFT) was postponed following minor problems
with the nose wheel of the YF-23's landing gear. According to sources,
the wheel "shimmied" unexpectedly, which lead to concerns over damage
to the landing gear. The flight has been rescheduled for early next
week, but a Northrop spokesperson said, "It will fly when it's ready."
SIERRA RESEARCH PLEADED GUILTY TO RECEIVING INSIDE MILITARY INFORMATION
Sierra Research, a division of LTV Corp., pleaded guilty to receiving
inside military information in order to receive a $5.9 million Air
Force contract in 1986. Sierra pleaded guilty to a charge of
"conveyance without authority" and agreed to pay a $1.5 million
settlement. The company illegally obtained two confidential Air Force
documents that helped it submit the winning bid on a contract to
develop a prototype for an Air Force missile decoy system.
SUNDSTRAND TO REPURCHASE UP TO 5% OF ITS OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK
Sundstrand Corp. said it will repurchase up to 5% of its 37.1 million
shares of outstanding common stock. They will then hold the
repurchased shares as treasury stock. Sundstrand's board of directors
authorized the action in the belief that its shares are undervalued at
current prices.
UNISYS TO LAY OFF ANOTHER 200 WORKERS FROM ITS DEFENSE GROUP
Unisys Corp. said it expects to lay off another 200 workers from its
defense group by the end of 1990. The defense unit, which provides
electronics engineering work for the Pentagon, currently employs 750
workers at its Valley Forge Labs facilities, down from nearly 1,000 at
the beginning of this year.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BOEING'S DE HAVILLAND UNIT GIVEN ORDERS FOR COMMUTER AIRPLANES
Boeing Co. announced its de Havilland unit was given an order for four
Dash 8 series 300 commuter airplanes from Worldwide Resources Ltd., a
unit of Canopus Group. Terms were not disclosed. The announcement
said the twin-engine, turboprop planes will be assigned to Sea/Air/
Ground Leasing Corp., another unit of Canopus, to be marketed to the
regional-airline industry.
CONTEL AWARDED NAVY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES CONTRACT
Contel Corp. was awarded a $30 million Navy contract for
telecommunications services.
GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES WON ORDERS FOR ITS CF6-80C2 TURBOFAN ENGINE
GE Aircraft Engines, a unit of General Electric Co., won two orders for
its CF6-80C2 turbofan engine with a potential value of $130 million.
Olympic Airways of Greece chose the engine for four Airbus Industrie
A300-600R airplanes, two of which are firm orders and two of which are
options. The engine order is valued at $85 million. Also, LACSA, a
Costa Rican airline, ordered the engine for two Airbus Industrie A310-
300 airplanes. The engine order is valued at $45 million.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT CHOSEN AS SUBCONTRACTOR FOR MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
Hughes Aircraft Co. was chosen by McDonnell Douglas Space
Systems Co. as a subcontractors to build the Ground-Based Surveillance
and Tracking System (GSTS) components, including the sensor, signal
processor and focal plane array. The contract has a potential value of
about $85 million. McDonnell Douglas is conducting the GSTS technology
validation experiments for the Army Strategic Defense Command. The
experiment is intended to resolve issues associated with midcourse
surveillance, tracking and target discrimination. The program is
sponsored by the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO).
LOGICON ISSUED NAVY CONTRACT TO ANALYZE SOFTWARE ON TOMAHAWK MISSILE
Logicon Inc. was issued a Navy contract which could be worth nearly $10
million to analyze software on the Tomahawk cruise missile that is
stationed aboard surface ships. Logicon will perform independent
software nuclear safety analyses on computer codes used by the
missiles. The terms of the contract call for a basic contract of $2.1
million, with options that could bring the total to $9.9 million.
ROCKETDYNE GOT $819.8 MILLION CONTRACT EXTENSION FROM NASA
Rocketdyne got an $819.8 million contract extension from NASA Marshall
Space Flight Center to continue a test program to improve the safety,
reliability and operational life of the main engines of the space
shuttle. The shuttle main engines are high-performance, liquid-fuel
rocket engines that provide thrust during the first eight and one-half
minutes of flight. Rocketdyne has been working on design, analysis,
laboratory testing and extensive hot-firing of the engines at Stennis
Space Center since 1986 and has been the prime contractor for the main
engines since the start of the shuttle program.
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT WORTH $10 MILLION
Rockwell International Corp. was given a $10 million Air Force contract
for B-1B aircraft computers.
UNISYS'S DEFENSE SYSTEMS AWARDED CONTRACT TO UPGRADE GREECE'S TOPEDOS
Unisys Corp.'s Defense Systems division was awarded a $23.5 million
contract to upgrade the Kanaris submarine's torpedo fire control system
for the Greek Navy. The torpedo improvements are part of the Greek
Navy's effort to refurbish its four GLAFKOS-class submarines.
According to Unisys, the new hardware and software will increase the
memory and target engagement capability of the fire control system.
The changes will also enable the submarines to fire Harpoon missiles.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for August 20, 1990.
August 21, 1990
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE IBM POWER STATIONS
NASA Lewis Research Center intends to procure IBM Corp. Power Stations
and other assorted peripherals under the terms and conditions of
Contract GS00K90AGS5691. Delivery will be to Cleveland, Ohio.
Delivery schedule is 90 calendar days after the contract award.
Suppliers of identical or equivalent items may submit data to
demonstrate their ability to satisfy this requirement. All responsible
sources may submit written responses within 15 days from the date of
issue. All responses received will be considered. No contract award
will be made on the basis of any response to this notice. Inquiries
concerning this requirement should reference 3-420115.
Contact: Jon Schultz
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
(216) 443-2764
August 22, 1990
AMES RESEARCH CENTER NEEDS COMPUTATIONAL CAPABILITY RESOURCES
NASA Ames Research Center issued solicitation RFP2-34395 for a
contractor to provide system capability resources consisting of system
hardware and software, operations, hardware and software maintenance,
system engineering, user services, documentation, and training. The
resources will provide researchers with the ability to process large
scale scientific and engineering applications including those in the
areas of computational fluid dynamics, aerodynamics design and
analysis, computational chemistry, astro physics, atmospheric modeling
and satellite image processing. The contract will consist of one basic
four-year period and one three-year priced option period. Contemplated
RFP issue date is 9/27/90. Contemplated proposal return date is 11/27/
90. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be
considered by the Agency.
Contact: Daryl S. Wong
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 233-10
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 604-6889
August 23, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PLACE ORDER WITH GRID SYSTEMS CORP.
The Defense Supply Service - Washington, on behalf of the Office of the
Assistant Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs, intends to place an
order with Grid Systems Corp. against ADP schedule contract
GS00K89AGS6349 to purchase laptop computers to augment/interface with
the existing systems to be used by the Secretary of Defense and the
Principle Staff Office. The equipment to be procured is as follows:
twenty (20), 1530 Gridcase Computers and many assorted peripherals.
Written responses must be received within fifteen calendar days. No
telephone communications will be accepted. If no affirmative written
responses are received within the required time frame indicating that a
comparable source is more advantageous to the Government, an order will
be placed with Grid Systems Corp. under the terms and conditions of the
applicable GSA schedule contract. When responding, please reference
1024/8420.
Contact: Nicolete C. Kirksey
Defense Supply Service - Washington
The Pentagon
Room 1D245
Washington, DC 20310-5200
Auggust 24, 1990
AIR FORCE CAC EXTEND PROPOSAL DATE FOR TACTICAL AIR FORCE WORKSTATIONS
The Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCAC) issued solicitation
F19630-90-R-0014 for Tactical Air Force Workstations, AFCAC Project No.
308. Reference Commerce Business Daily (CBD) issued number PSA-0111 on
June 11, 1990. In an effort to answer remaining vendor questions, the
proposal receipt date will be extended from August 30, 1990 to
September 11, 1990.
Contact: Capt. Robert Havern
Contract Manager
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
PKD
Hanscom Air Force Base, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8638
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| 20.98 | Aerospace Industry News, week of August 27 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Sep 05 1990 15:58 | 662 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 012974
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 05-Sep-1990 00:24am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of August 27
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 27, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 27, 1990
GENERAL:
C-5A CRASHES IN WEST GERMANY
RAND RECEIVES MORE THAN 1,600 IDEAS FOR MOON/MARS MISSIONS
AIRCRAFT INSPECTION SEMINARS HELD
DEFENSE:
YF-23 MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT
CHENEY SUPPORTS LH, EXTENDS DEM/VAL TWO YEARS
NRL TO DEVELOP COMPUTER MODEL FOR SDI SENSORS
ALPHA LASER TEST SCHEDULED FOR FALL
ARMY SELECTS THREE FIRMS FOR SDI INTERCEPTOR PROGRAM
FUEL LEAKS PLAGUE B-2 TEST AIRCRAFT
NASA:
MAGELLAN MISSION DELAYED MORE THAN TWO WEEKS
SPACE STATION WEIGHT PROBLEMS MAY FORCE ADDITIONAL LAUNCH SERVICES
SCIENTISTS URGE USING SMALL SATELLITES FOR EOS
SPACE SHUTTLE PROBLEMS LINKED TO TINY GLASS BEADS
INTERNATIONAL:
US HARDWARE TO BE FLOWN ONBOARD MIR
JAPAN TO FUND LUNAR BASE STUDY
BUSH APPROVES CAPE YORK SPACEPORT
NEW THRUSTER PACKAGE PLANNED FOR MIR
JAPAN BUILDING SPACECRAFT TO STUDY SOLAR FLARES
BUSINESS:
BOEING DELIVERED NEW AIR FORCE ONE
CONVEX INSTALLS COMPUTER SYSTEM AT AIR FORCE BASE
E-SYSTEMS TO PAY $4.6 MILLION IN FINES
KAMAN SELECTED TO STUDY SPACE DEBRIS DETECTOR
MINIATURE RECEIVE TERMINALS READY FOR OPERATIONAL USE
SPACEHAB NAMES THREE ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS
TRW TO DEVELOP CARGO COMPUTER SYSTEM
UNITED AND AEROFLOT PLAN TALKS
THREE AIRLINES REPORT TRAFFIC INCREASES
CONTRACT AWARDS:
CALIFORNIA MICROWAVE ISSUED ARMY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM CONTRACT
FAIRCHILD AWARDED SHUTTLE MANEUVERING SYSTEM CONTRACT
FORD AEROSPACE WINS SATELLITE NETWORK CONTROL CONTRACT
GE AEROSPACE PICKS SPARC WORKSTATIONS AS STANDARD SYSTEM
HUGHES AWARDED $24.4 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
ROCKWELL TO UPGRADE AVIONICS FOR AUSTRALIAN F/RF-111C AIRCRAFT
TRW WINS CONTRACT FOR SPACECRAFT COMPONENTS
UNISYS WINS NAVY COMPUTER CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for August 27, 1990.
August 28, 1990
TRADOC INTENDS TO PURCHASE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE SPARC WORKSTATIONS
GODDARD NEEDS AUTOMATIC TEST SYSTEM
August 229, 1990
ARMY TO PURCHASE SYSTEM FROM ATM COMPUTER
August 30, 1990
GODDARD TO PURCHASE COMPUTER SYSTEM FROM TIMEPLEX
KSC TO ACQUIRE 386/20 COMPUTER SYSTEM
August 31, 1990
GODDARD TO PLACE ORDER FOR WORKSTATIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
C-5A CRASHES IN WEST GERMANY
An Air Force C-5A transport aircraft crashed as it was taking off at
the Ramstein Air Base in West Germany, killing thirteen people.
Military officials explained that the plane was bound for the Middle
East carrying supplies to support the U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia.
RAND RECEIVES MORE THAN 1,600 IDEAS FOR MOON/MARS MISSIONS
RAND Corp., a private, non-profit research group headquartered in Santa
Monica, CA, has received more than 1,600 submissions from public,
industry, academia and government sources on Moon/Mars exploration.
The submissions are part of the company's $4 million outreach program
to solicit ideas for manned space missions. In total, RAND sent more
than 40,000 submission packets to NASA centers, colleges and
universities, and space-related organizations.
AIRCRAFT INSPECTION SEMINARS HELD
The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) will hold inspection seminars
for third-world airworthiness authorities and air carriers on repair
programs for aging U.S.-manufactured transports. The seminars will be
held in Asia, Africa and Latin American in conjunction with Asian and
International Civil Aviation Organizations. The FAA wants to ensure
that third-world operators of older aircraft fully understand the need
for more diligent inspection and maintenance procedures.
DEFENSE:
YF-23 MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT
The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas version of the Air Force Advanced
Tactical Fighter made its first flight, marking a showdown with another
version of the aircraft built by a competitive team of aerospace
contractors. The YF-23 climbed to an altitude of 25,000 feet and
successfully completed basic subsystem tests. The other team, headed
by Lockheed, Boeing and General Dynamics, is expected to roll out its
version of the ATF this week and begin flight tests next month. The
Air Force wants to buy 750 of the aircraft to replace aging F-15
fighters.
CHENEY SUPPORTS LH, EXTENDS DEM/VAL TWO YEARS
Defense Secretary Richard Cheney announced his support for the Light
Helicopter (LH) and extended its demonstration/validation (Dem/Val)
phase two years. The decision not to terminate the program affirms
Cheney's support for the program and its continued survival. The Army
plans to incorporate the LH decision into its Aviation Modernization
Plan which is expected to be completed in October.
NRL TO DEVELOP COMPUTER MODEL FOR SDI SENSORS
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is developing a computer model to
test Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) sensors without launching them
into space. The system, called the Strategic Scene Generation Model
(SSGM), will allow the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO)
to simulate realistic missile defense engagements in a real time
environment to test the operational capability of sensors and other
missile defense components. The images generated from the system will
provide a common base for missile defense simulations that will be made
available to SDI contractors.
ALPHA LASER TEST SCHEDULED FOR FALL
The U.S. Air Force announced plans to fire its Alpha chemical laser at
full power this fall. The laser is being developed to demonstrate
technology for an orbiting laser battle station for the Strategic
Defense Initiative. Alpha's previous five firings were conducted at
less than half of the system's classified full-power level. Full-power
tests have been delayed due to modifications to the laser facility at
San Juan Capistrano, CA.
ARMY SELECTS THREE FIRMS FOR SDI INTERCEPTOR PROGRAM
The Army Strategic Defense Command selected three companies, Hughes
Aircraft, Rockwell International and Martin Marietta Missile Systems to
develop the Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) system. Although the Army
has not negotiated the precise terms of the contracts, officials
estimate that each could be worth as much $100 million. The GBI, apart
of the Strategic Defense Initiative, will consist of a network of land-
based missiles that would destroy incoming enemy nuclear warheads.
FUEL LEAKS PLAGUE B-2 TEST AIRCRAFT
Air Force officials announced that fuel leaks found on the second Air
Force/Northrop B-2 aircraft required technicians to open the fuel tank
for repairs. During the process, small objects were found in the tank
which led Air Force officials to call for an inspection of all the
aircraft's tanks. The new inspections will add about two weeks to the
aircraft's checkout schedule. Aside from fuel anomalies, officials
explain ground checkouts, such as engine runs, have progressed
smoothly. The Air Vehicle (AV-2) is scheduled to make its maiden
flight in early fall.
NASA:
MAGELLAN MISSION DELAYED MORE THAN TWO WEEKS
Magellan's mission to map the surface of Venus with its Synthetic
Aperture Radar has been delayed at least two weeks while engineers at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory try to determine the cause of a
recurring problem that has twice blacked out communications with the
probe. Controllers at JPL twice lost contact with Magellan when the
spacecraft rotated itself so that its high-grain antenna did not face
the Earth. The radar mapping mission was originally scheduled to begin
September 1, but that date has been moved back to mid-September when
the problem is better understood and contingency plans are made.
SPACE STATION WEIGHT PROBLEMS MAY FORCE ADDITIONAL LAUNCH SERVICES
NASA officials explain that weight problems in Work Package 2 may force
an additional Space Shuttle flight to the assemble sequence of the
Space Station Freedom. Work Package 2 is composed primarily of the
Station's truss structure, resource nodes, airlocks, data management
system, communications and tracking systems. Johnson Space Center
(JSC) and McDonnell Douglas, the prime work package contractor, have
reduced more than 47,000 pounds since June; however, estimates suggest
that the work package is still about 35,000 pounds overweight.
Officials at JSC believe it would be more cost effective to add an
additional Space Shuttle flight to the assemble sequence than to reduce
more weight and possibly affect the overall capabilities of the
Station.
SCIENTISTS URGE USING SMALL SATELLITES FOR EOS
A panel of environmental scientists appointed by the National Research
Council urged NASA to use smaller less-expensive satellites for a
portion of the Earth Observing System (EOS) program. The panel's
recommendations were presented in a report entitled "The U.S. Global
Change Research Program", which was requested in January by the U.S.
presidential science advisor Allan Bromley. Mr. Bromley's request
indicates the Bush Administration's eagerness to explore cheaper and
faster alternatives to the EOS program outlined by NASA. Officials
explained that the White House National Space Council, in particular,
wants to investigate alternative plans and is considering organizing an
interagency working group to study the panel's recommendations.
SPACE SHUTTLE PROBLEMS LINKED TO TINY GLASS BEADS
NASA officials explain that the hydrogen link found in the Space
Shuttle Columbia was probably caused by a tiny glass bead found in a
fuel connector which caused a seal to break open. NASA traced the bead
to Parker Hannifin Corp., located in Los Angeles, CA. The company
built the fuel connector in a building where glass beads were being
manufactured for a completely different project. Although NASA
officials attribute the problem to the lack of quality assurance, no
plans are being discussed to punish the contractor. Columbia is slated
to launch the Astro 1 astronomy payload in early September.
INTERNATIONAL:
US HARDWARE TO BE FLOWN ONBOARD MIR
The Soviet Union announced plans to install an American-made bar code
reader on the Mir Space Station to keep track of supplies. The
Soviet's intentions mark the first use of foreign-made hardware in the
history of the country's space program. The reader, similar to those
used in U.S. supermarket checkout lines, will be used to catalog and
track more than 2,000 different items on the space station. Soviet
officials did not identify how they had acquired the system or what
company had manufactured it.
JAPAN TO FUND LUNAR BASE STUDY
Japan announced plans to begin initial work on a study aimed at
establishing an inhibited base on the moon. The announcement is a
switch in Japanese space policy, which has traditionally focused on
operations in Earth orbit. Japan's National Space Development Agency
(NASDA) requested that its government spend 30 million yen ($2 million)
starting April 1, 1991, to study mission requirements for human lunar
and planetary missions.
BUSH APPROVES CAPE YORK SPACEPORT
President Bush approved American participation in developing
Australia's Cape York spaceport. The announcement boosts the Soviet
Union's hopes to become a player in the international commercial launch
industry. USBI, a division of United Technologies, has spent the last
12 months trying to win an export license from the U.S. government to
serve as project manager for the new facility. According to Washington
officials, a license is required because the Cape York Space Agency,
the overall project developer, wants to use Soviet-made Zenit rockets
as the facility's sole launch vehicle. Mr. Bush agreed to grant USBI
the license as long as the company meets the guidelines in the new
commercial space launch policy established by the National Space
Council.
NEW THRUSTER PACKAGE PLANNED FOR MIR
The Soviet Union announced plans to install a new thruster package on
the outside of the Mir space station to improve its roll control. The
thrusters would be attached on the end of a deployable mast placed on
Mir's Kvant 1 module. Although plans are not finalized, the objective
would be to improve Mir's roll control as the station mass increases
with the addition of building block modules. Three modules have been
docked to the Mir and two more have been developed and tentatively
scheduled to be launched in late 1991.
JAPAN BUILDING SPACECRAFT TO STUDY SOLAR FLARES
Japan is building two spacecraft to study violent flares on the Sun and
assess the effects of the solar wind on Earth. The spacecraft, Solar-A
and Geotail, are being developed by Japan's space science agency, the
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). Both the U.S. and
Britain are cooperating with Japan during the development phases. ISAS
and NASA have also been working to make sure that data received by the
Japanese can be transferred to U.S. scientists for investigation by
compatible computer links.
BUSINESS:
BOEING DELIVERED NEW AIR FORCE ONE
Boeing Military Aircraft delivered the first of the new Air Force One
presidential aircraft to the U.S. Air Force 89th Military Airlift Wing.
The aircraft is an extensively modified Boeing 747-200, designated VC-
25A. The delivery was approximately two years behind schedule due to
wiring problems. The second VC-25A is scheduled for delivery in June
1991.
CONVEX INSTALLS COMPUTER SYSTEM AT AIR FORCE BASE
Convex Computer Corp. has delivered and installed a Convex C240
supercomputer at the Joint Electronic Warfare Center (JEWC) at Kelly
Air Force Base in Texas. The JEWC is managed by EW officials from all
the services and provides U.S. commands with information and planning
assistance in the execution of electronic combat. The center has
already begun using the system to support U.S. forces in the Middle
East.
E-SYSTEMS TO PAY $4.6 MILLION IN FINES
E-Systems Inc. accepted charges that it falsified test results and
defrauded the U.S. government on contracts for Army field radios. The
radios were supplied to the Army by E-Systems' Memcor Division, which
has since been disbanded. The Dallas based company will pay $4.6
million in penalties to settle civil and criminal charges. According
to a company spokesman, the settlement will allow E-Systems to continue
conducting business with the U.S. Government. In anticipation of the
guilty plea, the company took a $8.6 million write-off against its
second-quarter earnings.
KAMAN SELECTED TO STUDY SPACE DEBRIS DETECTOR
NASA selected Kaman Sciences Corp. to perform a design study on the
construction of an optical system to detect space debris. The Debris
Collusion Warning System is scheduled to be flown on the Space Shuttle
Atlantis in May 1992. The system will measure the size, temperature,
velocity and other features of debris particles in space of at least
one millimeter in diameter. NASA is developing the sensor for
protection of the Space Station Freedom and its cosmonauts from
potentially damaging collisions with debris.
MINIATURE RECEIVE TERMINALS READY FOR OPERATIONAL USE
Miniature Receive Terminals (MRT) built by Collins Defense
Communications for Air Force strategic bombers have been declared ready
for operational use by the Strategic Air Command. The MRT will be
mounted on B-52H and B-1B aircraft to provide long-distance, jam-
resistant VLR communications of emergency action messages. The system
is part of the Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network that
links National Command Authority to strategic bomber aircraft.
SPACEHAB NAMES THREE ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS
Spacehab Inc. named three additional members to its board of directors:
Ernesto Vallerani, Director of Aeritalia's Space Systems Group; Shi
Guang, Chairman of the Board for Spacehab Taiwan, Inc.; and Junta
Fujikawa, Manager of Mitsubishi Corp.'s Space Systems Team. Spacehab
is a privately held Washington-based company that develops pressurized
laboratory modules for astronaut-tended research and development
activities in the Space Shuttle.
TRW TO DEVELOP CARGO COMPUTER SYSTEM
Advanced Technology Inc. awarded TRW's System Engineering and
Development Div. a $2 million subcontract to build and install a
computer system to track Pentagon cargo and passengers around the
world. The system, known as the Global Transportation Network/In-
Transit Visibility System, is being built for the Department of
Transportation's Transportation Center and its customer, the U.S.
Transportation Command. TRW is using off-the-shelf technology to form
the basis of the system which includes using the company's Data
Integration Engine. A prototype system is scheduled to be tested and
fielded within six months.
UNITED AND AEROFLOT PLAN TALKS
Executives from United Airlines and Aeroflot Soviet Airlines are
expected to hold meetings to discuss possible commercial agreements.
The Soviets carrier would like to begin service between Moscow and
Chicago, United's hub, but the company lacks personnel and ground
support equipment to establish an operation at O'Hare Airport.
Likewise, United would like to establish a similar operation to serve
Moscow from Washington D.C. The talks are scheduled for this fall in
the Soviet Union.
THREE AIRLINES REPORT TRAFFIC INCREASES
United, Northwest and America West airlines all reported double-digit
traffic increases in July. The airlines respectively had 11.3%, 10.4%
and 44.2% gains in revenue passenger miles. Overall, international
traffic continued to overshadow domestic performance in terms of
growth.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
CALIFORNIA MICROWAVE ISSUED ARMY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM CONTRACT
California Microwave's Government Electronics Div. was awarded a $17.8
million contract from the Army's Communications and Electronics
Activity to supply the Grisly Hunter surveillance system. According to
Army officials, Grisly Hunter is an airborne sensor that can
automatically detect and signal low intensity conflict targets. The
contract is to scheduled to be completed in February 1992.
FAIRCHILD AWARDED SHUTTLE MANEUVERING SYSTEM CONTRACT
Fairchild Controls, located in Manhattan Beach, CA, was awarded a
subcontract by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems
Div. to build regulators for the Space Shuttle's Orbital Maneuvering
System. Terms of the work were not disclosed, but Fairchild officials
describe it as a "multi-million" dollar contract. Each Shuttle has
four Orbital Maneuvering System regulators which are used to control
and maintain the pressure needed to feed propellants into the orbiter's
thrusters.
FORD AEROSPACE WINS SATELLITE NETWORK CONTROL CONTRACT
Ford Aerospace won two contracts to support the Air Force satellite
control network over the next five years. The Air Force Space Command
awarded Ford one contract valued at $55 million to provide operations,
maintenance, training and logistics for the worldwide satellite control
network. The other contract, valued at $9.6 million, provides the same
services for the Consolidated Space Test Center at Onizuka Air Force
Base, CA. Officials speculate that Ford could earn more than $300
million if all options of the contracts are exercised.
GE AEROSPACE PICKS SPARC WORKSTATIONS AS STANDARD SYSTEM
GE Aerospace selected Sun Microsystems' SPARC workstations as the
standard system for engineering functions at all the company's
divisions. GE could spend as much as $100 million during the life of
the contract. Under terms of the agreement, Sun will provide
networking products, graphics enhancements and software engineering
tools for electrical, mechanical and software design applications.
HUGHES AWARDED $24.4 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Hughes Aircraft Co., a unit of General Motors Corp., won a $24.4
million contract from the Navy for oceanographic equipment.
ROCKWELL TO UPGRADE AVIONICS FOR AUSTRALIAN F/RF-111C AIRCRAFT
Rockwell International's Defense Electronics organization won a $160
million contract from the Australian Department of Defense to upgrade
the avionics for the country's Air Force F/RF-111C aircraft. The
contract is part of the Australian Avionics Upgrade Program (AUP) which
includes attack radar, terrain following radar, flight control systems
and communication/navigation systems. Rockwell beat a team headed by
General Dynamics for the award.
TRW WINS CONTRACT FOR SPACECRAFT COMPONENTS
TRW's Electronic Systems Group was awarded a $2 million contract by the
Air Force Space Systems Division to upgrade manufacturing techniques
for advanced composite components used in spacecraft. The contract is
part of the Air Force's Industrial Modernization Incentive Program
which is a joint effort by industry and government organizations to
develop new manufacturing techniques in critical areas of the national
defense industry.
UNISYS WINS NAVY COMPUTER CONTRACT
Unisys Defense Systems Electronic and Information Systems Group won a
$25.9 million contract from the Navy to provide additional AYK-14(V)
computers. The computers are used for a variety of purposes in F-14
and E-2C radar aircraft, including flight controls for the pilot.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for August 27, 1990.
August 28, 1990
TRADOC INTENDS TO PURCHASE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Under solicitation DABT62-90-R-0012, TRADOC Contracting Activity
intends to purchase 16 Sharp Computers and associated peripherals.
Offerors who can supply the required Sharp items must submit prices and
technical data for evaluation no later than September 10, 1990. In-
packages that do not permit an evaluation will not be considered for
the award. Any responses to this notice will be used to determine
whether a competition exists. The required delivery date for the
computer systems is 10 days after the award.
Contact: Ms. Mae Goulette
Specialist
TRADOC Contracting Activity
P.O. Box Y
Fort Hood, TX 76544-5065
(817) 288-9532
LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER TO PROCURE SPARC WORKSTATIONS
Under terms and conditions of contract GSOOK90AGS5748, NASA Lewis
Research Center intends to purchase SPARC workstations from Sun
Microsystems, Inc. Delivery will be to Cleveland, OH. Suppliers of
identical or equivalent items my submit data to demonstrate technical
capabilities to satisfy the requirements. All responsible sources may
submit written responses within fifteen days from the date of this
notice. All responses received will be considered. No contract award
will be made on the basis of any responses to this notice. Inquiries
concerning this requirement should reference 405847.
Contact: Carol K. Sharp
Contract Specialist
NASA Lewis Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2771
GODDARD NEEDS AUTOMATIC TEST SYSTEM
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to procure an automatic test
system to perform component level testing on various Mixed Signal
Devices (MSD), such as linear/analog microcircuits and digital to
analog converters. The test system hardware will include head/pin
electronics. Offerors determined to be technically acceptable prior to
close of discussions will be required to perform an Operational
Capability Demonstration (OCD). Required delivery of the system is 45
days after the contract is awarded. All responsible sources may submit
an offer. Telephone requests will not be honored.
Contact: Susan D. Eicher
Contract Specialist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-3035
August 29, 1990
ARMY TO PURCHASE SYSTEM FROM ATM COMPUTER
The U.S. Army Missile Command intends to purchase a Multiple Launch
Rocket System (MLRS) Program Load Unit from ATM Computer GmbH,
headquartered in the Federal Republic of Germany. This is a sole
source acquisition that is going to be delivered to the Red River Army
Depot within 180 to 292 days from the announcement of the contract.
Contact: Sandra S. Cox
Contract Specialist
U.S. Army Missile Command
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
(205) 842-6383
August 30, 1990
GODDARD TO PURCHASE COMPUTER SYSTEM FROM TIMEPLEX
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to enter a contract with
Timeplex of Fairfax, VA, for the acquisition of a computer system
required for development efforts of very high speed data communication
requirements for the GOSIP compliant Fiber Distribution Data Interface.
The acquisition is being done under a sole source basis. Vendors who
are able to supply the required items are invited to submit a written
proposal. All responses will be considered and are requested to be
received no later than fifteen days after publication of this notice.
No telephone requests accepted.
Contact: Lynn Ann Lewis
Contract Specialist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-7650
KSC TO ACQUIRE 386/20 COMPUTER SYSTEM
Under solicitation 10-0062-0, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) intends to
purchase seven 386/20 computer systems. All responsible sources may
submit a bid which shall be considered by the agency.
Contact: Ruth Walker
Contact Specialist
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 867-3406
August 31, 1990
GODDARD TO PLACE ORDER FOR WORKSTATIONS
Under solicitation 916-93695, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
intends to place a delivery order against a GSA non-mandatory schedule
for workstations. The systems capabilities will include 20 MIPS, 3.0
Mflops, 16 megabytes memory and 200 magabyte disk storage. All
responsible sources may respond by submitting a written narrative
statement of capability within fifteen days of this notice. If no
affirmative responses are received, an order will be placed against a
GSA schedule. No telephone requests accepted.
Contact: Lynn White
Contract Specialist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 243
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-6303
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| 20.99 | Aerospace Industry News, week of September 3 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Sep 11 1990 13:20 | 606 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 013076
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 10-Sep-1990 08:03pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of September 3
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of September 3, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 3, 1990
GENERAL:
HUBBLE RELAYS PICTURES OF SUPERNOVA
RAYTHEON'S MIMIC CHIP RECEIVES VALIDATION FOR PRODUCTION
TRW COMPLETES NEW AVIONICS SYSTEM TEST
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE RETIRES CRAY-1/S SUPERCOMPUTER
BRILLIANT PEBBLES EXPERIMENT FAILS
BSTS DEVELOPMENT PLANS PUT ON HOLD
FIBER-OPTIC TECHNOLOGY USED IN SDI PROJECTILES
NAVSTAR LAUNCHED INTO SERVICE
NASA:
BUDGET UNCERTAINTIES MAY FORCE NASA TO SUSPEND SPACE ACTIVITY
MAGELLAN GIVEN GO-AHEAD TO MAP VENUS
NASA ANNOUNCES POTENTIAL USERS OF ACTS
SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH DELAYED INDEFINITELY
INTERNATIONAL:
AEROSPATIALE WINS TURKSAT COMPETITION
AUSTRALIA DEVELOPING NEW COMPUTER SATELLITE NETWORK
BRITISH AEROSPACE DESIGNING SUPERCOMPUTER FOR ERS-1 IMAGE PROCESSING
GE ENGINE SELECTED FOR ITALIAN NAVY HELICOPTERS
INTELSAT SEEKS $400 MILLION FOR LOST SATELLITE
ITALY TO CUT DEFENSE BUDGET
MATRA AND THOMSON-BRANDT TO MERGE BOMB BUSINESS
BUSINESS:
E-SYSTEMS ACQUIRES HADSON CORP'S HRB SYSTEMS
MARTIN MARIETTA PAYS OUT $2.5 MILLION IN FINES
PAYLOAD SYSTEMS REPURCHASES STOCK
RAYTHEON REPORTS CHARGE AGAINST EARNINGS
ROCKWELL COMPLETES RESTRUCTURING OF DEFENSE-ELECTRONICS GROUP
SIMMONS SEEKS MORE CONTROL OF LOCKHEED
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED SIGNAL AWARDED $60 MILLION ENGINE-STARTER CONTRACT
BOEING RECEIVES $6 BILLION ORDER FROM ASIANA AIRLINES
COMPUTER SCIENCES AWARDED $70 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
JOINT VENTURE OF COMPUTER SCIENCES/RAYTHEON WIN AIR FORCE CONTRACT
CONTEL TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR NAVY
GENERAL ELECTRIC GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT
GPA GROUP PLACES $2.5 BILLION ORDER WITH MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
GTE WINS ARMY SIMULATOR CONTRACT
ITT AWARDED $58.9 MILLION CONTRACT
RAYTHEON AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT FOR SIDEWINDER SYSTEMS
SPARTA AWARDED SOFTWARE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TO PRODUCE ARMY RADARS
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for September 3, 1990.
No relevant RFPs for September 4, 1990.
September 5, 1990
MARSHALL TO PURCHASE GRAPHICS WORKSTATION
September 6, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO NEGOTIATE WITH UNISYS CORP.
September 7, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FROM BDS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
HUBBLE RELAYS PICTURES OF SUPERNOVA
Astronomers from the European Space Agency and NASA reviewed pictures
taken by the Hubble Space Telescope showing a famous supernova that
burst into public view in February 1987. The pictures, which were
taken by the telescope's Faint Object Camera, are the most detailed
photographs yet of the supernova.
RAYTHEON'S MIMIC CHIP RECEIVES VALIDATION FOR PRODUCTION
Raytheon officials announced that its pilot fabrication line for
gallium arsenide chips has been validated for production. The
production facility will be used to manufacture chips for the DoD
Monolithic Microwave and Millimeter-wave Integrated Circuits (MIMIC)
program. In 1988, a joint venture team consisting of Raytheon and
Texas Instruments was awarded a MIMIC Phase I development contract from
the U.S. Navy.
TRW COMPLETES NEW AVIONICS SYSTEM TEST
TRW's Military Electronics and Avionics Division announced that it had
completed testing of new avionics systems that combines a number of
electronic combat functions into one package, including the pilot's
ability to communicate with satellites. TRW's advanced Integrated
Communications, Navigation and Identification Avionics (ICNIA) combines
all electronic functions into one system, thus saving weight. The
project is being sponsored as a joint effort by the U.S. Army, Air
Force and Navy.
DEFEENSE:
AIR FORCE RETIRES CRAY-1/S SUPERCOMPUTER
The Cray-1/S supercomputer located at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.,
commonly known as the Monster, was retired by the Air Force. A new,
more powerful Cray-2 supercomputer has been installed to provide
increased computing support for the weapons laboratory. Air Force
officials explain the reason for switching to the faster computer was
because the $1 million in maintenance per year for the Cray-1/S was too
expensive.
BRILLIANT PEBBLES EXPERIMENT FAILS
The Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) announced that the
first of series of suborbital flights to test components for Brilliant
Pebbles interceptors failed when telemetry was lost from the rocket
shortly after launch. The problem occurred during an experiment
designed to demonstrate that the sensors for Brilliant Pebbles could
detect and track a thrusting rocket motor. The experiment, which cost
$20 million, was launched on a Black Brant X booster from NASA's
Wallops Island, VA. Ball Aerospace Systems Group was responsible for
integrating the payload and booster.
BSTS DEVELOPMENT PLANS PUT ON HOLD
Influenced by congressional objections, the Air Force is rethinking its
plans to continue development of the Boost Surveillance and Tracking
System (BSTS). The Air Force has announced that it is launching a new
study of its requirements for tactical warning and attack assessment of
missile attacks and whether BSTS fits those requirements. The Air
Force Space Systems Command notified contractors of its plans
explaining that it is not going to release a key BSTS procurement
document as originally scheduled. Meanwhile, the service plans to
conduct a competition pitting the BSTS against another satellite
system, which according to some congressman, has the same capabilities
at less cost.
FIBER-OPTIC TECHNOLOGY USED IN SDI PROJECTILES
Air Force officials announced that fiber optic technology is being used
to develop a lightweight navigation device used in U.S. strategic
defense interceptors, missiles and aircraft. Under a contract from the
Air Force Space Technology Center, Smith Industries of Grand Rapids,
MI, built an inertial measurement unit that uses a fiber-optic
gyroscope and is suitable for flight. The device is part of the Air
Force's Lightweight Exoatmospheric Projectile (LEAP) project, which is
developing miniaturized components necessary for strategic-defense
interceptors.
NAVSTAR LAUNCHED INTO SERVICE
The U.S. Air Force successfully launched a Navstar Global Positioning
System (GPS) into service eight days ahead of schedule. The system
will be used for navigation support in the Middle East. The satellite
is the eighth operational satellite to the GPS constellation which
increases the coverage of the Persian Gulf region by about three hours.
The U.S. Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Wing is the primary user
of the system.
NASA:
BUDGET UNCERTAINTIES MAY FORCE NASA TO SUSPEND SPACE ACTIVITY
NASA sent a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) explaining that the agency may be forced to suspend space
activity if Congress and the administration fail to reach a budget
compromise by October 15. If no settlement is made, NASA reported that
it would halt space shuttle flights, suspend development of the Space
Station Freedom, and delay launch of the Mars Observer spacecraft. OMB
Director Richard Darman asked that all federal agency outline what
effect more than $100 billion in automatic cuts would have on the 1991
budget. The cuts, known as sequestration, would go into effect if
Congress and the administration fail to agree on a budget package.
MAGELLAN GIVEN GO-AHEAD TO MAP VENUS
NASA officials announced that engineers at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL) will order Magellan to start mapping Venus later this
month even if they do not understand why the spacecraft lost contact
with Earth in August. Magellan's $744 million mission to make radar
pictures and maps of Venus was scheduled to begin last week. While
some pictures were returned during a radar test, the mapping mission
was postponed because engineers lost contact with the spacecraft.
Tentative plans now call for the radar to be turned on September 14 and
for radar tests to start the next day.
NASA ANNOUNCES POTENTIAL USERS OF ACTS
NASA has received more than 58 responses to a research announcement
from potential users of the Advanced Communications Technology
Satellite (ACTS). The $499 million ACTS system is scheduled to be
launched in 1992 and is intended to demonstrate high-risk
communications satellite technologies, primarily in the high-frequency
Ka-band. The responses are in reply to a NASA announcement to fund
six-month, $50,000 definition studies for ACTS experiments. Of the
responses, NASA selected ten for funding, primarily in the areas of
science data networking using supercomputers and commercial
applications such as signal coding techniques.
SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH DELAYED INDEFINITELY
NASA postponed the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia indefinitely
when sensors detected a hydrogen leak in the shuttle's rocket engine
compartment. The action marked the third time this year the shuttle
launch has been delayed. Officials speculate that the new leak was
probably there all along and went unnoticed because it was mistaken for
a spillover from leaks detected earlier. Columbia is scheduled to
launch the ASTRO-1 observatory in orbit. NASA's decision marks the
largest hiatus in launches since the almost-three-grounding that
followed the Challenger disaster.
INTERNATIONAL:
AEROSPATIALE WINS TURKSAT COMPETITION
The Turkish Postal Service Administration selected a international
consortium led by France's Aerospatiale to develop Turksat, a
telecommunications satellite system. Terms of the contract have not
been determined, but French official valued the program at
approximately $380 million. The Turksat program is composed of two
operational satellites in orbit, a control center for ground operations
and associated services, including provision for two launches and
related insurance. Losing bidders for the program include teams led by
British Aerospace and Hughes Aircraft.
AUSTRALIA DEVELOPING NEW COMPUTER SATELLITE NETWORK
The Civil Aviation Authority of Australia is developing a new computer
satellite network to transmit radar data. The system, which will use
modems manufactured by Comstream Corp. located in San Diego, will link
major airports in the southeastern part of the continent.
BRITISH AEROSPACE DESIGNING SUPERCOMPUTER FOR ERS-1 IMAGE PROCESSING
ESA officials announced that British Aerospace Australia is developing
a supercomputer to process images taken by the ERS-1 earth observation
satellite. ERS-1 will have a number of instruments on board to gather
and process oceanographic and geophysical information. The British
Aerospace Australia supercomputer will have power equivalent to 2,000
personal computers, giving it the ability to process images from ERS-1
at very high speeds. The supercomputer is to be completed next year
and will be installed at the data processing facility located in
Canberra.
GE ENGINE SELECTED FOR ITALIAN NAVY HELICOPTERS
GE Aircraft Engines, located in Lynn, MA, announced the Italian
Ministry of Defense selected an engine the division co-developed for
Italian Navy helicopters. GE and its Italian partner, Fiat S.p.A.,
beat out French and British aircraft engine manufacturers for the
contract. Terms of the contract are unknown until the Italian
government decides how many Navy helicopters it wants to order. Once a
firm order is placed, 30 percent of the engines will be made by GE in
Lynn and the remainder in Alfa Romeo and Fiat facilities in Italy.
INTELSAT SEEKS $400 MILLION FOR LOST SATELLITE
In a claim filed in federal court in Baltimore, Intelsat is seeking
$400 million in damages from Martin Marietta for the failed launch of a
$150 million communications satellite. The satellite, which was
launched in March 1990 from a Martin Marietta Titan III rocket, ended
up in useless orbit when the system that separated the satellite from
the rocket malfunctioned. According to Martin Marietta officials, the
problem was attributed to a wiring problem that was undetected during
pre-launch testing. Intelsat believes that Martin Marietta should be
held liable for the launch failure and pay the consortium for damages.
Intelsat's claim is in response to Martin Marietta's action asking the
court for a ruling that under the launch contract, Intelsat assumed the
risk of loss of its satellite and barring Intelsat from recovering any
losses.
ITALY TO CUT DEFENSE BUDGET
Although Italy has a strong presence in the Persian Gulf, government
officials announced plans to take a bigger cut in the country's defense
budget. The exact amount of the additional budget cuts from the 1991
budget were not disclosed. However, before the announcement,
procurement for Italy's three services had been cut by 1.1 trillion
lire ($970 million) from the original procurement request of about 5.5
trillion lire ($4.1 billion).
MATRA AND THOMSON-BRANDT TO MERGE BOMB BUSINESS
Matra and Thomson-Brandt Armements agreed to merge their runaway bomb
businesses. The agreement will created a new company, known as
Velifer, which will market its technology worldwide. The new company,
which was approved by the French Ministry of Defense, will be owned by
the two companies on a 50/50 basis. According to Thomson officials,
the prime reason for the merger is to avoid costly duplication and cut-
throat competition between the companies on future programs.
BUSINESS:
E-SYSTEMS ACQUIRES HADSON CORP'S HRB SYSTEMS
E-Systems Inc. announced that it had acquired Hadson Corp's HRB Systems
for $65 million. The purchase price is half the book value of HRB,
which had sales of $113 million in 1989, a decreased from the $140
million reported in 1987. According to Wall Street analysts, the
acquisition will strengthen E-Systems position in the advanced
intelligence and reconnaissance marketplace.
MARTIN MARIETTA PAYS OUT $2.5 MILLION IN FINES
Martin Marietta agreed to pay an additional $2.5 million in fines to
settle civil charges that its Martin Marietta Electronics & Missiles
Group overcharged the government for use of computer facilities. The
company earlier had paid $880,000 to settle part of the case, which
began in September 1986. According to the Justice Department, an
investigation by the Defense Criminal Investigation Service found that
the Martin Marietta division provided inflated cost data and as a
result received more money than it should have for the government's use
of its Technical Computation Center. Since pleading guilty to the
charges, the company has dismissed several employees found to be
responsible for the overbilling, improved accounting procedures, and
increased training and internal audits.
PAYLOAD SYSTEMS REPURCHASES STOCK
Executives of Payload Systems Inc. repurchased stock in their company
from Space Industries International Inc., effectively splitting the
companies apart. Payload Systems, located in Cambridge, MA, provides
scientific and engineering assistance to researchers interested in
conducting experiments in space. One Payload Systems experiment to
grow protein crystals in microgravity flew onboard the Mir space
station in December 1989.
RAYTHEON REPORTS CHARGE AGAINST EARNINGS
Raytheon announced that it expects to report a $17.5 million one-time
charge against third-quarter earnings related to the closing of its
Topton, PA, manufacturing operation.
ROCKWELL COMPLETES RESTRUCTURING OF DEFENSE-ELECTRONICS GROUP
Rockwell International announced that it had completed the
restructuring of its Defense-Electronics Group by combining several
business sectors and naming new executives to head two reorganized
divisions. According to company officials, the realignment is designed
to allow Rockwell to bid more effectively on DoD contracts and
international activity. The restructuring will affect about half of
the group's 16,000 workers, but no job reductions are planned at this
time. John Cosgrove was named president of the newly created Collins
Avionics and Communications division with approximately 5,000 employees
located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ronald Kodimer was named vice president
and general manager of the newly created Command and Control Systems
Division with about 2,400 employees located in Richardson, Texas.
SIMMONS SEEKS MORE CONTROL OF LOCKHEED
Although losing a proxy fight earlier this fall, Dallas-investor Harold
Simmon is seeking to increase his stake in Lockheed Corp. In a filing
with the Security and Exchange Commission, the Simmons-controlled NL
Industries asked to purchase 10 million unallocated shares from the
company's Employee Stock Ownership Program. If the aerospace concern
accepts Simmon's purchase, the investor's stake in Lockheed would
increase from just under 20 percent to about 36 percent. In a separate
request, Simmons asked Lockheed's board of directors to amend its
poison pill takeover defense which is activated when an investor
acquires more than 20 percent of the company.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ALLIED SIGNAL AWARDED $60 MILLION ENGINE-STARTER CONTRACT
Allied Signal's Garrett Fluid Systems won a $60 million contract to
provide systems for a new 50-passenger Canadair jet. The unit will
develop and produce the main engine-starter system, along with other
components, for the twin-engine jetliner which is scheduled to enter
service in 1992.
BOEING RECEIVES $6 BILLION ORDER FROM ASIANA AIRLINES
Boeing Co. received a $6 billion order from Asiana Airlines which is a
new South Korean carrier formed in 1988 by South Korean industrial
conglomerate Khumo Group. The order is for 27 Boeing aircraft valued
at $3 billion and options for 24 other planes also valued at $3
billion. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 1993 and
1999. The Seoul-based airline plans to use the aircraft to expand its
international business base.
COMPUTER SCIENCES AWARDED $70 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Computer Sciences' Systems Engineering division was awarded a contract
worth an estimated $70 million from the U.S. Army Communications &
Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth, N.J. The contract calls for a
broad range of technical and management services to the command's
center.
JOINT VENTURE OF COMPUTER SCIENCES/RAYTHEON WIN AIR FORCE CONTRACT
The joint venture of Computer Sciences Corp. and Raytheon Co. won a
$68.2 million Air Force contract for operation of the Eastern Space and
Missile Center.
CONTEL TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR NAVY
Contel Advanced Systems Inc. won a contract with a potential value of
$93 million over ten years to provide a new voice and data
communications systems to the Naval Weapons Center. The company will
design and build the system, which will include an integrated services
digital network, under a 78-month contract valued at more than $30
million. Options for five years of operation and maintenance raise the
contract value to $93 million.
GENERAL ELECTRIC GIVEN AIR FORCE CONTRACT
General Electric's Aircraft Engines Division was given a $31.8 million
Air Force contract for F-16 fighter engines.
GPA GROUP PLACES $2.5 BILLION ORDER WITH MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
GPA Group Ltd of Ireland, considered one of the world's largest
airliner-leasing companies, placed order valued at approximately $2.5
billion for as many as 25 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft. The
agreements calls for 13 firm orders and options for 12 additional
aircraft. The planes are due for delivery between 1995 and 1999.
According to GPA officials, no customers have been contracted yet to
lease the new aircraft.
GTE WINS ARMY SIMULATOR CONTRACT
The U.S. Army awarded GTE a $19.6 million contract to provide
simulators used to train operators how to use and maintain the Army's
Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE). The MSE, which is based on a series
of small trucks, is the Army's primary means of sending messages
between combat units. GTE's simulator will be installed at Fort
Gordon, GA.
ITT AWARDED $58.9 MILLION CONTRACT
ITT Corp. was awarded a $58.9 million Air Force contract for operating
the Western Space and Missile Center.
RAYTHEON AWARDED NAVY CONTRACT FOR SIDEWINDER SYSTEMS
Raytheon's Missile Systems Division was awarded a $17.6 million
contract by the Navy Air Systems Command to produce 710 AIM-9M
Sidewinder missile guidance and control systems and related hardware
and services. The award involves production of all Sidewinder guidance
systems procured during fiscal year 1990 for the Air Force, Navy and
Foreign Military Sales. The company is scheduled to begin delivering
the systems in August 1991 and complete delivery in June 1992.
SPARTA AWARDED SOFTWARE SYSTEMS CONTRACT
Sparta Inc. received a $14.8 million Air Force contract for software
systems.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TO PRODUCE ARMY RADARS
Texas Instrument's Defense and Electronics Group was awarded a $5
million contract to produce advanced multimode radars for helicopters
under the U.S. Army Special Operations Aircraft program. The contract
calls for Texas Instruments to provide eleven radars to Boeing
Helicopters, maker of the MH-47E helicopter; and Sikorsky Aircraft,
maker of the MH-60K helicopter.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for September 3, 1990.
No relevant RFPs for September 4, 1990.
September 5, 1990
MARSHALL TO PURCHASE GRAPHICS WORKSTATION
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center intends to purchase a personal
graphic workstation with assorted peripherals. All components shall
comprise an integrated, ready-to-use system that is modular in design
and expandable to meet future growth requirements for the various
applications and uses of the system. Copies of the solicitation will
be available approximately fifteen days after publication of this
notice. The closing date for submitting a response will be contained
in the solicitation. All responses received from responsible sources
will be considered for the award.
Contact: Yvette Garner
Contract Specialist
NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Procurement Office
Huntsville, AL 35812
(205) 544-0330
September 6, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO NEGOTIATE WITH UNISYS CORP.
The Defense Supply Service intends to negotiate on a sole source basis
with Unisys Corp. for telecommunication services. The contract
includes hardware and software for continuation of service on behalf of
the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. Maintenance and lease of
some equipment is required. No solicitation document exists and a
request for documentation would be considered invalid. Prospective
contractors should submit cost and technical data to be evaluated for
the award. If no responses are received within fifteen days of this
announcement, an award will be made to Unisys Corp.
Contact: Derwin Rush
Contracting Officer
Defense Supply Service
Rm 1D-245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5220
(202) 697-9814
September 7, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FROM BDS
Under contract GSOOK90AGS5239, the Defense Supply Service intends to
place an order against a GSA schedule with BDS, Inc. for computer
equipment. Interested parties who can provide the required supplies
and stated delivery requirements must respond within fifteen days after
the appearance of this notice. In order to be considered for this
award, pricing data must be included in the response. No telephone
inquiries will be accepted. If no affirmative written responses are
received within the stated time limit, an order will be place with BDS,
Inc.
Contact: Fran Seigel
Defense Supply Service
Rm 1D-245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5200
(202) 697-2799
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| 20.100 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 9/10/90 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Sep 18 1990 18:55 | 624 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 013156
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 18-Sep-1990 03:42am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 9/10/90
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of September 10, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
--------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 10, 1990
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE REVEALS HELICOPTER TRAINER SYSTEM
SOFTWARE SYSTEMS UNVEILS COMPUTER DESIGN TOOL
SU-27 CRASH KILLS SOVIET SHUTTLE PILOT
ROCKWELL ANNOUNCES DELAYS IN X-31 FLIGHT TESTS
DEFENSE:
ARMY COMPLETES LEAP PROPULSION LABORATORY TEST
BETTI ORDERS DEFENSE PROGRAM REVIEWS
DARPA SELECTS SIX ADDITIONAL COMPANIES FOR DISPLAY PROGRAM
NORTHROP YF-23 COMPLETES THIRD FLIGHT
NASA:
AMATEUR RADIO LINKS PLANNED FOR SHUTTLE FLIGHT
GAO ENCOURAGES DEVELOPMENT OF SEPARATE NASA SAFETY OFFICE
KENNEDY RELEASES SPACE STATION PROCESSING RFP
QUAYLE WARNS NASA TO BE PREPARED FOR CHANGES
INTERNATIONAL:
CHINESE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH WEATHER SATELLITE
GERMANS SEEK SPACE PLANE ALLIANCE
GEC MARCONI TO MERGE TWO UNITS
NASDA AWARDS ADEOS DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT
PROBLEM WITH JAPANESE COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE THREATENS BROADCASTS
SOVIETS SET LAUNCH OF EXPANSION MODULES FOR MIR
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS SIGNS LAUNCH CONTRACT WITH ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY
HARRIS REPORTS IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 1989
HONEYWELL AND AERITALIA INITIATE JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS REPORTS GAIN FROM RETIREE ANNUITY PURCHASE
MOODY'S DOWNGRADES LORAL DEBT
ORBITAL SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NEXT PEGASUS LAUNCH
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS TEAMS WITH TRW TO DEVELOP CERES INSTRUMENTS
TAU CORP DELIVERS PROCESSING SYSTEM TO AIR FORCE
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AND INTELLIGENT LIGHT TO DEVELOP GRAPHICS SOFTWARE
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AERITALIA WINS U.S. AIR FORCE CONTRACT
COMPUTER SCIENCES CORP RECEIVES $18.7 MILLION CONTRACT
GENERAL ELECTRIC WINS NAVY CONTRACT
HERCULES AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT
LOCKHEED SANDERS TO DEVELOP NAVY EQUIPMENT
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT
SYSTEM CONTROL TECHNOLOGY GETS $112 MILLION CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for September 10, 1990.
September 11, 1990
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND TO PROCURE HARDWARE FROM SMS DATA PRODUCTS GROUP
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO PURCHASE HONEYWELL SYSTEM
September 12, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE INTENDS TO PURCHASE IBM EQUIPMENT
GODDARD TO ISSUE SOLE SOURCE AWARD TO INTERLINK COMPUTER SCIENCES
September 13, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PURCHASE GRAPHICS PRESENTATION SYSTEM
September 14, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO NEGOTIATE WITH TASCO ELECTRONIC SERVICES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE REVEALS HELICOPTER TRAINER SYSTEM
The Air Force unveiled a new helicopter trainer and mission rehearsal
system based on General Electric's Compu-Scene Simulator. The MH-53J
helicopter weapon system trainer/mission rehearsal system includes a
fully instrumented cockpit and simulation suite based on GE's image
generator. The trainer system will be used by the Air Force's
logistics, military airlift and special operations commands to train
pilots to perform mission tasks in a real-time environment.
SOFTWARE SYSTEMS UNVEILS COMPUTER DESIGN TOOL
Software Systems Design, located in Claremont, CA, released an
automation design tool that uses technology developed for Ada, the
DoD's standard software programming language. The tool, C Design And
Documentation Language (CDADL), analyzes software programs written in C
programming language to produce a report which greatly improves the
understanding of the design.
SU-27 CRASH KILLS SOVIET SHUTTLE PILOT
The crash of a Su-27 aircraft at the Italian air show killed Rimas
Stankyavichius, a Soviet pilot who was recently named chief pilot of
the Soviet space shuttle program. According to reports, the Su-27
aircraft lost altitude while performing a loop and hit the ground after
passing over a crowd of approximately 40,000 people. The pilot was
killed instantly.
ROCKWELL ANNOUNCES DELAYS IN X-31 FLIGHT TESTS
Rockwell International officials announced that a small fire in the X-
31 enhanced fighter maneuverability test aircraft will add only several
days of delays to its high speed taxi test. Pending U.S. Navy
approval, the aircraft's high-speed taxi test is now slated for the end
of September and the first flight test is set for several weeks
thereafter. The flight test has been delayed more than a year due to
problems with the aircraft's flight control software.
DEFENSE:
ARMY COMPLETES LEAP PROPULSION LABORATORY TEST
The U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command announced that it had
successfully completed a laboratory test of the light-weight defense
interceptor propulsion system. The propulsion system is part of an
interceptor being developed by the Army's Light Exoatmospheric
Projectile (LEAP) which is an element of the DoD's Strategic Defense
Initiative (SDI). The system was built and tested by Marquartd Corp of
Van Nuys, CA. The Army plans the conduct another test of the system in
December at the National Hover Test Facility at Edwards Air Force Base.
BETTI ORDERS DEFENSE PROGRAM REVIEWS
The Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition John Betti has identified
more than 100 programs to be reviewed in a DoD-wide effort to cut at
least fifteen percent from the its budget through 1997. According to
DoD officials, the review could result in savings of approximately $17
billion in the DoD's 1992 budget request to Congress and overall
savings of about $90 billion over the next six years through cuts to
the Pentagon's research, development and procurement budget. Betti's
recommendations are to be submitted by September 15 for incorporation
into the DoD's autumn review of its 1992 budget request.
DARPA SELECTS SIX ADDITIONAL COMPANIES FOR DISPLAY PROGRAM
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has asked six
additional companies to participate in its high-definition display
program. The companies selected and their appropriate technology
contributions are: Zenith Electronics to research technology for
advanced CRT displays, Norden System to develop electroluminescent
displays, MRS Technology to produce large-area photolithography tools,
Ovonic Imaging Systems to study manufacturing technology for large area
liquid crystal flat-panel display technology and Tektronix for plasma
addressed liquid crystal displays. The companies will join ten other
companies and split an estimated $15 million in research grants.
NORTHROP YF-23 COMPLETES THIRD FLIGHT
Northrop officials explained that its YF-23 successfully completed its
third flight without any problems. During the flight test, the
aircraft flew to 35,000 feet and reached a top speed of .95 Mach to
demonstrate the plane's handling qualities and flight envelop. The
test was the first conducted in which no problems were found.
NASA:
AMATEUR RADIO LINKS PLANNED FOR SHUTTLE FLIGHT
NASA announced plans to allow amateur radio operators to contact the
Space Shuttle Columbia throughout the planned Astro 1 mission. NASA
will pay approximately $40,000 for the short-wave radio experiment,
while another $60,000 is being provided by amateur radio organizations
and businesses.
GAO ENCOURAGES DEVELOPMENT OF SEPARATE NASA SAFETY OFFICE
The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) promotes a plan to establish a
separate space safety office, independent of NASA oversight. Following
the Challenger disaster, NASA established a safety, reliability and
quality assurance office at NASA headquarters, and in 1990 spent more
than $500 million on such activities. Nevertheless, the GAO dislikes
the fact that more than 90 percent of the $124 million budgeted to
safety centers at NASA field centers was funded through allocations
from the individual NASA project offices they are supposed to oversee.
GAO recommends that such management of funds should be done by outside
sources to ensure the safety of the programs.
KENNEDY RELEASES SPACE STATION PROCESSING RFP
NASA Kennedy Space Center has issued a request for proposal for the
development of the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF). NASA
officials estimate the contract is worth a total of $88 million, to be
incrementally funded by fiscal year. The facility would be used to
process work package equipment prior to launch by NASA. Procurement
officials expect to make an award by January 2, 1991, with work to
begin shortly thereafter.
QUAYLE WARNS NASA TO BE PREPARED FOR CHANGES
In a speech at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Vice President Dan
Quayle warned NASA to be prepared for sweeping changes to the agency
and its programs. The Augustine Commission, which was developed by the
National Space Council under the auspices of the Office of the Vice
President, is charged with reviewing NASA's organizational structure
and program goals. The commission, which is headed by Martin Marietta
Chairman Norm Augustine, plans to release its report by the end of the
year.
INTERNATIONAL:
CHINESE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH WEATHER SATELLITE
Chinese radio announced the successful launch of a second weather
satellite on a Long March 4 rocket. The satellite, known as Feng Yun 2
(Wind Cloud 2), was launched from Taiyuan satellite launching center.
Chinese officials explain that the mission of the satellite is to
obtain domestic and foreign weather data, ocean exploration data and
atmospheric exploration and weather forecasting for national defense
and construction use. In addition, Feng Yun 2 will transmit
meteorological information to ground stations located all over the
world.
GERMANS SEEK SPACE PLANE ALLIANCE
German industry officials are meeting with U.S. company representatives
to seek joint participation in developing a $1.3 billion technology
demonstrator for Germany's Saenger spaceplane and U.S. National
Aerospace Plane projects. Concerned that funding support is decreasing
in Europe for developing the Saenger, Saenger program officials have
contacted McDonnell Douglas Corp., Rockwell International and United
Technologies to discuss building a prototype to demonstrate
technologies useful for both programs. The consortium developing the
Saenger includes: MBB, MTU, Dornier and MAN of West Germany.
GEC MARCONI TO MERGE TWO UNITS
GEC Marconi announced plans to merge two of its businesses into a
single unit. The Plessey Research Laboratories and GEC Marconi
Materials Limited will be combined to create the GEC Marconi Materials
Technology Group. The new group will focus on gallium arsenide
technology, infrared materials, opto-electronic communications and
radar absorbent materials.
NASDA AWARDS ADEOS DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT
The Japanese National Space Development Agency (NASDA) awarded three
manufacturers, Mitsubishi Electric, Nippon Electric and Toshiba, a
development contract for the ADEOS earth observation platform. The
contract calls for Mitsubishi to perform 40 percent of the work while
Nippon Electric and Toshiba will each perform 30 percent. The sharing
agreement was provided to offset reductions in jobs caused by the
termination of the CS-4 Comsat and other government-funded satellite
programs. The total cost of the ADEOS program is estimated at about
$360 million and is scheduled to be launched in 1995. NASDA announced
that it is hoping to apply the joint development award format to future
government-funded programs.
PROBLEM WITH JAPANESE COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE THREATENS BROADCASTS
Problems with the power system on the newly launched Japanese direct-
to-home broadcasting satellite, BS-3A, could threaten the ability of
the country's commercial broadcasters to provide service in the mid-
1990s. The satellite, which was launched on August 28, recently was
ordered to deploy its solar panels. However, during checkout of the
panels, engineers found the power level was lower than expected.
General Electric's Astro Space Division provided the satellite frame
which includes the solar panels. The satellite manufacturer and the
Japanese Space Agency are currently evaluating whether the loss of the
power will affect broadcasters' ability to provide service.
SOVIETS SET LAUNCH OF EXPANSION MODULES FOR MIR
The Soviet Space Agency, Glavkosmos, announced plans to launch the
final two modular additions to the space station Mir in 1991 and 1992.
The additions will increase the station's capability to perform
microgravity experiments in space. In addition, by the end of 1990,
the Soviets will launch the Almaz radar remote-sensing satellite, a
Resurs O satellite with the ability to transmit data back to Earth
digitally, and many Resurs F satellites which contain high resolution
film cameras.
BUSINESS:
GENERAL DYNAMICS SIGNS LAUNCH CONTRACT WITH ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY
General Dynamics Commercial Launch Services of San Diego signed a
contract with the Italian Space Agency to provide launch services on an
Atlas 1 rocket for the X-ray Astronomy Satellite in 1994. The
satellite, which is a scientific effort by the Italian Space Agency and
the Netherlands Agency for Space Programs, will be built by
Aerospatiale Space and Strategic Systems Division and will conduct
between 2,000 and 3,000 observations of X-ray emissions. The terms of
the launch agreement were not announced, but the launch will take place
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL.
HARRIS REPORTS IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 1989
Harris Corp, located in Melbourne, FL, recorded a net income of $130.7
million in 1989, a 13 percent increase from the $116.2 million reported
the previous year. In 1989, the company had sales from continuing
operations of $3.1 billion, a jump from the $2.2 billion reported in
1988. Both the net income and sales figures were record highs for the
company.
HONEYWELL AND AERITALIA SIGN JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
Honeywell Inc. and Aeritalia of Italy have signed a joint venture
agreement in which they will jointly produce subsystem components for
spacecraft. The companies expect to generate $30-50 million in annual
revenues from the venture. The agreement provides Aeritalia's Space
Systems Group access to Honeywell's technology base while Honeywell
will expand its European space market. The partnership's manufacturing
facility will be located in southern Italy.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS REPORTS GAIN FROM RETIREE ANNUITY PURCHASE
McDonnell Douglas announced that it will recognize an after-tax gain of
about $234 million in the third quarter from its purchase of a group
annuity that will provide benefits to retired participants in its
salaried retirement plan. The annuity contract was made with
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
MOODY'S DOWNGRADES LORAL DEBT
Moody's Investors Service announced that it had downgraded Loral Corp's
senior debt in anticipation of reduced cash flow stemming from the
corporation's recent acquisition of Ford Aerospace. The acquisition
was a leveraged buyout in which Loral and its investment partner
Shearson Lehman borrowed money from large institutional banks. In
addition, Moody's believes Loral's cash position could be impacted by
the declining defense budgets.
ORBITAL SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NEXT PEGASUS LAUNCH
Orbital Sciences Corp, located in Fairfax, VA, announced plans to
launch the next Pegasus rocket in March 1991. Pegasus is a rocket
which launches small satellites, known as Lightsats, into orbit from
the wing of a NASA B-52 carrier aircraft. Defense Systems Inc. of
McLean, VA, is developing seven small satellites to be deployed on the
next Pegasus launch.
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS TEAMS WITH TRW TO DEVELOP CERES INSTRUMENTS
Schaeffer Magnetics, located in Chatsworth, CA, has teamed with prime
contractor TRW to develop spaceflight instruments for the Clouds and
Earth Radiant Energy System (CERES). The system is an element of the
planned Earth Observing System (EOS) which is being developed for NASA
Langley Research Center. CERES' mission will be to assess the effect
clouds have on the Earth's climate.
TAU CORP DELIVERS PROCESSING SYSTEM TO AIR FORCE
Tau Corp, located in Los Gatos, CA, has delivered a Digital Image
Processing System (DIPS) to the U.S. Air Force used to detect solar
flares and sunspots. The Air Force's 4th Weather Wing of the Air
Weather Service operates the Solar Observing Optical Network (SOON) to
monitor solar flares and to evaluate their effects on Earth
communications. The DIPS will archive, play back, enhance and analyze
images captured by SOON telescopes.
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AND INTELLIGENT LIGHT TO DEVELOP GRAPHICS SOFTWARE
United Technologies Research Center of Hartford, CT, and Intelligent
Light of Fairlawn, NJ, are jointly developing advanced graphics
software for solving complex, three dimensional fluid flow problems in
fans, compressors, complex ducts and propulsion systems. The software,
known as Fieldview, is being developed to run on UNIX-based
workstations from IBM, Silicon Graphics, Sun, Hewlett-Packard/Apollo
and Stardent.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
AERITALIA WINS U.S. AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Aeritalia was awarded a $80 million contract from the U.S. Air Force
for the delivery of five G-222 medium STOL (Short Take-off and Landing)
transport aircraft within the next year. Aeritalia is teamed with
Chrysler Airborne Technology Systems to sell the aircraft for the Air
Force C-27A program. Under terms of the contract, Aeritalia will
provide the basic plane, while Chrysler will integrate the navigation
and avionics systems.
COMPUTER SCIENCES CORP RECEIVES $18.7 MILLION CONTRACT
Computer Sciences Corp (CSC) received an $18.7 million contract from
the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) to provide an automated worldwide
product distribution system. The system will be used to increase the
DMA's capability to control and distribute maps and related products to
U.S. armed forces, merchant marine operators and other users worldwide.
CSC's Integrated Systems Division will develop the system which
performs inventory control, order processing, warehouse and
transportation management, forecasting and customer and product usage
analysis.
GENERAL ELECTRIC WINS NAVY CONTRACT
General Electric Co. was awarded a $40.1 million contract from the U.S.
Navy to develop anti-submarine warfare systems.
HERCULES AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Hercules Inc. was awarded a $225.8 million Air Force contract for
development of the Midgetman missile.
LOCKHEED SANDERS TO DEVELOP NAVY EQUIPMENT
Lockheed Sanders Antisubmarine Warfare Directorate, located in Nashua,
NH, won a $8.4 million contract from the U.S. Navy to build 32 Sonar
Data Computers (SDCs) and 20 Sonobuoy Monitor Controls (SMCs) for the
S-3B Weapon System Improvement Program. The components are apart of
the S-3B Acoustic Data Processing (ADP) system, which acquires,
analyzes and displays acoustic and other sensor data. Work on the
contract will be preformed in Nashua and Manchester, NH, and is
expected to be completed by August 1992.
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT
Martin Marietta Astronautics Corp was awarded a $10 million contract by
the U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division to design, install and
maintain a sound suppression system at the Air Force's Titan 4 launch
facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The goal of the suppression
system will be to decrease the amount of stress put on the rocket by
dumping and spraying a large volume of water onto the motor's plume.
The system is to be installed by December 1990.
SYSTEM CONTROL TECHNOLOGY GETS $112 MILLION CONTRACT
System Control Technology got a $112 million contract from the Air
Force for logistics support.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFPs for September 10, 1990.
September 11, 1990
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND TO PROCURE HARDWARE FROM SMS DATA PRODUCTS GROUP
Under solicitation W8OQ7X-0236-01RM, the U.S. Army Missile Command
intends to procure hardware and software from SMS Data Products Group
Inc. All responsible sources may respond to this notice and such
responses will be fully considered by the agency. Vendors who can
furnish equal hardware and software are invited to submit, in writing,
a statement as to what hardware/software would be offered and any other
information which would show a bona fide ability to meet the specific
requirement. Written responses must include prices and technical
information to enable the Government to determine if a solicitation is
warranted. Responses must be received within fifteen days after the
publication of this notice. If not responses are received, the
purchase will be made against the existing contract.
Contact: Lisa Conley
Contract Specialist
U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-3368
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO PURCHASE HONEYWELL SYSTEM
NASA Kennedy Space Center issued a notice of intent to place a delivery
order against Honeywell Federal Systems Inc.'s GSA schedule contract
GS00K89AGS5594. The order calls for a Honeywell Model 46 computer and
associated peripherals. Solicitation documents are not available and a
request for such documents will not be considered. Offerors capable of
providing all of the requirements are required to submit written
responses, including GSA schedule contract documentation, to establish
a bona fide capability to meet the requirement within fifteen days
after publication of this notice. If not affirmative responses are
received, an order will be placed with Honeywell.
Contact: Rechea Hutchinson
Contract Specialist
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 867-3406
September 12, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE INTENDS TO PURCHASE IBM EQUIPMENT
The Defense Supply Service intends to purchase off of IBM's GSA
schedule contract GS00K90AGS5691 computer equipment and LAN service for
the U.S. Army Concepts Analysis Agency. Vendors who can submit equal
equipment and software are invited to submit a proposal. All responses
will be considered by the agency. If not responses are received within
fifteen days of this publication, a contract shall be awarded to IBM.
Contact: Debbie Smith
Contract Specialist
Defense Supply Service - Washington
Room 1D245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5200
(202) 693-5011
GODDARD TO ISSUE SOLE SOURCE AWARD TO INTERLINK COMPUTER SCIENCES
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center issued a notice of intent to negotiate
on a sole source basis with Interlink Computer Sciences for networking
services. The NASA Center for Computational Sciences (NCCS) is in
critical need to upgrade its data communications handling capability
for access by its wide ranging scientific community. Currently, the
NCCS uses the SNS/Link from Interlink Computer Sciences to provide
DECnet connectivity to its IBM 3081 computer under the MVS operating
system. Any company desiring consideration must fully identify in
writing their capability to respond to the requirement or to submit a
proposal within fifteen days of publication of this notice. No
telephone requests accepted.
Contact: Debbie Roberts
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-5829
September 13, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO PURCHASE GRAPHICS PRESENTATION SYSTEM
The Defense Supply Service, in support of the U.S. Army Intelligence
and Threat Analysis Center (ITAC), intends to procure from New England
Technology Group proprietary Tech Graphics II Presentation System
hardware and software to upgrade the current system. No solicitation
documents exist and requests for such documents will be considered
invalid. All responses must be in writing and received within fifteen
days from the publication of this notice. No contract award will be
made on the basis of this announcement, which is for information
purposes only.
Contact: Morie Gunter-Henderson
Contract Specialist
Defense Supply Service - Washington
Room 1D245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5200
(202) 697-3672
September 14, 1990
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER TO NEGOTIATE WITH TASCO ELECTRONIC SERVICES
NASA Langley Research Center intends to negotiate with TASCO Electronic
Services on a sole source basis for computer equipment and services.
Langley seeks a RIU computer implemented on a single VME2 bus
compatible board. The computer board is intended for ground test
applications. All responsible sources may submit a quotation which
will be considered by the Government. Responses should be submitted
within fifteen days of this notice.
Contact: Artistine Lethcoe-Reid
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 138
Purchase Branch
Hampton, VA 23665-5225
(804) 864-2432
|
| 20.101 | Aerospace Industry News, week of October 1, 1990 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Oct 10 1990 19:49 | 578 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 013338
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 10-Oct-1990 03:57pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of October 1, 1990
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 1, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 1, 1990
GENERAL:
EARTHSAT DEVELOPS DIGITAL MAP OF EARTH
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE CREATES NEW OFFICE
CONGRESS CHALLENGES JET FIGHTER SALE TO KOREA
LOCKHEED COMPLETES TESTS OF MILSTAR CONNECTIONS
NAVY TO PURCHASE COMMERCIAL COMPUTERS FOR SSN-21 SUBMARINE
NEW LAUNCH DUTIES FOR SPACE COMMAND
SDI BUDGET CUTS BEGIN
THIRD TITAN 4 LAUNCH DELAYED
NASA:
CONTRACTOR TEAM SHOWS NASP AIRFRAME DESIGN
INDUSTRY SEEKING NASA FINANCIAL AID TO DEVELOP HYBRIDS
NASA SEEKS PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT PROJECTS
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS SUFFERS DAMAGE
INTERNATIONAL:
GEC MARCONI UNIT TO UPGRADE MALAYSIA C3 NETWORK
NEW SOVIET MIG INCORPORATES FIBER OPTICS
RADARSAT SIGNS CONTRACT TO MARKET SPOT DATA
SES LEASES ASTRA 1B TRANSPONDER SPACE
SOVIET UNION SELECTS PRATT & WHITNEY ENGINE
THOMSON TO PROVIDE RADARS FOR EUROPEAN AIRPORTS
BUSINESS:
MICRO ENGINEERING RELEASES NEW CAD/CAM SOFTWARE
NEW HONEYWELL UNIT TO EMPHASIZE CASH FLOW OVER REVENUE GROWTH
STANDARD SPACE PLATFORMS SEEKS SMALL PAYLOADS FOR SATELLITE BUS
TRW UNVEILS GALIUM ARSENIDE CHIP
UNYSIS SUSPENDS DIVIDEND
WESTINGHOUSE DELIVERS RADAR FOR A-12 TO GENERAL DYNAMICS
CONTRACT AWARDS:
LITTON GIVEN $12.3 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MX MISSILE RECEIVERS
LOCKHEED WINS $42.5 MILLION AIR FORCE SUPPORT CONTRACT
LORAL TO DESIGN SENSORS FOR ARMY COMMAND
TRW GIVEN NAVY CONTRACT
PAR AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT
ROCKWELL AWARDED SDI CONTRACT
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFP's for October 1, 1990.
October 2, 1990
GODDARD TO PURCHASE IMAGECORDER SYSTEM
October 3, 1990
LEWIS TO PROCURE LAB SYSTEM
October 4, 1990
DEFENSE SYSTEM SERVICE TO BUY OPTICAL ARCHIVAL SYSTEM
October 5, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLE SERVICE TO PURCHASE MEMORY UPGRADE EQUIPMENT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
EARTHSAT DEVELOPS DIGITAL MAP OF EARTH
Earth Satellite Corp. (EARTHSAT) of Chevy Chase, MD, has developed one
of the largest digital maps of the Earth's surface, using remote-
sensing imagery generated by the U.S. Landsat and French SPOT systems.
The computerized geographic information system, which was prepared for
an environmental consulting firm in Denver, covers more than 38,000
square miles of land in southern Idaho, eastern Nevada and western
Utah.
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE CREATES NEW OFFICE
The Air Force has created the Strategic Relocatable Targets Program
Office at the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base, OH, to coordinate all the service's efforts for spotting
and striking strategic mobile missiles. The primary task of the
program office will be to gather information on new concepts for
locating, identifying and striking strategic relocatable targets
including the Soviet rail-mobile SS-24 and road-mobile SS-25 missiles.
Some of the technologies being considered include sensors such as
synthetic aperture radars to increase resolution, data fusion
technologies to coordinate and distribute large volumes of data and
computer processing technologies. The new office has an annual budget
of between $50 million and $70 million and combines programs previously
housed at the Air Force's Electronic Systems Division, Hanscom Air
Force Base, MA, and Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, CA.
CONGRESS CHALLENGES JET FIGHTER SALE TO KOREA
A group of congressmen are challenging the Bush administration's plan
to sell 120 McDonnell Douglas Corp. F/A-18 jet fighters to South Korea.
McDonnell Douglas expects to generate more than $3 billion in revenue
over the next ten years for development of the aircraft. Though likely
the sale will not be stopped, a McDonnell Douglas official expressed
concern about any delay.
LOCKHEED COMPLETES TESTS OF MILSTAR CONNECTIONS
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. has finished testing of the electronic
connections between the main payload and space vehicle of the
Department of Defense's Military Strategic and Tactical Relay Satellite
(MILSTAR). MILSTAR is highly survivable satellite intended to provide
communications during and after nuclear war. According to Lockheed
officials, the tests were conducted to ensure that the central payload
carrying the communications systems functioned properly with the
satellite power generation and attitude control systems.
NAVY TO PURCHASE COMMERCIAL COMPUTERS FOR SSN-21 SUBMARINE
The Navy announced plans to purchase commercially available computer
equipment in an attempt to decrease the technical risk associated with
developing the battle management system for the SS-21 Seawolf nuclear
attack submarine. The Navy's action is a move away from its
traditional reliance on a service-wide system of standard computers
designed solely to comply with Navy requirements. For the Seawolf
program, the Navy has identified the 68000-series of microprocessors,
developed by Motorola Inc., as the commercial equipment best suited for
the computer battle system. The processors will be used to help speed
the development of the system and aid in the development of Ada
software. The battle management system is expected to cost $14 million
for 29 systems.
NEW LAUNCH DUTIES FOR SPACE COMMAND
Department of Defense (DoD) officials announced that responsibility for
space launches has been passed from the U.S. Air Force Systems Command
to the Air Force Space Command. Traditionally, Systems Command's Space
Systems Division, located in Los Angeles, CA, was in charge of space
launches. But under the new reorganization plan, Space Command will
assume responsibility for Delta 2 launches and manage personnel at
those bases from Space Systems Division. Gradually, Space Command
located at Peterson Air Force Base, CO, will have responsibility for
other boosters including the Atlas 2, Titan 2 and Titan 4. According
to Air Force officials, the transfer is to eventually lead to more
routine use of space for military purposes.
SDI BUDGET CUTS BEGIN
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) officials prepared for a wave of
program terminations made necessary by Congress' drastic cut in SDI's
budget request. President Bush has asked for $4.5 billion for SDI in
FY92; however, program officials based their plans on about a $3
billion spending level. Possible termination of programs include: the
Ground-Based Free Electron Laser; the ground-based radar; the Airborne
Optical Adjunct, and the Starlab tracking and pointing experiment,
which had been scheduled for a 1992 space shuttle flight.
THIRD TITAN 4 LAUNCH DELAYED
Air Force officials announced that a leaking thrust vector control
element prevented the launching of a Martin Marietta Titan 4 heavy-lift
booster. The vehicle, which is carrying a secret Department of Defense
spacecraft, has been ready for launch several weeks. The Titan thrust
vector control system is fueled by nitrogen tetroxide and is used to
steer the vehicle while solid propellant motors are firing by
deflecting exhaust plumes. The motors are built by United
Technologies' Chemical Systems Division.
NASA:
CONTRACTOR TEAM SHOWS NASP AIRFRAME DESIGN
The National Contractor Team, a group formed earlier this year to
design and develop a hypersonic vehicle, presented a design for the
National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) to the NASP joint program office. The
design for the X-30 incorporates the best characteristics of all the
designs independently developed by the five NASP contractors before
they joined to create the contractor team. The prime contractors are:
McDonnell Douglas, General Dynamics, Rockwell International for the
airframe design; and Pratt & Whitney and Rocketdyne for the NASP
propulsion configuration.
INDUSTRY SEEKING NASA FINANCIAL AID TO DEVELOP HYBRIDS
According to industry officials, competing U.S. aerospace firms have
offered to work together to develop a multimillion-dollar hybrid
propulsion system on the condition that NASA provides financial
support. Industry engineers estimate a hybrid rocket engine, with
power equal to a space shuttle motor, would cost approximately $31
million to build and test and would take more than two years to
complete. Top NASA officials are being lobbied by the Hybrid
Propulsion Industry Action Group to continue funding for developing
safe, reliable hybrid propulsion technology.
NASA SEEKS PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT PROJECTS
According to a top NASA official, NASA will continue to examine
potential opportunities for private sector involvement in government
space activities despite its failure to commercialize several large
space projects last year. A top-level internal steering committee to
oversee all commercial activities in the agency was established by NASA
in July and chaired by NASA Deputy Administrator J. R. Thompson. John
O'Brien, NASA's assistant deputy administrator and vice chairman of the
committee, says the objective is to look into their programs and see if
there are projects to offer the commercial world. According to NASA
figures cited by a GAO report, the government would have saved an
estimated $747 million from the space agency's budget requests through
1994, if they had been able to convince industry to finance seven
projects that were selected in late 1989 by NASA and the White House
Office of Management and Budget.
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS SUFFERS DAMAGE
The Space Shuttle Atlantis was damaged when a 70-pound beam was left in
the aft compartment and fell as the orbiter was titled 90 degrees for
mating with its external tank. Kennedy Space Center technicians
discovered the beam when they entered the aft section after the mating
was complete. The precise damage to the spacecraft caused by the beam
is not known at this time. The Shuttle Atlantis is slated for a DoD
mission in early November.
INTERNATIONAL:
GEC MARCONI UNIT TO UPGRADE MALAYSIA C3 NETWORK
Easams, a unit of the GEC Marconi defense group, won a 100 million
pound ($185 million) order to provide military command and control
systems to Malaysia. The contract is apart of the one billion pound
($1.85 billion) defense equipment agreement signed between the British
and Malayian governments in September 1988. The contract forms a part
of a major upgrade program for Malaysia's military command, control and
communications (C3) network. Easams, which is a systems integration
and software specialist firm, will link the Malaysia's air defense
system with naval and land-based military assets.
NEW SOVIET MIG INCORPORATES FIBER OPTICS
According to Soviet officials, the Mikoyan Design Bureau has started
testing of an advanced fighter aircraft that is equipped with a fiber
optical flight control system. The flight control system was built by
the Soviet Scientific and Research Institute of Technical Glass. The
research institute is also involved in the development of fiber optic
gyros which could be used for a variety of military and space
applications.
RADARSAT SIGNS CONTRACT TO MARKET SPOT DATA
Radarsat International, Inc. of Ottawa, Canada signed an agreement with
SPOT Image of France to market remote sensing images taken by SPOT
satellites to Canadian customers. Financial terms of the contract were
not provided. The agreement is expected to increase the use of SPOT
data in Canada. According to Radarsat officials, customers can order
10-20 meter resolution imagery, including stereoscopic pairs and
specific worldwide programmed acquisitions through the company's
satellite data distribution center in Calgary, Alberta.
SES LEASES ASTRA 1B TRANSPONDER SPACE
The Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) of Luxembourg announced
that it has leased the first of 16 transponders aboard its future Astra
1B satellite to the West German public broadcasting network, ARD of
Frankfurt. The Astra 1B is scheduled to be launched by an Ariane
booster next February. Under terms of the agreement, ARD will lease
transponder space on the satellite for five-years.
SOVIET UNION SELECTS PRATT & WHITNEY ENGINE
The Soviet Union's Ilyushin Design Bureau has selected the Pratt &
Whitney PW2037 turboflan engine to power the Il-96M stretched version,
wide-body transport. Final government agreement for use of the U.S.
built engine on the Soviet aircraft still needs to be signed. Pratt &
Whitney plans to supply the initial PW2037 and assorted hardware to the
Soviets in the fourth quarter of 1991.
THOMSON TO PROVIDE RADARS FOR EUROPEAN AIRPORTS
Thomson-CSF, Inc. of Arlington, VA, will provide two radar systems for
airports in Europe. The company will supply a TA-10 MTD Doppler
primary radar for approach control and an RSM-970 monopulse secondary
radar for the Aarhus-Tirstrup airport in Denmark. In addition, Thomson
will provide an RSM-970 radar to the Brussels, Belgium airport, and two
AS-909 monopulse secondary radar antennas to the en route radar station
at Ste. Hubert in southern Belgium.
BUSINESS:
MICRO ENGINEERING RELEASES NEW CAD/CAM SOFTWARE
Micro Engineering Solutions has released a software package, known as
Solution 2000, to provide low-cost computer aided design/computer aided
manufacturing (CAD/CAM) capabilities to suppliers who build tooling and
manufacturing aids to contractors. The company expects to market the
package to both the aerospace and automotive industry. Solution 2000,
which was built for a low-cost PC platform but can be used on more
expensive Unix-based systems, allows a company to receive digital
electronic data.
NEW HONEYWELL UNIT TO EMPHASIZE CASH FLOW OVER REVENUE GROWTH
Alliant Techsystems, a new unit of Honeywell Inc., plans to emphasize
cash flow over revenue growth in conducting its business. Alliant
Techsystems was recently spun-off as an independent company when
Honeywell failed to receive an acceptable offer for its defense
business. The new company comprises of the former Defense and Marine
Systems Business, Test Instruments Division and Signal Analysis Center
of Honeywell Inc. located in Minneapolis, MN. Alliant Techsystems will
rank as the fifteenth largest Department of Defense contractor with
1989 sales of $1.3 billion.
STANDARD SPACE PLATFORMS SEEKS SMALL PAYLOADS FOR SATELLITE BUS
Standard Space Platforms of McLean, VA, is taking reservation for small
payloads to be launched on its future Modular Mother Satellite Bus.
The satellite bus, which is planned for launch in 1993, provides a wide
variety of services not available on other small satellites scheduled
for launch in the near future. According to industry sources, the cost
of launching a single payload on a typical small satellite would cost
between $15 million and $25 million. In comparison, Standard Space
Platforms estimates the cost to launch on 150-pound payload on the
company's bus to be about $2 million and the cost of in-orbit
operations to be as much as $2 million which would be spread among the
payload owners.
TRW UNVEILS GALIUM ARSENIDE CHIP
TRW Inc.'s Electronics & Technology Division, Redondo Beach, CA,
unveiled a galium arsenide chip which incorporates analog and digital
functions. Digital devices process discrete electrical impulses
expressed as zeros or ones while analog devices use varying levels of
electrical impulses to process information. The chip, which functions
as a high-frequency source for Air Force airborne radars, is being
demonstrated as a replacement frequency source for the Air Force-led
Integrated Communications, Navigation and Identification Avionics
(ICNIA). ICNIA is a DoD effort to develop a next-generation avionics
system for combat aircraft.
UNYSIS SUSPENDS DIVIDEND
Unysis Corp. suspended its 25-cents-a-share quarterly dividend,
stunning many investors. According to officials, suspending the
dividend should save the company more than $160 million a year. Unysis
is the third largest computer-manufacturer and eighteenth largest
defense contractor. In 1989, the company lost $4.71 a share on $10
billion in sales.
WESTINGHOUSE DELIVERS RADAR FOR A-12 TO GENERAL DYNAMICS
Westinghouse Electronics Systems of Baltimore, MD, delivered the first
radar for the U.S. Navy's new A-12 aircraft to General Dynamics. The
radar system, designated AN/APQ-183, uses an electronically scanned
phased array antenna. According to company officials, the system is
the most advanced radar fielded to date and differs from the two
competing systems being considered for the Advanced Tactical Fighter
(ATF) program. Westinghouse is teamed with Texas Instruments for the
ATF radars.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
LITTON GIVEN $12.3 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MX MISSILE RECEIVERS
Litton Corp.'s Guidance & Control Systems Division of Woodland Hills,
CA, was awarded a $12.3 million contract to provide an additional 143
receivers to guide U.S. Air Force MX missiles. Litton had previously
manufactured 45 units as a second source contractor, but with the new
contract, the company becomes the prime source for production of the
electronic receivers.
LOCKHEED WINS $42.5 MILLION AIR FORCE SUPPORT CONTRACT
Lockheed Technical Operations Co. of Sunnyvale, CA, was awarded a $42.5
million contract by the U.S. Air Force Consolidated Space Test Center
to provide technical support for the Air Force's satellite control
center. Under terms of the contact, Lockheed will provide operational
and technical support for the Air Force's activities in controlling
orbiting U.S. spacecraft, rocket launches and the space shuttle. The
contract runs through September 1991.
LORAL TO DESIGN SENSORS FOR ARMY COMMAND
Loral Corp.'s Infrared & Imaging Systems division, located in
Lexington, MA, received a $5 million contract to design radiation-
hardened long wavelength infrared sensors for the U.S. Army Strategic
Defense Command, Hunstville, AL. The program, called the Manufacturing
and Testing of Hardened Seeker Focal Plane Array Assemblies, is being
developed under a 20-month contract.
TRW GIVEN NAVY CONTRACT
TRW Space and Technology Group, based in Redondo Beach, CA, was given a
$12.7 million contract for continued operation and maintenance of the
Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) by the U.S. Navy's Space
and Naval Warfare Systems Command. TRW will also provide some
modifications to the MIRACL, which is located at White Sands Missile
Range in New Mexico.
PAR AWARDED AIR FORCE CONTRACT
PAR Government Systems Corp. of New Hartford, NY, was awarded two
contracts valued at approximately $7.4 million to perform various
research efforts for the U.S. Air Force's Rome Air Development Center,
Griffis Air Force Base, NY. The largest award is a three-year contract
to conduct research into multispectral sensor technology which includes
radar, optical and infrared sensing.
ROCKWELL AWARDED SDI CONTRACT
Rockwell International was award an Army contract to provide concept
development and technology integration for the ground-based interceptor
experiment. The contract, which includes all options, is valued at
$150 million. The ground-based interceptor is a component of the
planned DoD Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program.
RFP UPDATE:
No relevant RFP's for October 1, 1990.
October 2, 1990
GODDARD TO PURCHASE IMAGECORDER SYSTEM
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) intends to purchase an
Imagecorder model 4700 and related items. The Imagecorder system
allows color images generated by a variety of different workstations to
be recorded by the same hardware without loss of resolution while
simultaneously being independent of software running on any particular
workstation. Firms desiring consideration are requested to fully
identify in writing their capability to respond to the requirement or
to submit a proposal within fifteen days of publication of this notice.
No telephone requests will be accepted.
Contact: Jon Knox
Purchasing Agent
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20771
(301) 286-9474
October 3, 1990
LEWIS TO PROCURE LAB SYSTEM
Under solicitation IFB3-428606, NASA Lewis Research Center intends to
procure a new lab system including two desk top computers, concurrent
model SLS-5450-02 or equal, and two high resolution monitors,
concurrent model SLSX-GA1000 or equal. In responding to the request,
two sets of documentation are required. Installation on-site at Lewis
Research Center is also required. Delivery schedule is 120 days after
date of the contract award. All responsible sources may submit a bid
which will be considered by the center.
Contact: Angela Stinnett
Contract Specialist
NASA Lewis Research Center
Mail Stop 500-309
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 433-2813
October 4, 1990
DEFENSE SYSTEM SERVICE TO BUY OPTICAL ARCHIVAL SYSTEM
The Defense Supply Service of Washington, D.C., in support of the U.S.
Army, Army Plans and Operations Information Support Agency, Office of
the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, intends to buy from
Aquidneck Systems International Inc. assorted equipment including: an
Optical Juke Box library capable of holding 30 gigabytes of data or
more; two read/write drives using erasable optical disk media; and
interface software and cables for a metaphor computer system. The
hardware/software will be required within 30 days of the award. No
solicitation documents exist and requests for such documents will be
considered invalid responses. All responses must be in writing and
received within fifteen days of date of this publication. No contract
award will be made on the basis of responses received to this notice
which for information purposes only. When responding to this notice,
reference 8534/0917 (0275).
Contact: Morie Gunter-Henderson
Contract Specialist
Defense Supply Service - Washington
Room 1D245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5200
(202) 695-3801
October 5, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLE SERVICE TO PURCHASE MEMORY UPGRADE EQUIPMENT
The Defense Supply Service of Washington, D.C., intends to purchase an
expanded memory upgrade for IBM 3090-200E computer system. Purchase
price shall include delivery and installation. Delivery of the
equipment is required within 30 days of award date. All sources may
submit an offer which will considered by the service. No telephone
requests will be accepted.
Contact: B. Denise Link
Contract Specialist
Defense Supply Service - Washington
Room 1D245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5200
(202) 697-2799
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| 20.102 | Aerospace Industry News, week of October 8 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Oct 16 1990 10:34 | 557 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 013438
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 16-Oct-1990 04:01am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of October 8
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 8, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotex infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Douglas Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 8, 1990
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE JET CRASHES IN SAUDI ARABIA
U.S. SEEKING TO PURCHASE SOVIET SPACE NUCLEAR REACTOR
DEFENSE:
BOEING DELIVERS HARDWARE FOR LEAP
CONTRACTORS TO HEAD COMPETING TEAMS FOR ARMY AUTOMATION SYSTEM
LOCKHEED YF-22 BEGINS FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM
SDIO CUTS FUNDING FOR ELECTRON LASER
X-31 COMPLETES HIGH-SPEED TAXI TESTS
NNASA:
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO BEGIN WIND TUNNEL UPGRADES
DISCOVERY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES MISSION
MAGELLAN SHOWS SAND DUNES ON VENUS
NASA'S THRUST VECTORING F/A-18 TO FLY IN NOVEMBER
SCIENTISTS PRAISE HUBBLE PERFORMANCE
INTERNATIONAL:
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH HUGHES SATELLITES
GERMAN COMPANIES UNITE TO PRODUCE SPACE COMPONENTS
GERMAN SPACE FLIGHT CENTERS OPEN
SOVIETS CANCEL MIR REPAIR PLANS
BUSIINESS:
GE AND UNITED TECHNOLOGIES JOIN TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL ENGINE
LORAL RENAMES SPACE UNIT
NORTHROP NEARS AGREEMENT WITH AIR FORCE TO CONTINUE FEDERAL CONTRACTS
PRATT & WHITNEY'S F100 COMPLETES FLIGHT TESTING
UNITED AIRLINES BEGINS GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE
WATKINS-JOHNSON TO SLASH WORKFORCE
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BALL TO DEVELOP AXAF INSULATION CONTAINER
CSC TO PROVIDE COMPUTER SUPPORT
FIRMS RECEIVE FUNDING FOR SDIO ROCKET RESEARCH
GE WINS AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR SATELLITE UPPER STAGES
HARRIS AWARDED CONTRACT FOR SIGNAL PROCESSING
LOCKHEED GIVEN NAVY CONTRACT
LORAL AWARDED ARMY CONTRACT TO DEVELOP TRAINING SYSTEM
MARTIN CHOSEN BY NAVY FOR SONAR SUPPORT
SPACE DATA CORP. TO BUILD BOOSTER FOR GSTS
WATKINS-JOHNSON TO DEVELOP RECEIVERS FOR AMRAAM
RFP UPDATE:
No Relevant RFP's for October 8, 1990.
No Relevant RFP's for October 9, 1990.
No Relevant RFP's for October 10, 1990.
October 11, 1990
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND TO PROCURE EXPANSION PACKAGE
AIR FORCE TO PURCHASE MICROFICHE SYSTEM FROM ANACOMP
October 12, 1990
AIR FORCE TO ACQUIRE GRAPHIC WORKSTATIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE JET CRASHES IN SAUDI ARABIA
An Air Force jet crashed during a training mission in Saudi Arabia,
killing both crew members. The crash was the fourth military accident
suffered by the U.S. since it began deploying forces in the Middle East
nearly six month ago. The incident raised the number of servicemen
killed during Operation Desert Shield to 24.
U.S. SEEKING TO PURCHASE SOVIET SPACE NUCLEAR REACTOR
Officials in the Department of Energy, the U.S. Air Force and the
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) responsible for
developing space nuclear power systems are seeking U.S. government
approval to purchase a Soviet-made Topaz reactor. According to
officials, the proposed purchase of a reactor would be strictly a
business transaction with the Soviets and would not involve any joint
development agreements. The proposed buy would cost an estimated $10
million and come out of either the Defense Department or Energy
Department budget.
DEFEENSE:
BOEING DELIVERS HARDWARE FOR LEAP
Boeing Aerospace & Electronics delivered to the U.S. Air Force the
first flight hardware for the lightweight exo-atmospheric projectile
(LEAP). LEAP is a component of the planned Department of Defense (DoD)
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program. Boeing is the prime
contractor for the space-based kinetic kill vehicle, which is powered
by the a solid-fuel rocket motor, with medium-wave infrared sensor,
inertial measurement unit and highly integrated processor. The
vehicle's fiber optic gyro unit is being developed by Smith Industries.
CONTRACTORS TO HEAD COMPETING TEAMS FOR ARMY AUTOMATION SYSTEM
Computer Science Corp. (CSC) and Boeing Computer Services will head
competing teams bidding for the $1 billion, 12-year contract to develop
and manage the U.S. Army Reserve Component Automation System (RCAS).
The Army has given each team about $15 million to demonstrate
competitive designs for the RCAS during the next year. One contractor
team will be selected to provide system engineering, hardware and
software for the 5,000 sites where RCAS will be implemented, and to
manage the overall system. RCAS will enable the Army to mobilize
reserves more efficiently through electronic notification and control.
LOCKHEED YF-22 BEGINS FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM
The Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics YF-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter
(ATF) prototype successfully completed its maiden flight from Lockheed
facilities in Palmdale, CA, to the flight test base at Edwards Air
Force Base, CA. The first flight lasted 18 minutes, shorter than the
scheduled 1 hour flight because of telemetry reception problems with
the aircraft. The aircraft had to wait an extra 45 minutes on the
ground while controllers tried to correct the problem. The extra fuel
burned resulted in the flight being cut short. A second Lockheed YF-
22A is expected to join the first aircraft at Edwards AFB this week.
The aircraft will fly against the Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23A
prototype in the Air Force advanced fighter competition.
SDIO CUTS FUNDING FOR ELECTRON LASER
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) officials notified
member of Congress of a plan to cut funding for the ground-based free
electron laser program. Funding constraints caused the organization to
cut funding for the project from $130 million to $30 million in FY91.
Funding for the neutral particle beam and chemical laser research
programs will maintain at a level of $75 million. The planned cutback
in the free electron laser program has drawn much criticism on Capitol
Hill.
X-31 COMPLETES HIGH-SPEED TAXI TESTS
Navy officials announced that the X-31 enhanced fighter maneuverability
test aircraft successfully completed two high-speed taxi tests. During
the first test, the aircraft reached 130 kt. and achieved a nosewheel
liftoff to 8 degree pitch attitude. The second test reached 120 kt.
and included a throttle transient and spin chute deployment. The X-31
is expected to receive Navy clearance for first flight soon.
NASA:
AMES RESEARCH CENTER TO BEGIN WIND TUNNEL UPGRADES
NASA's Ames Research Center (ARC) in Mountain View, CA, has initiated a
$160 million program to modernize and restore its aging wind tunnels.
The facilities are used to test the aerodynamics of new aircraft and
space vehicles including high-speed commercial aircraft and the
hypersonic aircraft. The work at ARC is part of NASA's $300 million
Wind Tunnel Revitalization Program which started in 1989. The
program's goals are to modernize 19 of NASA's major wind tunnels,
including those at Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA, and Lewis
Research Center in Cleveland, OH, in addition to those at Ames.
DISCOVERY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES MISSION
The Space Shuttle Discovery successfully landed at Edwards Air Force
Base, CA, after a four-day flight that sent a NASA spacecraft on a
solar mission. Discovery, with five astronauts onboard, was the first
shuttle to be launched in nearly six months. The other shuttles,
Columbia and Atlantis, have been grounded because of fuel leaks.
During the mission, Discovery deployed the Ulysses spacecraft which
will study the sun's high latitudes and poles. Ulysses left earth's
orbit at a speed of 34,600 miles per hour and will soon become the
fastest man-made object ever to fly in the universe. The European
Space Agency is operating the $250 million solar explorer in a joint
mission with NASA.
MAGELLAN SHOWS SAND DUNES ON VENUS
NASA's Magellan spacecraft, using its synthetic aperture radar,
revealed pictures of sand dunes on Venus, a surprising discovery
because Venus has slow wind speeds and very little loose sediment.
According to scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the dune
field, which is about the size of Los Angeles, is a very rare
occurrence. Later in the week, NASA officials announced that mapping
information, covering a surface area on Venus about 2,500 miles long by
15 to 20 miles wide, was lost when the Magellan probe switched
transmitter amplifiers and ground crews failed to make necessary
adjustments to retrieve the data. Officials operating NASA's Deep
Space Network at Goldstone, CA, lost about 37 minutes of transmission
data before the change was noticed.
NASA'S THRUST VECTORING F/A-18 TO FLY IN NOVEMBER
NASA announced plans to begin flight tests of its F/A-18 testbed
aircraft with thrust vectoring system next month. The research
flights, aimed at finding easier control of the fighter aircraft at
very high angles of attack, are expected to continue through 1993.
NASA's Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base,
CA, will conduct the flight test program. The software package on the
aircraft was developed by General Electric's Aircraft Control System
Div. and the thrust vectoring system and control laws by McDonnell
Aircraft Co.
SCIENTISTS PRAISE HUBBLE PERFORMANCE
Astronomers attending the Hubble symposium at the Space Telescope
Science Institute at John Hopkins University praised NASA's Hubble
space telescope performance in taking the first pictures of a planet in
the solar system. Despite a flaw in the $1.5 billion telescope's main
mirror, Hubble demonstrated nearly full clarity in taking images of
Pluto and the planet's moon Charon. The images were taken by Hubble's
Faint Object Camera which was built by the European Space Agency. NASA
officials explained full-time science operations will not begin until
mid-November because ground controllers still are fine-tuning some of
the telescope's systems.
INTERNATIONAL:
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH HUGHES SATELLITES
Arianespace, a Paris-based launch service company, announced that it
will launch two Hughes Communications' telecommunications satellites,
the SBS-6 and Galaxy 6, on an Ariane 4 rocket from the Kourou, French
Guiana facility. Both satellites were developed by Hughes Aircraft Co.
of Los Angeles, CA. SBS-6 is a Ku-band satellite that has a total of
19 transponders. The Galaxy 6 is a backup satellite to the five Hughes
C-band satellites already in orbit.
GERMAN COMPANIES UNITE TO PRODUCE SPACE COMPONENTS
In the wake of Germany's reunification, two German companies announced
they would create a joint venture company to develop spacecraft
components. MAN Technologie AG of Munich, and Jenoptik Carl Zeiss Zena
GmbH of Jena will develop the new venture, yet to be named, to
concentrate on remote-sensing applications. MAN Technologie is a
contractor for Europe's Ariane rocket program, while Carl Zeiss has a
long association with the Soviet space program.
GERMAN SPACE FLIGHT CENTERS OPEN
The German Aerospace Research Establishment in support of the European
Space Agency has opened three centers to support manned space flights
in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich. The centers are the Manned Space
Laboratories Control Center, User Data Center and Center for Automation
Technologies. Together, these centers are valued at DM84.4 million
($54.4 million), a cost split between the German and Bavarian
governments.
SOVIETS CANCEL MIR REPAIR PLANS
The Soviet Union has cancelled plans to repair a damaged airlock hatch
on the Mir space station. During a space walk in July, Soviet
cosmonauts confirmed that a hatch on the station would not seal; thus,
hampering their efforts to repressurize the airlock which was designed
to be used as the main exit for extravehicular activities. According
to scientists, the problem is expected to have only a minimal effect on
the space station, which has four separate modules and numerous
airlocks.
BUSINESS:
GE AND UNITED TECHNOLOGIES JOIN TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL ENGINE
General Electric Co. and United Technologies Corp. agreed to jointly
examine the possible development of a new commercial supersonic engine.
Having already attracted similar Japanese and European development
efforts, the agreement would mark the first U.S. entry into the
potentially big supersonic aircraft market. GE's Aircraft Engine unit
and United Technologies' Pratt & Whitney unit plan to combine research
efforts to design an engine by 1992. Officials estimate the
development of a commercial supersonic engine would take as least eight
years to complete and cost more than $4 billion.
LORAL RENAMES SPACE UNIT
Loral Corp. of New York, the new owner of Ford Space Systems Division,
has renamed the space unit to Loral Space Systems Division. According
to industry sources, Loral is expected to sell 49 percent of the
subsidiary to foreign interests. French and Japanese companies with
major space business operations are likely to be potential investors.
NORTHROP NEARS AGREEMENT WITH AIR FORCE TO CONTINUE FEDERAL CONTRACTS
Northrop Corp. and Air Force officials are near an agreement which
would allow a suspended division of the corporation to compete for new
federal contracts for the first time in 15 months. Northrop's
Precision Products division was suspended last year from conducting
business with the Defense Department when it falsified tests on cruise
missiles and the Navy's Harrier jet. Lawyers close to the negotiations
say the two sides have not yet agreed on having Los Angeles-based
Northrop replace a silicone fluid that is used in guidance units of the
Air Force's cruise missile. Some critics say the fluid can freeze
during high altitude firings causing the units to fail.
PRATT & WHITNEY'S F100 COMPLETES FLIGHT TESTING
According to a spokesman from the West Palm Beach, FL-based engine
manufacturing firm, Pratt & Whitney, the first F100-PW-220E upgrade
completed flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The Air Force
is contemplating use of the new 27,000-pound thrust class engine for F-
15 and F-16 fighters. The increased performance of the new engine is
almost equivalent to the 29,000-pound thrust class F100-PW-229 and at a
fraction of the cost.
UNITED AIRLINES BEGINS GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE
According to an airline spokesman, United Airlines started using
satellite data communications on trans-oceanic flights. The service,
called Global Link, uses Inmarsat satellites and ground earth stations
operated by Communications Satellite Corp. of Washington, and other
signatories. The system will supplement the high frequency radio voice
communications that are currently available.
WATKINS-JOHNSON TO SLASH WORKFORCE
Watkins-Johnson Co., a defense electronics manufacturer, announced
plans to cut its workforce by 150 people and consolidate its defense-
related divisions because of declining Pentagon business prospects.
The company expects to save between $6 to $7 million from the cuts,
which amount to approximately 4.5% of the company's 3,300 employees.
As part of the reorganization plan, the Reconnaissance-Electronics
Technology Division in San Jose, CA, will be added to the Watkins-
Johnson's Defense Group. Company officials explain the move will
decrease administrative overhead, but will not involve relocating any
of the division's activities.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
BALL TO DEVELOP AXAF INSULATION CONTAINER
Ball Corp.'s Aerospace Systems Group, located in Bloomfield, CT, was
awarded a $24 million contract from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to
build a critical insulation container for use on NASA's Advanced X-ray
Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), which is scheduled for launch on the
space shuttle in April 1997. The thermally insulated container, called
a hybrid superfluid helium dewar, will cool the X-ray Spectrometer, an
instrument that measures X-ray energy.
CSC TO PROVIDE COMPUTER SUPPORT
Computer Sciences Corp.'s (CSC) Applied Technology division, located in
El Segundo, CA, was awarded a $65 million contract by the U.S. Army
Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, VA, to provide computer
support at the Army's Test and Experimentation Command. Under the
contract, CSC will provide a variety of services that include planning,
execution, data collection and data analysis.
FIRMS RECEIVE FUNDING FOR SDIO ROCKET RESEARCH
The U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) awarded more
than $10 million to four companies for initial research into a single-
stage, reusable rocket that could carry Brilliant Pebbles and other
strategic defense systems into space. The agency awarded $2.4 million
to Rockwell International, El Segundo, CA; $2.4 million to Boeing
Aerospace & Electronics, Seattle, WA; $3 million to General Dynamics,
St. Louis, MO; and $2.9 million to McDonnell Douglas, St. Louis, MO.
GE WINS AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR SATELLITE UPPER STAGES
GE Astro Space of East Windsor, NJ, was given a $30.2 million contract
option by the Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, CA, to
build apogee kick motors to be used with Defense Satellite
Communications System (DSCS) satellites. The kick motors, known as the
Integrated Apogee Boost Subsystem (ABS), will carry a DSCS to its final
orbit, located more than 23,000 miles above the equator. The DSCS
satellites are to be launched on Atlas 2 boosters starting in mid-1991.
According to a GE spokesman, two additional kick motors have been
earmarked for purchase in FY91. DSCS satellites provide super-high-
frequency radio communications for the U.S. military and other U.S.
government agencies.
HARRIS AWARDED CONTRACT FOR SIGNAL PROCESSING
Harris Corp.'s Aerospace Systems Division of Melbourne, Fla., was
awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command to
develop and test innovative signal processing techniques. Financial
terms of the agreement was not disclosed. The techniques are to reduce
gamma radiation noise interference in infrared sensor data that result
from a nuclear detonation.
LOCKHEED GIVEN NAVY CONTRACT
Lockheed Corp. received a $334.5 million Navy contract for the Trident
missile program.
LORAL AWARDED ARMY CONTRACT TO DEVELOP TRAINING SYSTEM
Loral Electro-Optical Systems of Pasadena, CA, was awarded a $51.5
million contract from the U.S. Army to develop an advanced version of
the a training system called the air and ground engagement system (Ages
2). Loral will produce 900 systems for use on the OH-58D, AHIP,
Apache, UH-60 and CH-47D helicopters at Army training sites.
Deliveries of the system are expected to begin in 1992.
MARTIN CHOSEN BY NAVY FOR SONAR SUPPORT
Martin Marietta's Aero and Naval Systems Division, Glen Burnie, MD, was
awarded a $9.2 million contract from the U.S. Navy to provide
maintenance support of towed array sonar systems. Under terms of the
three-year contract, Martin Marietta will install and remove hydrophone
arrays, evaluate operating practices, test and provide technical
assistance and maintain depots for spare parts and supplies.
SPACE DATA CORP. TO BUILD BOOSTER FOR GSTS
Space Data Corp., a unit of Orbital Sciences Corp. of Fairfax, VA, was
selected by McDonnell Douglas Corp. to build the booster to be used in
tests of the Ground-based Surveillance and Tracking System (GSTS)
strategic defense sensor. McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. of
Huntington Beach, CA, is the prime contractor for GSTS for the U.S.
Army Strategic Defense Command which manages the GSTS on behalf of the
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. McDonnell Douglas is
working under a $338 million contract which runs through 1994.
WATKINS-JOHNSON TO DEVELOP RECEIVERS FOR AMRAAM
Watkins-Johnson Co., Palo Alto, CA, was awarded a $12.3 million
contract by Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Missile Systems Group of Tucson, AZ,
to develop radio-frequency processors and data-link receivers for Lot
IV deliveries of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
RFP UPDATE:
No Relevant RFP's for October 8, 1990.
No Relevant RFFP's for October 9, 1990.
No Relevant RFP's for October 10, 1990.
October 11, 1990
ARMY MISSILE COMMAND TO PROCURE EXPANSION PACKAGE
Under solicitation E90277-1, the U.S. Army Missile Command intends to
acquire on a sole source basis from NRC Comten's GSA Schedule
GS00K89AGS544, a memory expansion package and assorted peripherals. No
contract award will be made in response to this notice of intent since
this synopsis cannot be considered a request for proposal. Written
responses will be evaluated only if they include complete pricing and
technical data to enable the Government to determine if such a
solicitation is warranted. Responses must be received within fifteen
days after publication of this notice and must include the current GSA
contract number if applicable. If no responses are received, an order
will be placed against NCR Comten's current GSA contract.
Contact: Shirley Childers
Contract Specialist
U.S. Army Missile Command
Procurement Directorate
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
(205) 876-8315
AIR FORCE TO PURCHASE MICROFICHE SYSTEM FROM ANACOMP
Under solicitation F33600-89-R-0350, the Air Force intends to purchase
a microfiche system from Anacomp Inc. of Bethesda, MD, for $5,236,728
(base period and 2 option periods).
Contact: Aundair Kinney
Contract Specialist
Wright Patterson Contracting Center
Specialized Equipment Support Branch
Specialized Contracting Branch
Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433
(513) 257-2698
October 12, 1990
AIR FORCE TO ACQUIRE GRAPHIC WORKSTATIONS
The Wright Research Development Center at Wright Patterson Air Force
Base, OH, intends to purchase graphic workstations with options and
peripherals from Tektronix, Inc. This synopsis is for information
purposes only. A solicitation is not available.
Contact: Steve Baldwin
Contract Specialist
Wright Patterson Contracting Center
Specialized Equipment Support Branch
Specialized Contracting Division
Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433
(513) 257-2698
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| 20.103 | Aerospace Industry News, week of October 15 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Oct 23 1990 11:26 | 587 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 013581
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 23-Oct-1990 00:40am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of October 15
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 15, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 15, 1990
GENERAL:
GOVERNMENT GROUP FORMED TO MONITOR COMPUTER VIRUSES
NASP CONTRACTOR OFFICE TO BE BUILT IN PALMDALE, CA
THREE FORMER SUNSTRAND OFFICIALS ACQUITTED
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE TO DEVELOP SMALL COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
ARMY CUTS FUNDING FOR BATTLEFIELD C2 SYSTEMS
LTV TESTS KINETIC ENERGY MISSILE FOR NEW ANTITANK WEAPON
STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND GROUNDS B-1B FLEET
UAV MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
NASA:
ANOTHER POSSIBLE LEAK SOURCE FOUND ON COLUMBIA
NASA'S COMET PROGRAM DRAWS INDUSTRY RESPONSE
NEW SOFTWARE TO REDUCE HUBBLE'S SOLAR PANEL JITTERS
U.S. AIR FORCE AND NASA TO MAKE JOINT PURCHASE
INTERNATIONAL:
AERITALIA REPORTS INCREASED SALES
CHINA LAUNCHES SATELLITE ON LONG MARCH 2
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS LINE UP FOR FORD UNIT SHARE
MITSU AND BOEING TO CREATE NEW COMPANY
ZENIT BOOSTER EXPLODES ON LAUNCH PAD
BUSINESS:
BOEING RECEIVES AIRCRAFT ORDER FROM VARIG AIRLINES
GE REPORTS 8.6% INCREASE IN EARNINGS FOR THIRD QUARTER
HONEYWELL POSTS IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS
LOGICON TO BUY BACK STOCK
NORTHROP TO REPLACE MISSILE FLUID
TRW REPORTS DROP IN THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
UAL PLACES LARGE ORDER WITH BOEING
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY WINS NAVY CONTRACT
COMPUTING DEVICES AWARDED CANTASS CONTRACT
DARPA SELECTS TEAMS FOR MULTICHIP COMPETITION
ITT TO DEVELOP ARMY RADAR JAMMER
GE AWARDED $25.3 MILLION CONTRACT BY AIR FORCE
LOCKHEED TO PROVIDE PATRIOT TACTICS TRAINER TO JAPAN
ROCKWELL RECEIVES ARMY SDI CONTRACT
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TO DEVELOP PROTOTYPES
TRACOR TO SUPPLY EW EQUIPMENT
RFP UPDATE:
October 15, 1990
AMES TO ACQUIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM COMPONENTS
No Relevant RFPs for October 16, 1990.
No Relevant RFPs for October 17, 1990.
October 18, 1990
AIR FORCE TO NEGOTIATE WITH WANG LABORATORIES FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM
KSC TO BUY PAYLOAD DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
October 19, 1990
JSC TO PURCHASE UNIX SYSTEM FROM LYNX REAL TIME SYSTEMS, INC.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
GOVERNMENT GROUP FORMED TO MONITOR COMPUTER VIRUSES
Federal officials have announced plans to establish a national
information exchange network to help protect government and industry
computers from damaging software viruses. The consortium, organized by
the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), is aimed at
protecting unclassified computer systems. Under the 1987 Computer
Security Act, NIST is responsible for developing standards to protect
unclassified government computer systems. The Defense Department's
National Security Agency, Fort Meade, MD, is responsible for classified
systems.
NASP CONTRACTOR OFFICE TO BE BUILT IN PALMDALE, CA
NASA and U.S. Air Force officials have selected a permanent site in
Palmdale, CA, to build the National Aero-Space Plan (NASP) program's
National Contractor Office. The office, which is currently located at
a Rockwell-owned facility in Seal Beach, CA, will be moved in April
1991.
THREE FORMER SUNSTRAND OFFICIALS ACQUITTED
Three former officials of Sunstrand Corp., Rockford, IL, were acquitted
in federal court, ending the government's largest-ever military fraud
investigation. The government's action prompted further industry
criticism of the Justice Department's handling of the case. Joseph J.
McCarthy, Ralph Hamann and Ray John Chapel Jr. were acquitted by U.S.
District Judge, Prentice H. Marshall, of two remaining counts of
procurement fraud. Under the case's statute of limitations, the
judge's ruling prohibits prosecutors from reopening the case. The
Sunstrand inquiry is not related to the Operation Ill Wind inquiry.
DEFENSE:
AIR FORCE TO DEVELOP SMALL COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
The Air Force plans to develop a small communications satellite that
would transmit signals at extremely high frequencies. The Technology
for Advanced Communications in Transition program is being managed by
the Air Force's Space Systems Division in Los Angeles, CA. The new
system, which will use advanced antennas and extremely lightweight
electronics, is expected to be ready for deployment in five to ten
years.
ARMY CUTS FUNDING FOR BATTLEFIELD C2 SYSTEMS
The U.S. Army cut planned spending in 1992 and 1993 on battlefield
computer systems and is reviewing the troubled All Source Analysis
System (ASAS). The information was provided in documents sent to the
Department of Defense's 1992 budget request, scheduled to be sent to
Congress in January. According to top DoD officials, two of the five
battlefield computer systems composing the $20 billion Army Tactical
Command and Control System, the ASAS and the Forward Area Air Defense,
Command, Control and Intelligence (FAADC2I) system, will be delayed by
the cuts. The Army's budget cuts did not significantly affect the $1.3
billion Maneuver Control System, the $870 million Advanced Field
Artillery Tactical Data System or the $276 million Tactical Army Combat
Service Support Computer system programs.
LTV TESTS KINETIC ENERGY MISSILE FOR NEW ANTITANK WEAPON
LTV Corp.'s Kinetic Energy Missile successfully hit a target in an
attempt to demonstrate the missile's capability as an antitank weapon.
The Army hopes to use the LTV missile, which is a no-warhead, hit-to-
kill missile, for the service's Line-Of-Sight Antitank (LOSAT) weapon
system. The recent test was part of the missile's technology
demonstration program. Final tests of the missile will be conducted
during the period in which contractors are to prepare LOSAT proposals.
STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND GROUNDS B-1B FLEET
The U.S. Strategic Air Command grounded the B-1B bomber fleet following
an incident in which one of the aircraft loss an engine during a
routine training flight. The aircraft, from the 384th Bomb Wing,
McConnell AFB, KS, was flying at low-level in Colorado when the No. 1
engine exploded. The crew made an emergency landing in Pueblo, CO.
The Command explained that the grounding does not affect the alert
status of the fleet.
UAV MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
A new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), modeled on Israel Aircraft
Industries' (IAI) Impact prototype, successfully made its first flight.
IAI is teamed with TRW to develop the aircraft which is being prepared
for the U.S. short-range UAV competition by the Army Missile Command,
Redstone Arsenal, AL. The UAV-SR will be used by the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps to provide real-time information, day or night, to combat
commanders.
NASA:
ANOTHER POSSIBLE LEAK SOURCE FOUND ON COLUMBIA
NASA technicians reported that a crushed teflon seal, similar to the
one found last month in the Space Shuttle Columbia's aft compartment,
is a possible source of the hydrogen fuel leak plaguing the orbiter.
According to a NASA spokesperson, the crushed seal in the No. 2
engine's liquid hydrogen plumbing is the most significant finding to
date found by a special team at Kennedy Space Center, FL, commissioned
to pinpoint and to fix the fuel leak which has kept Columbia grounded
since last spring. All six teflon cover seals in the aft compartment
have been replaced and two full-up "tanking" tests are planned to
ensure the leak has been fixed.
NASA'S COMET PROGRAM DRAWS INDUSTRY RESPONSE
NASA received 28 proposals from fourteen aerospace firms to provide
work-related tasks for the service's Commercial Experiment Transporter
(COMET) program. The program is NASA's latest effort to boost
commercial involvement in the space industry. Among the fourteen
bidders are Geo Control Systems, Integral Systems Inc., SCI Technology
Inc., Teledyne Brown, and TRW. In addition, McDonnell Douglas Space
Systems Co. of Huntsville, AL, bid to become the systems engineer, as
well as payload integrator. The COMET program, which is being
coordinated by the Center for Aerospace Research, is designed to
commercialize the launch market.
NEW SOFTWARE TO REDUCE HUBBLE'S SOLAR PANEL JITTERS
NASA announced plans to install a new software on the Hubble Space
Telescope designed to reduce in-orbit vibrations on the spacecraft.
As NASA's $1.5 billion Hubble telescope passes from sunlight to
darkness, the telescope's two 40-foot-long solar panels gain and lose
large amounts of solar heat energy, causing the panels to flex about 10
inches at their tips resulting in small vibrations. Engineers from
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, and Lockheed
Missiles and Space Co. of Sunnyvale, CA, developed the software.
U.S. AIR FORCE AND NASA TO MAKE JOINT PURCHASE
NASA and the U.S. Air Force plan to make a joint purchase of four
inertial upper stages at a cheaper cost than either could receive
alone. The Air Force was authorized by the House and Senate
appropriations committees last week to purchase two of the systems used
to deploy Defense Support Program satellites that scan the Earth for
launches of enemy nuclear missiles. NASA also wants to purchase two of
the upper stages to boost the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System
satellites G and H into orbit in 1995. According to budget officials,
the U.S. government could save up to $60 million, approximately the
cost of one upper stage, by combining both orders.
INTERNATIONAL:
AERITALIA REPORTS INCREASED SALES
Aeritalia, a Naples, Italy aerospace concern, reported 1.22 trillion
lire ($1.05 billion) in annual sales volume for the first six months of
1990, a 30 percent increase from the figures recorded in the first half
of 1989. The company's backlog for the period stood at 860 billion
lire ($737 million). Aeritalia, a member of the state-owned IRI Group
of Rome, is Italy's major fixed-wing aircraft manufacturer.
CHINA LAUNCHES SATELLITE ON LONG MARCH 2
China launched a retrievable satellite on a Long March 2 rocket, marking
the fifth satellite the country's has in orbit. Chinese officials
explained that the satellite carried animals and plants to study their
reactions in a weightless environment. The satellite is scheduled to
remain in orbit for eight days.
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS LINE UP FOR FORD UNIT SHARE
Many international companies are investigating minority ownership in
Loral Corp.'s Space Systems Division. According to U.S. and European
industry officials, one of the prime suitors for partial ownership is
Alcatel Espace of Toulouse, France, with space partners Aerospatiale in
Paris and Italian state-owned IRI-Finmeccanica holding company. Loral
has also discussed minority ownership with Matra Espace AS, Velizy,
France; Alenia (merger of the Italian companies Selenia and Aeritalia),
Rome; British Aerospace in London; and Mitsubishi Corp. of Tokyo (on
its own or part of the Alcatel team). Though Loral claims the move is
to infuse foreign marketing expertise into the space division, Wall
Street analysts speculate Loral is trying to raise cash to help finance
the Ford Aerospace acquisition.
MITSU AND BOEING TO CREATE NEW COMPANY
Mitsu Corp. of Japan and Bell Helicopter Textron have signed an
agreement to form a new venture to develop the Bell 230 helicopter.
The two companies will form a joint company, BH and Co., in which Mitsu
will invest $40 million for its share of the development work. Mitsu's
investment is considered to be approximately half of the initial
capital of the joint company. Mitsu will assume responsibility for
sales of the new helicopter in Japan.
ZENIT BOOSTER EXPLODES ON LAUNCH PAD
Soviet officials conceded that a Soviet-made SL-16 Zenit booster
exploded on its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, severely
damaging the launch facility. The explosion occurred in the first
stage of the booster. According a spokesman at the Kettering Space
Observer Group in London, England, the booster was believed to be
carrying a military electronic intelligence satellite when the
malfunction occurred.
BUSINESS:
BOEING RECEIVES AIRCRAFT ORDER FROM VARIG AIRLINES
The Boeing Co. of Seattle, WA, received an order, valued at $1.3
billion, for fourteen aircraft, with options on 12 others, from Varig
Brazilian Airlines. The order included six 747-400 wide-bodies and
eight mid-sized jets. If Varig exercises its option to buy five more
747-400s and seven more 737-300s, the total value of the contract would
double to approximately $2.6 billion. The Varig 747-400s and the 737-
300s will be equipped with General Electric Co. CF6-80C2-B1F and CFM56-
3B2 engines, respectively. The production of the CFM56-3B2 is a joint
venture of GE, Fairchild Industries and France's state-owned Snecma.
GE REPORTS 8.6% INCREASE IN EARNINGS FOR THIRD QUARTER
General Electric Co. of Fairfield, CT, had $1.03 billion in earnings on
sales of $14.2 billion for the third quarter, an 8.6% increase from the
$945 million in earnings on sales of $13 billion reported during the
same period last year. The multinational conglomerate attributed the
increase to improved results in aircraft engines, medical systems and
power generation, which helped offset sluggish earnings in other areas.
HONEYWELL POSTS IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS
Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, MN, reported a 12% rise in third-quarter
earnings, despite a $3.3 million charge to jettison its defense-
industry operations. The company's net income was $83.5 million, or
$2.21 per share, up from $74.4 million, or $1.73 per share a year ago.
Continuing operation profits rose 28% to $86.8 million, or $2.30 per
share, up from $67.8 million, or $1.58 per share, while sales increased
4% to $1.56 billion from $1.5 billion. According to a company
spokesman, the third-quarter performance reflected a reorganization
that included the spinoff of its defense business to Alliance
Techsystems Inc.
LOGICON TO BUY BACK STOCK
Logicon Inc. of Los Angeles, CA, announced plans to repurchase shares
of the company's common stock in open market transactions. The company
plans to repurchase up to 500,000 shares which were valued at
approximately $15/share on the open market.
NORTHROP TO REPLACE MISSILE FLUID
Northrop Corp. announced that it will replace the substandard fluid
found in the Air Force's 1,715 nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, settling
the government's case against the contractor for falsifying tests on
the missile. Last week, Northrop, manufacturer of the guidance unit
for the weapon, and Boeing Co., the prime contractor, admitted the
missile's probable failure under certain real-world conditions. A
fluid in the Northrop-built flight data transmitter had been questioned
as to whether it may freeze causing a malfunction in the unit's
gyroscopes.
TRW REPORTS DROP IN THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
TRW Inc., an automotive parts, aerospace, information systems and
services concern, reported a 23% drop in third-quarter profit due to
lower profit margins on North American auto parts, higher interest
expense, a higher tax rate and a write-off related to the discontinuing
of a business. TRW earned $46 million, or 75 cents a share in the
latest quarter compared with $60 million, or 98 cents a share last
year. Space and defense sales rose 4% to $832 million while operating
profit increased 6% to $65 million.
UAL PLACES LARGE ORDER WITH BOEING
United Airlines' parent company, UAL Corp., agreed to purchase up to
128 wide-body Boeing Co. jets, in a $22 billion order that includes the
long-awaited 777 model. UAL's order was the largest order ever placed
by an airline. Under terms of the contract, Boeing will deliver 34 of
the 777s to UAL, with options for 34 more. The airline will use the
long-range twin-engine aircraft to replace its aging McDonnell Douglas
DC-10s, the only non-Boeing aircraft the airline currently operates.
UAL also ordered 30 Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets with options on 30 more.
Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp., Hartford, CT,
will supply the engines to power the airplanes. Pratt & Whitney's
portion of the order is valued at $4 billion.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY WINS NAVY CONTRACT
Advanced Technology Inc., based in McLean, VA, won a $10.9 million
contract by the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dalghren, VA, to
provide engineering and technical support to the U.S. Navy's Combat
Systems Laboratory and Aegis radar systems support facility. Work on
the five-year contract will be done at Dalghren and NASA's Wallops
Island Facility.
COMPUTING DEVICES AWARDED CANTASS CONTRACT
Computing Devices Co., a division of Control Data Canada Ltd., was
awarded an $89 million contract by the Canadian Department of National
Defense to provide 15 Canadian Towed Array Systems (CANTASS) for
Canadian ships. CANTASS is a shipboard antisubmarine warfare system
used for long-range passive detection and surveillance.
DARPA SELECTS TEAMS FOR MULTICHIP COMPETITION
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected two
teams, headed by Texas Instruments and E-Systems, to take part in a
program to manufacture digital multichip modules for electronic
systems. The DoD announced that each team will build a facility to
develop the modules for the agency's High-Density High-Speed Electronic
Packaging Program. The two teams are expected to receive about $10
million each for three-year contracts.
ITT TO DEVELOP ARMY RADAR JAMMER
ITT Avionics of Nutley, NJ, was awarded a $18 million contract to
develop the Army's future electronic countermeasures system for rotary
and fixed-wing aircraft. The Advanced Tactical Radar Jammer, the next-
generation electronic countermeasures system for helicopters and fixed-
wing aircraft, is designed to counter pulse, pulse doppler and
continuous wave radars. ITT beat three teams headed by Northrop,
Lockheed Sanders and Electronics Laboratories Inc. for the contract.
GE AWARDED $25.3 MILLION CONTRACT BY AIR FORCE
General Electric received a $25.3 million contract by the Air Force for
over-the-horizon radar system.
LOCKHEED TO PROVIDE PATRIOT TACTICS TRAINER TO JAPAN
Lockheed Sanders of Nashua, NH, was given a $7.6 million order from
Japan's Air Self Defense Force for a third Patriot Missile System
Operator Tactics Trainer (OTT). The system, plus spares, will be
delivered to Japan in February 1992. The upgraded version of the
Lockheed OTT has 60% less software in terms of the number of codes,
which is expected to reduce software maintenance costs.
ROCKWELL RECEIVES ARMY SDI CONTRACT
Rockwell International has received a contract valued at more than $150
million including options for concept development work in connection
with the ground-based interceptor experiment. The ground-based
interceptor program is being managed by the Army Strategic Defense
Command for the Strategic Defense Initiative Office (SDIO). The
Rockwell International team includes LTV and TRW. Hughes Aircraft of
Canoga Park, CA, and Martin Marietta of Orlando, FL, have been selected
to receive similar contracts.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TO DEVELOP PROTOTYPES
Texas Instruments Inc.'s Defense Systems & Electronics Group received a
$13 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop four prototypes
using low-cost, uncooled, infrared sensor technology for the U.S. Army
CECOM Center for Night Vision and Electro-Optics.
TRACOR TO SUPPLY EW EQUIPMENT
Tracor Aerospace of Austin, TX, was awarded a $9.2 million contract by
the U.S. Air Force Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to supply
electronic warfare (EW) equipment designed to protect transport and
fighter aircraft. The hardware will be used on C-130 transports and F-
15 and F-16 fighter aircraft.
RFP UPDATE:
October 15, 1990
AMES TO ACQUIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM COMPONENTS
NASA Ames Research Center intends to place an order on a non-
competitive basis with Kinetics Systems Corporation for a data
acquisition system consisting of various computer components. All
affirmative responses must include descriptive literature containing
sufficient technical documentation to establish a bona fide capability
to meet this requirement. Responses shall be submitted within fifteen
days of this notice referencing RFQ2-34455. No telephone requests will
honored.
Contact: Evelyn Warren
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 241-1
Moffet Field, CA 94035-1000
No Relevant RFPs for October 16, 1990.
No Relevant RFPs for October 17, 1990.
October 18, 1990
AIR FORCE TO NEGOTIATE WITH WANG LABORATORIES FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM
The U.S. Air Force intends to negotiate a sole-source extension of the
purchase period contract F19630-86-D-0001 for Air Force Minicomputer
Multi User System (AMMUS) with Wang Laboratories, Inc.'s Federal
Systems Division. The contract calls for the continuation of computer
hardware and software acquisition of systems located worldwide. The
extension will be for up to two years renewable by option on a yearly
basis. Qualified sources with the capability and background to fulfill
this requirement must submit sufficient information demonstrating the
ability to meet this requirement within fifteen days of this notice.
Sources responding to the notice must indicate whether they are a large
or small business.
Contact: Capt. Jacques Hamann
Contracting Officer
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting
Building 1302F
Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8640
KSC TO BUY PAYLOAD DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) intends to buy a Payload Data
Management System (PDMS). The system will be comprised of commercially
available hardware and software, and will include a relational database
subsystem, a technical documentation subsystem, a project management
subsystem and a page printing subsystem. In addition, the center
expects there will be communications and system support requirements.
The system will be used by the Payload Directorate at KSC. NASA plans
to issue the RFP on or about November 7, 1990.
Contact: Linda A. Pickett
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
(407) 853-4645
October 19, 1990
JSC TO PURCHASE UNIX SYSTEM FROM LYNX REAL TIME SYSTEMS, INC.
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) intends to award a contract to Lynx
Real Time Systems, Inc. for one Real Time Unix(tm) system. The system
is to be a compatible workstation for use in Space Shuttle Mission
Control and will be incorporated with existing unix systems to ensure
compatibility and interoperability with over 500,000 lines of software
code already developed in the control center. Vendors who can furnish
the required hardware and software are invited to submit a written
substantive statement clearly stating the ability to fulfill this
requirement. Delivery is expected within thirty days after the award
date. Written responses should refer to solicitation number
9BG4130047P. All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be
considered by the agency.
Contact: Larry Kenyon
Contracting Officer
NASA Johnson Space Center
Mail Stop BG41
Houston, TX 77058
(713) 483-4146
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| 20.104 | AERO News, Week of 10/22 | HERON::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Nov 06 1990 14:01 | 573 |
| Printed by: Pat Roach Document Number: 013667
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 02-Nov-1990 00:35am CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@CIVIC@HERON@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: ROACH@A1NSTC
Subject: AERO News, Week of 10/22
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 22, 1990
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be addressed to CIVIC::IMSIS_NEWS or
Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 22, 1990
GENERAL:
CONFERENCES AGREE ON EXTENSION FOR DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT
EIA PREDICTS DEFENSE SLOWDOWN
DEFENSE:
AEROJET TO RESUME SICBM DEVELOPMENT WORK
AIR FORCE COMPLETES FIRST PHASE OF ALQ-199 DEMONSTRATION
ATF TO USE RF DATA LINK FOR COMMUNICATIONS
PENTAGON MAY TERMINATE NAVY'S A-12 CONTRACT
SECOND B-2 MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT
NASA:
COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS TESTED ON DISCOVERY FLIGHT
PIONEER MISSION NEAR END
SPACE SHUTTLE TO INCORPORATE IMPROVED DRAG CHUTES
SPACE STATION REDESIGN MANDATED
U.S. AND SOVIET UNION AGREE ON SPACE INITIATIVE
INTERNATIONAL:
ESA APPROVES PAYLOAD FOR HUYGENS SATURN PROBE
FRANCE ESTABLISHES NEW COMPANY TO MARKET NAVAL ARMS WORLDWIDE
JAPAN DEVELOPING EXPERIMENTS FOR IMPROVED TR-1
PROBE ORDERED TO INVESTIGATE TDF MISHAPS
BUSINESS:
LORAL AGREES TO SELL 49% OF SATELLITE LINE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SETS INMARSAT LAUNCHES
MOTOROLA TO SELECT IRIDIUM PARTNERS
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS POSTS DEFICIT FOR THIRD QUARTER
WESTINGHOUSE DEMONSTRATES APEX COMPUTER FOR AAAM
CONTRACT AWARDS:
EBCO TO PRODUCE CANTASS ASSEMBLIES
GE AEROSPACE TO PROVIDE AEGIS SYSTEM FOR JAPAN
HARRIS TO SUPPLY NORWEGIAN CROSS FOX WITH REPAIR FACILITY
LITTON RECEIVES ADDITIONAL $202 MILLION FOR COMMAND CENTERS
MCDONNELL TO PROVIDE MESSAGE SYSTEM FOR DOD
NAVY AWARDS S-3 AIRCRAFT ENGINE CONTRACT
SIMUFLITE TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR C-20A AIRCRAFT
REFLECTONE TO PROVIDE FLIGHT SIMULATOR INSTRUCTION
UNISYS WINS AIR FORCE CONTRACT DESPITE ILL WIND INVESTIGATION
RFP UPDATE:
No Relevant RFPs for October 22, 1990.
October 23, 1990
AIR FORCE TO PURCHASE DATA PREPARATION SYSTEM
October 24, 1990
AIR FORCE TO BUY RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
October 25, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO ACQUIRE DATA BASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO BUY ADPE FROM UNYSIS
No Relevant RFPs for October 26, 1990.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
CONFERENCES AGREE ON EXTENSION FOR DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT
House and Senate Conferences agreed on a provision to extend the
Defense Production Act for a period of three years. According to a
government spokesman, the Act establishes policy for assuring
availability of critical components and technology items necessary to
satisfy U.S. military mobilization requirements. In addition, the
provision gives the president authority to limit production of critical
components or technology to domestic sources, as well as to authority
to use loan or purchases agreements to assist in the maintenance or
establishment of domestic production of critical components or
technologies.
EIA PREDICTS DEFENSE SLOWDOWN
The Electronic Industries Association (EIA) predicted a one-third cut
in the defense budget by the year 2000. The association predicted that
defense procurement accounts will suffer the greatest cuts, with new
aircraft programs delayed and upgrades favored. Despite numerical cuts
and stretched buys, the trade organization explained that there are
still more programs in development than there are available funds. The
forecast did not address which programs might survive.
DEFENSE:
AEROJET TO RESUME SICBM DEVELOPMENT WORK
Officials at Aerojet Corp.'s Propulsion Div. announced they will resume
full-scale development (FSD) work on the second-stage motor of the
small intercontinental ballistic missile (SICBM) under a six year, $203
million contract it received from the Air Force Ballistic Missile
Organization in 1987. Two of the motors have already been tested by
the company and a third was recently delivered to the Air Force
Vandenberg AFB, CA, to be integrated into the second test flight of the
missile scheduled for the end of 1990. Aerojet started FSD on the
motor in 1987, but stopped work when the Air Force decided to redefine
the program's objectives due to fiscal year 1988 funding cuts.
AIR FORCE COMPLETES FIRST PHASE OF ALQ-199 DEMONSTRATION
The Air Force's Tactical Air Warfare Center completed the first phase
of flight demonstration of the ALQ-199 missile warning system. The
system, which uses a pulse doppler radar device developed by Loral
Corp. and Elta Electronics of Israel, was installed on a QF-100 drone
aircraft. The demonstration included air-to-air missile detection with
automatic countermeasures activation, aircraft detection and
verification of low false alarm rate.
ATF TO USE RF DATA LINK FOR COMMUNICATIONS
Air Force officials announced that the advanced tactical fighter (ATF)
will use a radio frequency (RF) data link for air-to-air
communications. Despite the apparent contradiction between stealthy
operation and frequent radio transmissions, the Air Force believes the
intraflight data link will have a low probability of being intercepted
by ground radars. The link is designed for short-range, high data-rate
communication between a flight of four aircraft, and between air and
ground forces. The Air Force awarded recently three contracts for
conceptual design of such a link to Hazeltine Corp. and teams composed
of Unysis/TRW/General Dynamics and Northrop/Hughes.
PENTAGON MAY TERMINATE NAVY'S A-12 CONTRACT
The U.S. Navy's $4.77 billion A-12 aircraft development contract with
McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics is being considered for
termination by Pentagon officials in favor of pouring money into
resolving technical problems. General Dynamics and McDonnell Douglas
revealed cost overruns in June of more than $500 million, with
difficulties in development of composite materials for the aircraft.
The termination proposal is only one option being considered while
Defense Department officials work on how to restructure the troubled
A-12 program. The aircraft's first flight was to take place late this
year, but has been delayed until early 1992.
SECOND B-2 MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT
The Air Force announced that the second B-2 Stealth Bomber made its
maiden flight, flying from Palmdale, CA, to nearby Edwards AFB, CA.
The aircraft, with test pilots from the Air Force's 6520th Test
Squardon at the controls, was in the air for two hours and 36 minutes.
During the flight, the pilots tested the aircraft's flight controls and
retracted and redeployed the landing gear. Northrop Corp. is the prime
contractor developing the B-2.
NASA:
COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS TESTED ON DISCOVERY FLIGHT
During the Discovery Space Shuttle flight to deploy the Ulysses space
probe in early October, astronauts completed a series of tests for
commercial applications. One test involved commercial materials
processing geared toward the $1.5 billion annual market for advanced
polymer membranes used by a variety of industries. During another
test, astronauts monitored 16 laboratory rats involved in commercial
drug research sponsored by Genetech, in cooperation with the Penn State
University Center for Cell Research and NASA's Ames Research Center.
In fiscal year 1990, NASA has spent $16 million for the commercial
development of space program and U.S. industry has added another $32.1
million.
PIONEER MISSION NEAR END
NASA officials announced that the Pioneer 11 spacecraft, the first
satellite to orbit Saturn, is near the end of its 17-year mission. The
spacecraft, located three billion miles from Earth, is suffering
serious communications problems. Ground controllers at NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory have been unable to send any commands to Pioneer
11 due to unresolved radio problems. The spacecraft is currently in an
engineering mode which has enabled it to send more useful technical
data back to Earth. If controllers can not regain control of the
spacecraft, the science mission of Pioneer 11 will terminate, although
the spacecraft could be tracked for some time as a radio beacon.
SPACE SHUTTLE TO INCORPORATE IMPROVED DRAG CHUTES
NASA has finished seven of eight planned tests of a new drag parachute
system for space shuttle orbiters. During the tests, a parachute was
deployed from NASA Ames-Dryden's B-52 test aircraft. The test were
conducted on the dry lakebed at Edwards AFB, CA, at speeds of 140-200
kt.
SPACE STATION REDESIGN MANDATED
Congress rejected NASA's plan to increase funding sharply for the Space
Station Freedom in 1991 and mandated the agency to begin immediately to
redesign the facility that will allow it to be built at a lower cost.
If approved by the entire Congress, the final 1991 NASA appropriations
bill will force NASA to make fundamental changes in the station design.
The Congressional action marked a major setback in NASA plans to begin
full-scale development of the space station next year. The bill's
language calls for the Restin, VA, program office to make changes in
the structural design and develop a phased approach to construction
with a revised space shuttle launch rate.
U.S. AND SOVIET UNION AGREE ON SPACE INITIATIVE
The U.S. and Soviet Union agreed on a major new space initiative which
involves a U.S. astronaut to be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
in a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft to visit the Mir Space Station, and a
Soviet Cosmonaut to fly a mission on the U.S. Space Shuttle. Soviet
cooperation in the U.S. Mission to Planet Earth program is also
involved in the agreement. Although details of the agreement were not
disclosed, NASA officials explained the primary emphasis will be on
having cosmonauts and astronauts conduct medical and other research in
the spacecraft of the other country.
INTERNATIONAL:
ESA APPROVES PAYLOAD FOR HUYGENS SATURN PROBE
The European Space Agency (ESA) Science Program Committee approved the
selection of the payload for the Huygens probe to Saturn's moon Titan.
The Huygens probe was selected by the science program committee in
November 1988 to fly on the Cassini spacecraft to explore Saturn and
Titan. Once Cassini is in Titan's orbit, the small disk-like probe
will separate from the spacecraft and descend to the planet's surface
by parachute. The Cassini spacecraft will be launched by NASA in 1996
on a General Dynamics Titan IV-Centaur booster and operated by NASA.
FRANCE ESTABLISHES NEW COMPANY TO MARKET NAVAL ARMS WORLDWIDE
French Defense Ministry is expected to established a new, government-
owned company, called DCN International, to market French naval weapons
worldwide. Though the decision to establish the new company was
decided several months ago by the Defense Ministry, DCN International's
legal and financial status had to be reviewed by several government
departments before incorporation. The new company is being established
to give Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN), the shipbuilding
directorate of the Defense Ministry, more authority in signing
contracts and in participating in international cooperative programs.
JAPAN DEVELOPING EXPERIMENTS FOR IMPROVED TR-1
Japan's National Space Development Agency is developing six experiments
packages for trials of the improved TR-1 medium-size launch vehicle.
The Space agency plans to launch three of the Nissan-built TR-1A
boosters between 1991 and 1993. The planned experiments include
equipment for an observation experiment, a fluid-dynamics experiment, a
bubble-generation handling experiment, an isothermal furnace, a
temperature-gradient furnace and a high-temperature furnace.
PROBE ORDERED TO INVESTIGATE TDF MISHAPS
The French government ordered an investigation to study a series of
mishaps aboard its two-direct broadcast satellites. The French Postal,
Telecommunications and Space Ministry, and the Ministry of
Communications jointly announced that the investigation would propose
corrective action to save the direct-broadcast satellite system. The
satellites are to transmit television and radio broadcasts to French-
speaking viewers throughout Europe and parts of northern Africa. In
addition, the systems will accommodate Europe's high definition
transmission standard to be available in 1995.
BUSINESS:
LORAL AGREES TO SELL 49% OF SATELLITE LINE
Loral Corp., a New York-based defense electronics concern, has agreed
to sell 49 percent of Ford Aerospace's Satellite Systems division for
$182 million to three European companies. The partners are
Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industriele of France, Alcatel N.V. of
Belgium and Selenia Spazio S.p.A., an Italian aerospace concern.
Industry analyst expected the transaction to create one of the world's
largest commercial satellite businesses. Loral Corp.'s $715 million
acquisition of Ford Motor Co.'s aerospace business is scheduled to be
completed this week.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SETS INMARSAT LAUNCHES
McDonnell Douglas Commercial Delta Inc. announced that it will launch
the first of two satellites for the International Maritime Satellite
Organization (INMARSAT) aboard its Delta rocket on October 30. The
INMARSAT-2 satellite, built by British Aerospace for the international
consortium, will provide telephone, fax and data services for ships,
aircraft and land transport.
MOTOROLA TO SELECT IRIDIUM PARTNERS
Motorola Inc., the prime developer of a satellite-based cellular
telephone system for the mid-1990s, plans to select its partners to
construct the system by December 1. The system, known as Iridium, is a
constellation of 77 satellites in low-earth orbit providing
communication service to mobile users. A spokesman for Motorola's
cellular space communications explained the company will select the
finalists to participate in the program by early November. From that
list, one or two partners will be selected by Motorola to design and
build the spacecraft.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS POSTS DEFICIT FOR THIRD QUARTER
Texas Instruments, the electronics and defense concern, posted its
first quarterly loss in more than four years and doesn't expect to
rebound until next year. Hurting from slumping memory-chip prices and
an aggressive capital spending plan, Texas Instruments' loss is at $7
million, or 19 cents a share, in the third quarter, compared with net
income of $65 million, or 67 cents a share for the same quarter last
year. The company also reported an 7 percent increase in revenue from
$1.57 billion the previous year to $1.68 billion in the latest quarter.
WESTINGHOUSE DEMONSTRATES APEX COMPUTER FOR AAAM
Westinghouse Electronic Systems Group of Baltimore, MD , has tested an
Autopilot/Executive (Apex) computer for use on the Navy's Advanced Air-
to-Air Missile (AAAM). According to a Westinghouse spokesman, Apex
will execute control and guidance software for the missile airframe.
Westinghouse and General Dynamics, its joint venture partner for AAAM,
will integrate the computer, autopilot/guidance software and the
prototype missile airframes for the Navy's flight test program in 1991.
A team composed of Hughes and Raytheon is competing against the
Westinghouse/GD team for the development contract. The AAAM is
intended to replace the Phoenix missile in the late 1990s.
CONTRACT AWARDS:
EBCO TO PRODUCE CANTASS ASSEMBLIES
Ebco Industries, a Richmond, British Columbia-based company, was given
a $800,000 subcontract to produce a number of assemblies for use in the
Canadian Towed Array Sonar System (CANTASS). The contract, awarded by
Whistler Indal Technologies, also of British Columbia, calls for the
delivery of main winch frames and winch drums to be installed aboard
Canadian patrol frigates.
GE AEROSPACE TO PROVIDE AEGIS SYSTEM FOR JAPAN
General Electric Aerospace, Moorestown, N.J., was awarded a $64.9
million contract by the U.S. Navy for an Aegis weapon system for Japan.
The system, scheduled for completion in January 1994, is being
purchased through the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be
performed in Moorestown, and the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington,
which will administer the contract.
HARRIS TO SUPPLY NORWEGIAN CROSS FOX WITH REPAIR FACILITY
Harris Corp., Melbourne, FL, was awarded a $5 million contract by NATO
to supply a depot repair facility to the Norwegian Defence
Communications and Data Services Administration for Cross Fox, an
advanced high-frequency radio communications network. Harris RF
Communications Group, Rochester, NY, will supply the facility. The $60
million Cross Fox system is a network used by the NATO navies for ship-
to-shore and shore-to-ship communications, and is located at 27 sites
in eight NATO countries. The Harris facility will allow NATO to
provide on-going maintenance for the Cross Fox system.
LITTON RECEIVES ADDITIONAL $202 MILLION FOR COMMAND CENTERS
Litton Data Systems Division, Van Nuys, CA, was given an additional
$202 million contract by the U.S. Navy to produce seven AN/TYQ-23(V)2
mobile command centers. The command centers, called tactical air
operations modules, are used by the Marine Corps and the Air Force to
help control aircraft in combat. With the new contract, the total
value of the program for Litton is now at $900 million.
MCDONNELL TO PROVIDE MESSAGE SYSTEM FOR DOD
McDonnell Douglas Electronic Systems Co., McLean, VA, won a contract
with a potential value of $40 million over the next five years to
provide a computerized message handling system for the Defense
Department's Intelligence Information System (DODIIS). The system will
route information around the DODIIS network and extract important
information from the large flow of information passing through the
network.
NAVY AWARDS S-3 AIRCRAFT ENGINE CONTRACT
The Navy has awarded a contract with the potential value of $100
million to General Electric Aircraft Engines, Lynn, MA, for the
delivery of 50 TF34-GE-400 turbofan engines to power the Navy's fleet
of S-3 antisubmarine warfare aircraft. An initial batch of 20 engines
will be delivered to the Navy beginning in early 1993.
SIMUFLITE TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR C-20A AIRCRAFT
SimuFlite Training International of Dallas, TX, was given a $1.2
million contract to provide pilot training to the U.S. Air Force's 89th
Military Airlift Wing and the U.S. Army's Davison Aviation Command.
Under terms of the contract, SimuFlite will give initial and recurrent
flight training for the C-20A, which is a military version of the
commercial Gulfstream III aircraft.
REFLECTONE TO PROVIDE FLIGHT SIMULATOR INSTRUCTION
Reflectone Training Systems of Tampa, FL, was given an initial $2.4
million contract by the Naval Training Systems Center, Orlando, FL, to
provide flight simulator instruction for U.S. Navy forces in the
Pacific region. The award, the first part of a five-year contract,
calls for Reflectone to direct the training for the F/A-18 Hornet, the
SH-60B Seahawk and the EA-6B Prowler aircraft.
UNISYS WINS AIR FORCE CONTRACT DESPITE ILL WIND INVESTIGATION
Unysis Corp.'s Shipboard and Ground Systems Group was awarded a $326
million contract by the Air Force for North Warning System (NWS)
radars, but will forego profits on the program until the Justice
Department completes its Ill Wind fraud probe. According to an Air
Force contract announcement, the North Warning System development
contract is a subject of ongoing Ill Wind investigation which is not
yet complete. The Unysis contract is a follow-on, firm-fixed price
contract for 37 AN/FPS-124 radars, plus ancillary equipment and
hardware and software maintenance capability.
RFP UPDATE:
No Relevant RFPs for October 22, 1990.
October 23, 1990
AIR FORCE TO PURCHASE DATA PREPARATION SYSTEM
The Air Force intends to purchase a Strategic Mission Data Preparation
System (SMDPS). The contract action will be to maintain, develop and
enhance SMDPS Phase II. SMDPS is an automated integration of B-52G/H
and B-1B aircraft avionics, offensive/defense weapons systems with
force level Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) planning to
optimize mission success. The Air Force Electronic Systems Division
(ESD) has opened a comprehensive SMDPS Reference Library at Hanscom
AFB, MA, which makes available technical data to persons interested in
the program. This synopsis is for information purposes only. Neither
its issuance, nor the establishment of the SMDPS Reference Library
obligates the government in any way to issue a RFP or to award a
contract for the system.
Contact: Ms. Cyndy Morgiewicz
Contracting Officer
HQ Electronic System Division
Directorate of Strategic Systems Contracts, SZK
Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-5000
(617) 271-4985
October 24, 1990
AIR FORCE TO BUY RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Air Force intends to buy an optical disk imaging system to replace
the current microfiche system for the storage and retrieval of master
military personnel records. The systems will be located at two sites:
Headquarters Military Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, San Antonio,
TX, and Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center at Lowry AFB, Denver,
CO. The operational system will include hardware and software with on-
line storage capacity for a minimum of 54 million images. The draft
RFP is scheduled for release during the week of November 12, 1990. The
draft is for planning purposes only. All interested parties may submit
a proposal which will be considered by the government.
Contact: Lt. James A. Crisfield
Contracting Officer
Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
Directorate of Contracting/PKA
Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-6340
(617) 377-8636
October 25, 1990
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO ACQUIRE DATA BASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Defense Supply Service-Washington on behalf of the Joint Staff
intends to purchase a Data Base Management System on a sole source
basis from CASI-RUSCO. The system will work jointly with the existing
Joint Staff badge reader equipment. No solicitation document exists
and request for such documents will be considered invalid responses.
All responses must be in writing and received within 30 days of date of
this publication. Oral communications are not accepted and will not be
honored.
Contact: Debbie Smith
Defense Supply Service-Washington
Room 1D245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5200
(703) 693-5011
DEFENSE SUPPLY SERVICE TO BUY ADPE FROM UNYSIS
The Defense Supply Service-Washington intends to negotiate a sole
source contract with Unysis Corporation for the purchase of advanced
data processing equipment (ADPE). Interested parties who can provide
the equipment must respond within 45 days after publication of this
synopsis. In order to be considered for the this award, pricing data
must be included. No telephone requests will be accepted. If no
affirmative written responses are received within the time stated, an
order will be placed with Unysis.
Contact: Fran Seigel
Defense Supply Service-Washington
Room 1D245
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-5200
(202) 697-2799
No Relevant RFPs for October 26, 1990.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| 20.105 | Aerospace Industry News, week of March 14, 1991 | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Apr 03 1991 17:44 | 680 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 03-Apr-1991 04:20pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, week of March 14, 1991
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 14, 1991
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 25, 1991
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE LAB AND IBM JOIN FOR MORE COMPUTER WORK
BRITISH AEROSPACE CUTS BRING EMPLOYMENT LOSSES TO 20,000
FAIRCHILD SPACE & DEFENSE CORP. ANNOUNCES LAYOFFS
LOCKHEED WINS BATTLE AGAINST SIMMONS TAKEOVER
MDC, GD, GE REMAIN PENTAGON'S TOP CONTRACTORS
NASA TO CUT SUPPORT CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL
THOMSON SIGNS TEAMING AGREEMENT WITH BOEING
UNISYS CREATES SEPARATE BOARD FOR DEFENSE DIVISION
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BEECH AIRCRAFT REPORTS INCREASED 1990 SALES
BOEING TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SUPPORT CAPABILITIES
BOEING SIGNS THREE SUBCONTRACTORS FOR MAJOR 777 WORK
CONTRACTORS SUBMIT FINAL ATF DEVELOPMENT BIDS
DISPUTE STOPS MD-11 FUSELAGE SECTION DELIVERIES
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ANNOUNCES TECHNOLOGICAL COMPLEXITIES WITH C-17
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE REPORTS PROBLEMS WITH BLACK JAMMER PROGRAM
GRUMMAN RECEIVES CONTRACT TO UPGRADE EF-111A JAMMING SYSTEM
HORIZON OFFERS CUSTOMERS MAP OPERATOR MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS
LITTON TO DELIVER NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
LOCKHEED MODIFIES C-130 HERCULES INSTRUMENTS
ROCKWELL TO SUPPLY AIR FORCE WITH HAVE QUICK II RADIOS
VITRO RECEIVES ASW ENGINEERING CONTRACT FROM NAVY
VITRO TO PROVIDE ARMY TECHNICAL SUPPORT
MISSILES:
ARMY REVIVES SIMPLER VERSION OF FOG-M
BOEING SUCCESSFULLY TESTED LEAP PROPULSION SYSTEM
BRITISH AEROSPACE CONCERNED WITH DELAY IN ASRAAM BIDDING
IMPROVED PATRIOT RECEIVES FUNDING
LORAL TO PRODUCE MILES FOR SPANISH AND ITALIAN ARMED FORCES
THOMSON-CSF SUCCESSFULLY FIRES VT-1 MISSILE
TURKEY TO RECEIVE PATRIOT SYSTEM
US SELLS PATRIOT TO ISRAEL AND LOGISTICS SUPPORT TO SAUDIS
WESTINGHOUSE TO BUILD TORPEDOES UNDER NAVY CONTRACT
SATELLITES:
ARMY SEEKS MORE SATELLITE-BASED SYSTEMS
ASSURANCE TECHNOLOGY AWARDED SATELLITE ENGINEERING CONTRACT
CHINA SUCCESSFULLY TESTED GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
HUGHES FILES $288 MILLION CLAIM AGAINST GOVERNMENT
HUGHES HOLDS LOCK ON MEXICAN SATELLITE PROGRAM
SOVIETS SEEK WESTERN KU-BAND TRANSPONDERS FOR SATELLITES
TRANSPONDERS LEASED ON ASIASAT
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CANADA INVESTS IN FIVE ESA MISSIONS
GRO PREPARES FOR UPCOMING MISSION TO STUDY STARS
MAIDEN FLIGHT OF JOUST PROGRAM DELAYED
NASA CUTS COSTS AND COMPLEXITY OF SPACE STATION
SCIENTISTS QUESTION THE MERIT OF SPACE STATION REDESIGN
SDI ACCELERATES THEATER HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENSE PROGRAM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE LAB AND IBM JOIN FOR MORE COMPUTER WORK
The U.S. Air Force's Phillips Laboratory and IBM Corp. have joined
forces to further research and development into advanced computer
graphics hardware and software. Air Force researchers will use IBM's
advanced computer graphics architecture to study the performance of the
service's data compression-decompression algorithms.
BRITISH AEROSPACE CUTS BRING EMPLOYMENT LOSSES TO 20,000
British Aerospace (BA) announced it is cutting approximately 4,700
personnel, mostly from its commercial aircraft operations, due to
declining business in the U.K.'s defense and aerospace sector. The
latest announcement brings the total employment cuts at the U.K.
aerospace company to more than 20,000 in 1991. BA officials said the
cuts were necessary to match future business, and to secure future
orders on company-funded projects (such as Laserfire, Merlin and Sea
Skua programs).
FAIRCHILD SPACE & DEFENSE CORP. ANNOUNCES LAYOFFS
Over the last three months, Fairchild Space and Defense Corp. has cut 8
percent of its 1,975 personnel in its space, defense and controls
divisions. Top management changes have also occurred during the
reorganization period. The company announced Richard Brackeen resigned
as Chairman, Jack Frohbieter was appointed president and chief
operating officer, and Larry Yermack was appointed the space division's
new president.
LOCKHEED WINS BATTLE AGAINST SIMMONS TAKEOVER
Lockheed Corp. of Calabasas, CA, won its two-year battle against Dallas
billionaire Harold C. Simmons. During the battle, Simmons had sought
to replace Lockheed's board, giving himself three board seats.
However, Lockheed's shareholders rejected Simmon's plan. As a result,
the investor sold 12 million of his Lockheed shares for $486 million,
taking a loss of $3.60 a share. His total loss was $42 million on the
transaction, plus $11 million on his unsuccessful effort to elect his
own board, and the estimated $4 million he had spent on the proxy
fight. Simmons quit his proxy fight after failing to win substantial
support from institutional investors, who control about 45% of the
aerospace company.
MDC, GD, GE REMAIN PENTAGON'S TOP CONTRACTORS
The Pentagon reported that McDonnell Douglas Corp. (MDC), General
Dynamics (GD), and General Electric (GE), won approximately 15% of the
total Department of Defense (DoD) contract awards in fiscal 1990. In
addition, the Pentagon explained the majority of the DoD contractors
work with electronics (25 companies).
NASA TO CUT SUPPORT CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL
NASA decided to convert hundreds of support-contractor jobs to civil
service after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) warned the
agency it was hiring contractors for work its field center employees
should be doing. Nevertheless, NASA officials stressed that as their
space programs grow, contracted-out work is expected to increase.
THOMSON SIGNS TEAMING AGREEMENT WITH BOEING
Thomson-CSF of France and Boeing Defense and Space Group of Seattle,
WA, signed a pact agreeing that both will investigate any opportunity
for cooperation on future contracts. No projects have yet been
identified; however, the five year agreement will concentrate on joint
bids for U.S. government contracts.
UNISYS CREATES SEPARATE BOARD FOR DEFENSE DIVISION
Unisys Corp. has created a separate board of directors for the
company's defense division -- a move some Wall Street analysts believe
could be a preclude to the division's sale. Unisys Defense Systems of
McLean, VA, has more than $2 billion in annual defense electronics
sales, accounting for approximately 20 percent of the corporation's
total sales. Company officials declined to explain the motivation
behind the creation of the new board; however, industry observers
speculate the division will be sold. Over the past two years, Unisys
has reported losses of almost $1.1 billion, and its debt levels are now
at rates that have made it difficult for the company to make a profit.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BEECH AIRCRAFT REPORTS INCREASED 1990 SALES
In 1990, Beech Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of Raytheon Co., delivered
433 aircraft, worth an estimated $1.1 billion. The year-end data
marked the first time the aircraft manufacturer had sales exceeding $1
billion. Deliveries included more than 120 King Air turboprop business
aircraft and 52 regional transports. Also, officials announced pre-tax
profits equaled $80 million, an 82% increase from 1989.
BOEING TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SUPPORT CAPABILITIES
Boeing Co. of Seattle, WA, announced three new facilities, costing an
estimated $260 million, are being constructed to upgrade the company's
customer support capabilities. Recently, Boeing initiated the process
by breaking ground on a $100 million spare parts distribution center
next to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Company officials
believe the new center will diminish traffic delays by readily
supplying critically needed items. In addition, Boeing is building a
$60 million facility at its Auburn, WA, plant to manufacture out of
stock items, and is opening a $100 million training facility by
December 1993.
BOEING SIGNS THREE SUBCONTRACTORS FOR MAJOR 777 WORK
Boeing Co. signed three contracts, valued at slightly less than $1
billion, to supply major portions for the 777 transport. The companies
selected are: Menasco Aerospace, which will supply the main landing
gear; Rockwell International's North American Aircraft Operations,
which will supply graphite composite floor beam assemblies; and Grumman
Aerospace Corp., which will provide the graphite composite spoilers.
CONTRACTORS SUBMIT FINAL ATF DEVELOPMENT BIDS
Two competing airframe teams led by Lockheed Corp. and Northrop Corp.
in the bid for the U.S. Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF)
submitted final offers in preparation for an April 30 decision on the
$12.8 billion development contract award. The request for Best and
Final Offers (BAFO) follows formal proposals submitted late last year
by the competing manufacturers. The requested BAFOs mark the final
phase in a 54-month demonstration and validation of ATF technologies.
During the predevelopment period, each airframe team was able to submit
flight, performance and cost data based on the two prototype airplanes.
DISPUTE STOPS MD-11 FUSELAGE SECTION DELIVERIES
General Dynamics Convair Division halted delivery to Douglas Aircraft
Co. of fuselage trijet barrel sections for the MD-11 transport. The
action was prompted by a dispute is over the completeness level of the
sections delivered and the production rate. Under the original
agreement, General Dynamics was to produce and deliver 200 fuselages to
Douglas Aircraft.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ANNOUNCES TECHNOLOGICAL COMPLEXITIES WITH C-17
McDonnell Douglas Corp. (MDC) officials explained that integrating
advanced technologies into the C-17 airlifter has proved complex.
Currently, the C-17 program is nearly two years behind schedule, and
approximately $500 million over budget. This is the first time that
MDC has integrated avionics with complicated components such as those
of the C-17. The Air Force plans to use the transport for air-dropping
cargo, landing with heavy loads on short runways and flying fast at low
altitudes.
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE REPORTS PROBLEMS WITH BLACK JAMMER PROGRAM
Air Force officials said they are experiencing problems with a secret
airborne tactical jammer system that is being developed to replace the
planned joint-service Airborne Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ).
Recently, the Pentagon cancelled the ASPJ program because of cost
constraints. Reportedly, one ASPJ is three times as expensive as the
estimated $1 million black jammer; however, the black program is less
capable than ASPJ in that it cannot jam specific types of radar.
GRUMMAN RECEIVES CONTRACT TO UPGRADE EF-111A JAMMING SYSTEM
Grumman Aerospace Corp. was awarded a $155 million, five year Air Force
contract to develop, install and fully test an upgrade kit for the EF-
111A's AN/ALQ-99E tactical jamming system.
HORIZON OFFERS CUSTOMERS MAP OPERATOR MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS
Horizon Technology of San Diego, CA, is offering its Map Operations
Maintenance System (MOMS) database, which provides aircraft cockpit
digital displays, seamless digital maps and reconnaissance photographs,
to its defense customers. MOMS allows pilots to observe locations of
aircraft and threats and target locations on a moving map display. The
system was developed for Harrier AV-8B aircraft; but can be installed
on F/A-18 and V-22 aircraft. Recently, the U.S. Marines bought 11 MOMS
for $2 million.
LITTON TO DELIVER NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
Litton Guidance & Control Systems Division of Woodland Hills, CA, will
start deliveries to the U.S. Air Force of LN-93 and LN-94 laser gyro
navigation systems for fighter and transport aircraft. Recently, the
Air Force provided Litton with $24.5 million in new funding for 327
additional navigation systems for F-15, F-16, F-111 and C-130 aircraft.
The contract also included funding for the first laser gyro navigation
systems for foreign F-16 aircraft. Since 1985, Litton has received
U.S. government orders for 1,597 navigation systems.
LOCKHEED MODIFIES C-130 HERCULES INSTRUMENTS
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. of Marietta, GA, has replaced 60 old
cockpit instruments with six new Active-Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays
(AM-LCD). The new technology was developed jointly by the government
and industry. Earlier this month, Lockheed completed the first flight
test of a C-130 modified with the new electronic cockpit displays.
ROCKWELL TO SUPPLY AIR FORCE WITH HAVE QUICK II RADIOS
Rockwell International will build a number of Have Quick II radio
systems for the Air Force Electronic Systems Div. under an $18.3
million contract. The radios provide over 7,000 channels in AM and FM
communications.
VITRO TO PROVIDE ARMY TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Vitro Corp. of Silver Springs, MD, was awarded a $29.8 million contract
by the Army Communications-Electronics Command to provide technical and
management support for the Army's Worldwide Military Command and
Control System Information System at 12 U.S. and foreign sites. Vitro
announced contract work will be performed at the corporation's
Operations Readiness Branch.
VITRO RECEIVES ASW ENGINEERING CONTRACT FROM NAVY
Vitro Corp. received a three-year, $13.1 million contract from the U.S.
Navy to develop plans for maintaining the hardware and software systems
of the SQQ-89 surface ship antisubmarine warfare combat system.
MISSILES:
ARMY REVIVES SIMPLER VERSION OF FOG-M
The U.S. army has revived a new fiber-optic guided missile (FOG-M)
system modeled after the overly expensive Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS)
weapon system. Earlier this year, the Army ended the NLOS after its
projected development cost jumped from the contractor estimate of $130
million to more than $400 million. Officials at the Army Training and
Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, VA, agreed to launch a new program aimed
at fielding by 1994 a tank-killing missile guided to its tank through a
fibre-optic cable. The new system will be used by nearly every branch
of the Army, including armored, infantry and artillery forces.
BOEING SUCCESSFULLY TESTED LEAP PROPULSION SYSTEM
Boeing Defense and Space Group, Seattle, WA, successfully tested an
integrated solid-divert propulsion system for the Strategic Defense
Initiative's (SDI) Lightweight ExoAtomospheric Projectile (LEAP). The
propulsion system utilizes solid propellant exhaust gases, thrusters
and other components to provide the maneuvering power and thrust for
LEAP. LEAP technology has possible applications for either ground-
based or space-based interceptors.
BRITISH AEROSPACE CONCERNED WITH LAG IN ASRAAM BIDDING
British Aerospace's (BAe) Dynamics Division in Stevenage, England,
claimed the U.K.'s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has failed to invite bids
on the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), possibly
causing a loss up to $5 billion in export orders for the company.
Program delays, caused by requirement changes as a result of lessons
learned from the Gulf war, are threatening jobs at BAe. ASRAAM, viewed
mainly as a replacement for the reliable but aging Sidewinder AIM
missile, was to have entered production during the early 1990s. The
project, however, has been slowed by problems, including the earlier
withdrawal of Germany and France and the United States rejection of the
missile.
IMPROVED PATRIOT RECEIVES FUNDING
The Desert Storm supplemental conferees approved an additional $22.2
million funding for Patriot missile defense research and development.
The new Patriot would extend the range of the PAC-2 missile 30% to 40%.
Officials explain that if these missiles were available during the Gulf
War, interception of Scud surface-to-surface missiles would have
occurred sooner, resulting in less debris falling on populated areas.
LORAL TO PRODUCE MILES FOR SPANISH AND ITALIAN ARMED FORCES
Loral Corp.'s Electro-Optical Systems division of Pasadena, CA, will
manufacture its Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) for
the Spanish and Italian armed forces. The Spanish contract, worth $2.4
million, includes next-generation MILES II laser transmitters and
detectors for tanks, antitank missiles, automatic weapons and small
arms. The Italian contract, valued at $2.2 million, calls for Loral to
produce laser transmitters for small arms and more than 600 laser
detectors. The equipment will be used by the Italian Army and Air
Force.
THOMSON-CSF SUCCESSFULLY FIRES VT-1 MISSILE
Thomson-CSF of Paris, France, announced it had successfully fired the
U.S.-built VT-1 hypervelocity missile from the Thomson Crotale New
Generation air defense weapon system. The VT-1 missile was built by
Dallas-based LTV Corp.'s Missiles and Electronics Group. The first
Crotale NG is expected to be delivered to the French Army in 1991.
TURKEY TO RECEIVE PATRIOT SYSTEM
The U.S. plans to give Turkey the Patriot antimissile air defense
system that was provided to them during the war. Strategically located
in the Gulf region, Turkey allowed the U.S. to use its air base for
attacks inside Iraq. The Patriot system, produced by Raytheon Co.,
costs between $75 million and $100 million each depending on the
number of missiles included with the launcher.
US SELLS PATRIOT TO ISRAEL AND LOGISTICS SUPPORT TO SAUDIS
The Pentagon proposed two separate foreign military sales to Israel and
Saudi Arabia. Israel will receive $350 million worth of Patriot
equipment, in addition to spare parts and support, and Saudi Arabia
will receive $910 million worth of spare parts and other logistics
support for its Army and Air Force.
WESTINGHOUSE TO BUILD TORPEDOES UNDER NAVY CONTRACT
Westinghouse obtained a $134 million contract extension from the Naval
Sea Systems Command to build 164 Mk. 50 torpedoes. Westinghouse will
deliver these surface-launched and air-droppable torpedoes in 1993.
SATELLITES:
ARMY SEEKS MORE SATELLITE-BASED SYSTEMS
The U.S. Army's reliance on ground-based radio systems is becoming
increasingly complicated and requiring more personnel and maintenance.
As such, the Army is seeking a satellite-type of communications
distribution system, which will improve communications and reduce the
reliance on ground-based systems. Currently, the Department of
Defense's (DoD) Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receivers have been
used by ground forces, aircraft and vehicles, but the available supply
of transponder space on the satellites is limited.
ASSURANCE TECHNOLOGY AWARDED SATELLITE ENGINEERING CONTRACT
Assurance Technology Corp. was awarded $79 million, 2 year contract to
develop and perform systems engineering on satellite subsystems.
CHINA SUCCESSFULLY TESTED GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
Chinese researchers announced an experimental meteorological satellite
has orbited the earth 1,000 times, and a gallium arsenide component on
board the satellite still works. The component is composed of solar
cells, which are used as electrical power systems on orbital
spacecraft.
HUGHES FILES $288 MILLION CLAIM AGAINST GOVERNMENT
Hughes Communications Galaxy Inc. of El Segundo, CA, a subsidiary of
Hughes Aircraft Co., filed a $288 million suit against NASA for failure
to launch 10 commercial satellites in the wake of the 1986 space
shuttle explosion. The complaint seeks to recover expenses Hughes will
have incurred to launch these spacecraft on commercial vehicles rather
than U.S. space shuttles. According to the court filing, NASA's breach
of contract cost Hughes $288 million: $235 million for increased
launch costs, $47 million for increased insurance costs and $6 million
in satellite redesign expenses.
HUGHES HOLDS LOCK ON MEXICAN SATELLITE PROGRAM
Hughes Space and Communications Group of Los Angeles, CA, won a $150
million contract to build Mexico's next generation of communications
satellites. Hughes will build two satellites, weighing 3,500 pounds
each, to be launched in late 1993 on commercial rockets. The
government-owned company, Telecomicaciones de Mexico, provides domestic
satellite service to the country and will operate the spacecraft.
Currently, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has agreed to participate in
financing the satellite sales. Hughes is still negotiating whether the
bank will provide loans or loan guarantees, which designate the Bank to
pay off commercial loans if the Mexican government defaults on
payments.
SOVIETS SEEK WESTERN KU-BAND TRANSPONDERS FOR SATELLITES
The Soviet Union is trying to buy Western space hardware for a
satellite network designed to link approximately 300,000 ground
stations across its country. Problems of payment with non-convertible
currency and the absence of a telecommunications tariff system in the
Soviet Union is blocking the deal.
TRANSPONDERS LEASED ON ASIASAT
Chinese officials announced that the first of four transponders on the
AsiaSat 1 spacecraft was leased for approximately $6 million to a Hong
Kong-based consortium. If executed as planned, the number of in use or
reserved AsiaSat 1 transponders will be around 80%.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CANADA INVESTS IN FIVE ESA MISSIONS
The Canadian government agreed to participate in five additional
European Space Agency (ESA) projects. The accord, signed at ESA's
Paris headquarters, will increase Canada's ESA payments to $112
million. This payment will go towards ESA's future space plane,
Hermes, and its future ERS-2 environment-monitoring satellite. In
addition, two programs designed to test advanced satellite
telecommunications, the Advanced Systems and Technology Program and the
Data Relay and Technology Mission, will now receive Canadian support.
GRO PREPARES FOR UPCOMING MISSION TO STUDY STARS
NASA's Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) satellite, scheduled to be launched
April 6 aboard space shuttle Atlantis, will gather tiny photons of
energy in steady gulps. GRO is the second of NASA's great
observatories following the Hubble Space Telescope. The $557 million
observatory differs from the Hubble in that it has four independent
observational instruments, which don't share equipment, except for the
two-kilowatt solar power supply. Built by TRW Space and Technology
Group, Redondo Beach, CA, under a $250 million NASA contract, GRO is
expected to operate a minimum of two years. However, NASA program
officials expect the spacecraft to last four to six years, until its
instruments lose their cryogenic coolants.
MAIDEN FLIGHT OF JOUST PROGRAM DELAYED
The first flight of the Joust program, which will launch 10 experiments
into microgravity on a suborbital rocket, has been delayed, needing
extra time to complete guidance and control work on the Prospector
rocket built by Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Space Data Division. The NASA
and industry funded project is now scheduled to launch after April 20
at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. The University of Alabama at
Huntsville's Consortium for Materials Development in Space is
organizing the four launches.
NASA CUTS COSTS AND COMPLEXITY OF SPACE STATION
NASA reduced the total cost of the planned Space Station by $8.3
billion to $30 billion. Despite the cost cuts, NASA will spend an
additional $400 million to build outpost components with improved
reliability and assembly methods. With the reduced budget,
approximately 20,000 people will be cut by manufacturers involved in
developing the man-tended orbiting station. On a related note,
two groups of leading U.S. scientists concluded that the Space Station
redesign has no scientific justification, and does not merit the
allotted budget. The report by the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP), recommended that NASA focus the project
entirely on human space exploration.
SDI ACCELERATES THEATER HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENSE PROGRAM
The Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) plans to create
the largest program in the SDIO-managed Theater Missile Defense
Initiative. The restructuring and accelerating of the Theater High
Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program will develop an entire system of
defense against short-range ballistic missiles, as opposed to the
building of only one new missile. A mature system is to be ready by
2000 and will involve a significant increase in funding for the
program. Officials say that there is some risk involved in the
ambitious technological schedule.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
GEORGE ANDERSON@AYO LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO
RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO
JIM BALLANCE@EWO MERLE BAPTISTE@IVO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO AUBREY BONE@MAO
CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO JIM BOREL@LAO
STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO
GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO RON BRODICT@PHO
RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO
RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO GENE CERNAN@HSO DAVID CERULLO@OFO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO
GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO
BOB COHEN@IVO DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO
HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO
JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO
BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO
DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO GARY DAVIS@FOO JACK DAVIS@BMO G DAVIS@DVO
PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO
TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO
JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO TANNA DIBBLE@MPO
RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI
LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO
DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME FRED DUPLAIN@DYO
GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO
JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET JOHN FADEL@CLO
MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO
ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO
KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO TOM FLYNN@SYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO
FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO RALPH FOSTER@CWO
RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO
ROLF GAERTNER@MGO RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MHO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO
DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO
KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO STEWART GREATHOUSE@
CARTER GUIDER@FHO MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ THOMAS HIPP@WRO JERRY HOLM@SEO
LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO
JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO BOB HUBBARD@FZO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST LARRY HUDSON@LAO
LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@
BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO
TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO
TONY JEZIOR@DCA BOB JOHNSON@ORO DAVE JOHNSON@FZO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO
RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO MARION KAKIS@MET
BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO
DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO
JIM KIRSILA@BWA STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO
NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA
BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO
CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO
CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO
RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA LEO MADRID@PBF JOHN MAGINNIS@IVO
WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO
ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO
RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARILYN MARSH@WRO
DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO
CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO
EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO
JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO
RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO
DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO
DON MONTOYA@DVO BILL MOORE@MET GARY MOORE@TSO ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO
BILL MORROW@WRO JIM MORROW@SEO MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO
MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO
ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO
BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO
HENRY NYE@MKO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO
CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO HAROLD PATTERSON@CW
HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO
BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO
TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO
RENE PRESSE@MQO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO
JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO
JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO
PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO
ALLISON RICHARDSON@ PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO
KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO
MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO
KEVIN SALMON@SLO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO
HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO
CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MRO STAN SHAREK@TMO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO
SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO
PETE SIKAITIS@FHO BILL SLEZAK@DCO KEVIN SMITH@LIO PEYTON SMITH@SEO
MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO
LARRY STAHL@LAO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO
MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO
JAMES TRACY@STO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
LEE VARRICHIONE@MET DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO
JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO KEVIN WALSH@TTB JERRY WASSEM@DYO
BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@
RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO PENNY WIEDENMAN@MKO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO
PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO
ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO TOM WRIGHT@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO
DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO RONALD ZANDER@LAO
GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.106 | Aerospace Weekly News Highlights, week of April 1, | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Apr 10 1991 11:27 | 759 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 09-Apr-1991 07:17pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Weekly News Highlights, week of April 1, 1991
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 1, 1991
-------------------------------------
Sponsored By
Aerospace Industry Marketing
------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 1, 1991
GENERAL:
BOEING POSTPONES DECISION TO SHUTTER AWACS PROGRAM
BOEING SETTLES WITH FAMILIES OF 54 JAL CRASH VICTIMS
CSTC IS SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES
DARPA TO FUND PHOTONICS PROGRAM
DOD EXPANDS CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES PLAN
GENERAL DYNAMICS CLOSING LONDON OFFICE
GENERAL DYNAMICS MAY RELOCATE TO WASHINGTON, DC
GRUMMAN ANNUAL PROFITS RISE 27 PERCENT
HARRIS PURCHASES U.K. MANUFACTURING OPERATION
LORAL QUARTERLY PROFITS NEAR $21 MILLION
RYDER'S REVENUES UP
SOUTH KOREA CHOOSES GENERAL DYNAMICS FIGHTERS OVER MCDONNELL'S
WESTERN COMPANIES ASSIST SOVIETS IN $10 BILLION ATC MODERNIZATION
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AEROSPATIALE COMPLETES FIRST AIRBUS A340 AIRFRAME
AIR FORCE ORDERS MORE STEALTH AIRCRAFT
B-2 BOMBER PASSED LOW OBSERVABLE FLIGHT TESTS
EUROFIGHTER CONSORTIUM'S CONTRACTS
GE TO MODIFY F101 BLADE
SEOUL SWITCHES FROM F/A-18s TO F-16s FOR KOREAN FIGHTER PROGRAM
AVIONICS:
BENDIX AWARDED FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM CONTRACT
CAE-LINK TO PROVIDE SIMULATOR FOR APACHE
FERRANTI GIVEN LASER POINTING CONTRACTS
GEC-MARCONI WINS JTIDS CONTRACT
ISRAELI FIRM TO PROVIDE JAMMERS
LITTON RECEIVES NIGHT VISION CONTRACT FROM NORWAY
MARTIN MARIETTA TO PRODUCE LANTIRN SYSTEMS
PLANNING RESEARCH CORP. TO PROVIDE COMMAND AND CONTROL SUPPORT
SMITH INDUSTRIES DEVELOPS DATA LINK INTERFACE FOR AIRCRAFT
MISSILES:
AEROJET PROPULSION BUILDS MOTORS FOR AMRAAM
BOEING BEGINS SECOND PHASE OF MARS PROPULSION STUDY
GD'S AAAM COULD COMPETE WITH THE AIR FORCE'S ADVANCED VERSION OF AMRAAM
ISRAEL'S ARROW AGAIN TESTS SUCCESSFULLY
LTV RECEIVES SOLE CONTRACT FOR ANTITANK WEAPON SYSTEM
MARTIN MARIETTA TO BUILD ROCKET FACILITY
NAVY REVIEWS ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE MISSILE SYSTEM
ROHR TO BUILD ASSEMBLIES FOR TITAN 4 ROCKETS
SATELLITES:
EOS PREPARES FOR FUTURE USE OF SPACE-BASED REMOTE SENSING
GE AMERICOM SWITCHES TO SATCOM C1 FROM AURORA 1
INDONESIA WEIGHS POLITICS, ECONOMICS IN SATELLITE LAUNCH (DOUGLAS)
JAPANESE INTRIGUED BY SPACE DEFENSE
ROCKWELL INTRODUCES COMMERCIAL GPS RECEIVER MODULE
SOVIETS LAUNCH ALMAZ-1 SATELLITE
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ESA SHORTENS SPACE STATION'S LABORATORY
NASA REVISES 1991 SHUTTLE LAUNCH PLAN
ORBITAL SCIENCES EARNS CONTRACT FOR APEX
ROCKWELL RECEIVES EXTENSION ON SHUTTLE OPERATIONS CONTRACT
SMITHSONIAN OBSERVATORY AWARDED $86.7 MILLION AXAF CONTRACT
SPACEHAB FINDS BUSINESS IN PROTOTYPING SPACE STATION EXPERIMENTS
SPACE STATION MOCK-UP TO BE EXHIBITED AT PARIS AIR SHOW
TECHNOLOGY:
MENTOR GRAPHICS GETS FIVE-YEAR PACT FROM ALLIED-SIGNAL UNIT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BOEING POSTPONES DECISION TO SHUTTER AWACS PROGRAM
BOEING CO., which had indicated it would permanently end its AWACS
surveillance plane program unless more orders were received by the end of
March, postponed any decision on such a move. A representative said he did
not know when, or if, a decision would be reached. Boeing said it will have
to shut its 707 airframe line in Renton, Washington, the backbone of the
AWACS program, regardless of whether more orders are received. But if enough
bookings come in, Boeing will be able to reopen the line elsewhere. Some
countries, including Japan and Saudi Arabia, are still thought to be
interested in buying more AWACS. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 3, 1991)
BOEING SETTLES WITH FAMILIES OF 54 JAL CRASH VICTIMS
BOEING CO. reached agreement with the families of 54 victims on compensation
for the 1985 crash of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747, history's worst single-
plane disaster, in which all but four of the 524 passengers died. Under an
agreement between the two sides, the amount of compensation was not
disclosed. The government blamed the crash on improper repairs by Boeing to
the plane's rear pressure bulkhead. Japan Airlines and Boeing have agreed to
jointly shoulder the compensation cost. The agreement resolves all but a
handful of claims. (Source: Dow Jones News, March 26, 1991)
CSTC IS SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES
The Consolidated Space Test Center (CSTC) is looking for sources to
support a variety of activities. Interested companies must respond
with statements of capabilities by April 24 to be considered for the
60-month cost-plus-award-fee contract, which starts October 1,1992.
The tasks include: supporting research, development, testing and
evaluation of a variety of booster upper stages and payloads; providing
technical support for launching new spacecraft; performing operations
planning, systems engineering and support for current and future
programs; managing and operating spacecraft facilities such as the test
support complexes and the Camp Parks communication annex, and
supporting satellite programs at the Consolidated Space Operations
Center. Responsibilities also include operations, maintenance and
logistics support for specialized computer systems that support space
test operations and related equipment. Lockheed Technical Operations
Co. currently performs the work.
DARPA TO FUND PHOTONICS PROGRAM
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), San Francisco,
CA, is starting a new program which will gather industry teams together
to study photonics. Photonics involves technology that uses light,
instead of electronics, to perform functions in devices. The Defense
Department's Critical Technologies Plan says that photonic devices will
begin to appear over the next 20 years in sensors, communications and
information processing systems. DARPA's $20 million budget for this
year will fund two or more industry consortia to begin photonics
research.
DOD EXPANDS CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES PLAN
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will add flexible manufacturing to
its Critical Technologies Plan, an annual list of technologies
considered vital to national security. Flexible manufacturing systems,
considered by many to be the cornerstone of the factory of the future,
can be rearranged by computers to manufacture a variety of products.
GENERAL DYNAMICS CLOSING LONDON OFFICE
General Dynamics Land Systems is closing its London office, but will
retain a U.K. presence through its international office. The move --
done to promote its bid for the British Army's Chieftain tank
replacement program -- occurred after the Ministry of Defense announced
that the tank decision will be delayed until after gulf war analysis.
General Dynamics officials believe they will win the competition with
their M1A2 tanks against Vickers Defense Systems' British Challenger 2.
GENERAL DYNAMICS MAY RELOCATE TO WASHINGTON, DC
GENERAL DYNAMICS is expected to move its headquarters from St. Louis to
Washington, DC. The move is expected to be ratified at a meeting of the
company's board on May 1. The company apparently wants to be closer to the
U.S. Defense Department and other Washington-based federal agencies that
have a say in the company's $10 billion in annual sales. (Source: Dow Jones
News, March 26, 1991)
GRUMMAN ANNUAL PROFITS RISE 27 PERCENT
Grumman Corp., Bethpage, NY, reported 1990 net sales of $4.04 billion
for all its operations, up 14 percent from $3.56 billion last year.
Profits rose 27 percent from $67.3 billion to $85.6 million.
HARRIS PURCHASES U.K. MANUFACTURING OPERATION
Harris Corp. has acquired the company's first communications-equipment
manufacturing operation in the U.K. Harris will use the Cambridge-
based TVT operations to expand its European presence.
LORAL QUARTERLY PROFITS NEAR $21 MILLION
Loral Corp., New York, NY, reported net profits of $20.9 million for
the quarter ending Dec. 31, an increase over the $16 million reported
for the same quarter in 1989. Sales for the quarter totaled $669.5
million as opposed to $301.1 million last year. The acquisition of
Loral Aerospace Holdings Inc. from Ford Motor Co. contributed to the
increase.
RYDER'S REVENUES UP
Ryder System Aviation Services reported increased revenues to $1.212
billion in 1990 from $1.141 billion in 1989. Their aviation-oriented
pretax earnings of $30.3 million were up from last years $27.7 million.
SOUTH KOREA CHOOSES GENERAL DYNAMICS FIGHTERS OVER MCDONNELL'S
In a stunning turnaround, the South Korean government selected GENERAL
DYNAMICS's F-16 Falcons as its Air Force's fighters, scrapping its earlier
decision to select MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F/A-18 Hornets. The turnaround was due
to the former's lower price. The total value of the fighter program, under
which South Korea will buy or co-produce 120 fighters for the next several
years, is estimated at $5.2 billion for the F-16 and $6.6 billion for the
F/A-18. Recent studies showed little differences between the two types of
the aircrafts in terms of battle capabilities, despite the sharp difference
in the prices. General Dynamics said initial deliveries are projected for
1994. (Source: Dow Jones News, March 28, 1991)
WESTERN COMPANIES ASSIST SOVIETS IN $10 BILLION ATC MODERNIZATION
Five Western companies are aiding the Soviet Union in a $10 billion
modernization of its air traffic control (ATC) system. To accomplish
this upgrade, the five companies and the Soviet Ministry of Civil
Aviation have formed a Global Air Transportation Systems and Services
(GATSS) which will integrate emerging technologies and concentrate on
satellite based navigation and communications systems. The five
companies involved include Westinghouse Electric Corp. which heads the
team, AT&T, Deutsche Aerospace, IBM, and C. Itoh and Co.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AEROSPATIALE COMPLETES FIRST AIRBUS A340 AIRFRAME
Aerospatiale of France completed the airframe assembly of Airbus
Industrie's first A340-300. The A340-300 will compete against Boeing's
777 and McDonnell Douglas' MD-11. The airframe has been electrically
powered-up and the first electrical tests are in progress. The final
assembly took place at the Clement Ader building on the Toulouse/
Blagnac airport. Typical range of the A340-300 with 295 passengers is
12,500 km. (6,750 nautical miles).
AIR FORCE ORDERS MORE STEALTH AIRCRAFT
The U.S. Air Force will buy large numbers of F-117A stealth fighter-
bomber aircraft despite disproportionate success in the Gulf War.
Although the F-117A represented only 2.5 percent of the combat force
deployed, on the first day the aircraft attacked 31 percent of the
targets. Eight F-117A aircraft has the same bombing capacity as 16
conventional aircraft, and requires an extraordinarily less amount of
support from other ground and air fighters, and radar-killers and
escort fighters.
B-2 BOMBER PASSED LOW OBSERVABLE FLIGHT TESTS
The Department of Defense (DoD) stated that the B-2 bomber passed Block
2 low observable flight tests with no significant technical or
operational problems. The Defense Secretary submitted a certification
to the Congress stating that the results of early testing are
satisfactory. This certification is required before B-2 funds can be
released and obligated.
EUROFIGHTER CONSORTIUM'S CONTRACTS
An international Munich-based consortium of GEC Avionics Ltd.,
Rochester, United Kingdom; Teldix GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany; Cesel SA,
Madrid, Spain; and Alenia, Italy has been awarded three separate
contracts by the Eurofighter consortium to supply weapon station units
for the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA). The station units receive and
transmit data through the fighter's 1553 databus and then convey
information between the EFA's weapons and its weapon control system.
GE TO MODIFY F101 BLADE
General Electric will modify a fan blade design for the F101 engine
which will increase its strength and resistance to foreign object
damage. GE will also apply an erosion coating to the blade's leading
edge and modify an air shield on the rear of existing blades to act as
a damper. This proposal is a low cost alternative to completely
redesigning the blade, which has already failed 5 times.
SEOUL SWITCHES FROM F/A-18s TO F-16s FOR KOREAN FIGHTER PROGRAM
South Korea reversed its 1989 choice of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18s for
the Korean Fighter Program to General Dynamics F-16. Korea
specifically wants 120 license-built F-16s to fill the requirement, as
opposed to the previous agreement in which Korea would buy 12 off-the-
shelf airplanes, 36 built in Korea from kits and 72 fully co-produced
in Korea by Samsung. The switch was caused by runaway cost growth.
The decision could cause a potential fight on Capitol Hill over
technology transfer to Seoul. Those who led the original fight against
the Korean Fighter Program said that the sale is going to be studied
very closely.
AVIONICS:
BENDIX AWARDED FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM CONTRACT
Bendix Flight Systems Division, Teterboro, NJ, was awarded a $4 million
contract by Boeing to develop a digital automatic flight control system
(AFCS). This system is for the Navy's E-6 TACAMO aircraft which
communicate with its ballistic missile submarine fleet. The AFCS
system is also applicable to all Boeing 707 airframes.
CAE-LINK TO PROVIDE SIMULATOR FOR APACHE
CAE-Link Corp., Binghamton, NY, will supply the Egyptian Air Force with
an advanced training simulator for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter
under a $29 million U.S. government foreign military sales contract.
The combat mission simulator will include CAE-Link's Army Tactical
Digital Image Generator sophisticated visual system. The simulator
will be delivered in early 1994.
FERRANTI GIVEN LASER POINTING CONTRACTS
Ferranti International, London, U.K., won contracts totaling $5.25
million to supply British Army Gazelle helicopters with laser targeting
equipment for sighting systems. A trial installation tested
successfully on a Gazelle helicopter that was equipped for forward
observation roles using a stabilized roof-mounted sight, the AF 532,
supplied by Ferranti.
GEC-MARCONI WINS JTIDS CONTRACT
GEC-Marconi Electronic Systems Corp., Wayne, NJ, was awarded a $70
million contract for Class 2 terminals for the Joint Tactical
Information Distribution System (JTIDS) by Britain's Ministry of
Defense. This is the third contract the company has received to build
terminals for the JTIDS. JTIDS is a jam-resistant, encrypted
communication system. The terminals are designed to provide a
communication system for Tornado F Mk 3 aircraft that resist electronic
countermeasures.
ISRAELI FIRM TO PROVIDE JAMMERS
Rafael, Haifa, will supply jammers for three Dutch Fokker anti-
submarine warfare aircraft on order to Singapore. This jammer can
simultaneously jam three types of electromagnetic threats. In 1994 the
Maritime Enforcer will be flying for coastal surveillance and
antisubmarine warfare.
LITTON RECEIVES NIGHT VISION CONTRACT FROM NORWAY
Litton's Electronic Devices Unit, Tempe, AZ, and Litton Precision
Products International, Stockholm, Sweden, will collaborate to supply
the Norwegian Army with night vision goggles and binoculars. This
equipment enhances night vision by intensifying images using available
light sources such as stars. The contract will last from three to five
years.
MARTIN MARIETTA TO PRODUCE LANTIRN SYSTEMS
Martin Marietta was awarded a $125.9 million contract to provide
Lantirn night-targeting systems to the U.S. Air Force. The company's
Electronics and Missiles Group will deliver 65 targeting pods, which
will be coupled with a navigation subsystem. This order is the final
option in a $2.9 billion contract awarded by the Air Force in 1985.
The equipment will also be supplied to Turkey and South Korea under a
foreign military sales arrangement.
PLANNING RESEARCH CORP. TO PROVIDE COMMAND AND CONTROL SUPPORT
Planning Research Corp. (PRC), MeLean, VA, will supply software
development and life-cycle support to Navy command and control (C2)
systems worldwide. This $63 million contract will employ more than 200
people, primarily in the Washington, D.C. area. Specifically, PRC will
provide software development, maintenance, testing and evaluation and
systems integration to C2 systems for each of the major command
centers.
SMITHS INDUSTRIES DEVELOPS DATA LINK INTERFACE FOR AIRCRAFT
Smith Industries Aerospace and Defense Systems, Inc., has developed an
adaptable data link interface in which airlines can customize messages
to flight management computers (FMC) in their aircraft. The pilot or a
data link provides information such as route, performance, weight or
winds to the computer which then controls the aircraft. This adaptable
interface is designed to be more efficient because airlines can
continually modify messages.
MISSILES:
AEROJET PROPULSION BUILDS MOTORS FOR AMRAAM
Aerojet Propulsion Division, Sacramento, CA, signed a contract to build
propulsion systems for the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
(AMRAAM), which will replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Delivery
for these systems will begin early next year.
BOEING BEGINS SECOND PHASE OF MARS PROPULSION STUDY
Boeing Defense and Space Group, Huntsville, AL, is beginning the second
phase of its study comparing propulsion candidates for trips to Mars.
During the first stage, Boeing engineers studied 70 power options and
decided that nuclear-thermal rockets were the most promising. The
second phase of the study, to be completed in August 1992, will involve
a more detailed design of the selected nuclear propulsion system.
GD'S AAAM COULD COMPETE WITH THE AIR FORCE'S ADVANCED VERSION OF AMRAAM
General Dynamics' Advanced Air-to-Air Missile (AAAM) is likely to be
cheaper, lighter, faster, more agile, and capable of having a far
longer range than the improved version of the Air Force's (P31)
Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The GD AAAM -- one
of two candidates to replace the Phoenix missile -- will enter
production around 1998, about the time the P31 AMRAAM will start coming
off the line.
ISRAEL'S ARROW AGAIN TESTS SUCCESSFULLY
Israel's Arrow antitactical ballistic missile system tested
successfully for the second time over the Mediterranean Sea. This
flight verified the missile's design and integration of its components.
LTV RECEIVES SOLE CONTRACT FOR ANTITANK WEAPON SYSTEM
LTV Missiles and Electronics Group, Dallas, TX, was awarded a contract
by the U.S. Navy to continue work on the Line-of-Sight Antitank (LOSAT)
weapon system. LOSAT is a high-speed kinetic energy missile mounted on
a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. LTV, which has been developing
this system for several years, has experienced problems with the rocket
in the past.
MARTIN MARIETTA TO BUILD ROCKET FACILITY
Martin Marietta Astronautics Group, Denver, CO, was awarded a $31.7
million contract by the U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division to design
and build a facility where solid-fuel rockets, used with Martin's Titan
4 booster, will be assembled. The building is hoped to be completed by
October 1991.
NAVY REVIEWS ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE MISSILE SYSTEM
The U.S. Navy will begin an extensive review of General Dynamics'
antisubmarine warfare (ASW) Tomahawk, as a result of the previous
cancellation of Boeing Aerospace and Electronics' Sea Lance. One
question raised is whether a long-range ASW missile should have the on-
board capability to find an enemy submarine after the missile has been
launched from a ship or submarine. The potential ranges for these
missiles is 100 miles for the Sea Lance and 500-700 miles for the
Tomahawk. Boeing officials state that the Tomahawk has a speed of
about 400 miles an hour, while the Sea Lance can reach speeds
of 1,400 miles per hour.
ROHR TO BUILD ASSEMBLIES FOR TITAN 4 ROCKETS
Rohr Industries, Chula Vista, CA, received a $205.9 million contract
from United Technology Corp.'s Chemical Systems Division, San Jose, CA,
to make motor cases and nozzle assemblies for Titan 4 expendable
rockets. Delivery will be completed in 1993. For each motor, Rohr
will manufacture nine steel motor cases, ten feet in diameter, and
three nozzle assemblies made of graphite composite material. The Titan
4 is used by the U.S. Air Force to boost satellites into orbit.
SATELLITES:
EOS PREPARES FOR FUTURE USE OF SPACE-BASED REMOTE SENSING
The U.S. Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation System (EROS)
Data Center is getting in tune with the type of space-based remote
sensing that scientists expect to be using in the upcoming century.
The center is prepared to simulate use of advanced EOS sensors by
gathering data from its vast holdings dating back to 1972, before the
first launch of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) later this decade.
Scientific teams who will use EOS plan to have complex algorithms, or
problem-solving instructions, needed for EOS ready before the
satellites reach orbit.
GE AMERICOM SWITCHES TO SATCOM C1 FROM AURORA 1
GE American Communications, New Orleans, LA, will use the Satcom C1
satellite rather than the Aurora 1, which is running low on fuel. Low
fuels caused Aurora 1 to rock slightly in its orbit and was therefore
unable to maintain continuous transmissions.
INDONESIA WEIGHS POLITICS, ECONOMICS IN SATELLITE LAUNCH (DOUGLAS)
The Indonesian government faces a tough task weighing politics and economics
as it nears a decision on who will launch the country's next communications
satellite. Bids to launch the satellite, called Palapa B-4, have come from
China, the U.S. and France, but the competition has been mainly between the
first two. Until recently, many observers believed China, which has offered
the lowest price, would win. Such a move would cement Jakarta and Beijing's
rapprochement. But telecommunications-industry executives now say MCDONNELL
DOUGLAS, whose Delta rockets have launched most of Indonesia's past
satellites, is best-positioned to get the nod. The U.S. company's bid has
been strengthened by its perceived ability to launch sooner and keep B-4
operating longer than China could with its Long March rocket. The country
wants to launch by April 1992; McDonnell Douglas says it can meet that goal.
However, the French-led Arianespace could launch by mid-May 1992 and a
representative says that McDonnell Douglas could not do it any earlier.
China Great Wall Industries could put B-4 up 20 months after a contract is
signed. That would be late in 1992 at the earliest. The B-4 satellite is
currently being built by HUGHES AIRCRAFT. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 1,
1991)
JAPANESE INTRIGUED BY SPACE DEFENSE
The Japanese have become interested in military satellites as a result
of the Persian Gulf war -- even though the country's current space
program is limited to civilian work. Laws prohibit Japan's space
agency to deploy satellites for military use, but there is speculation
that the government might use military satellites for defensive
purposes only.
ROCKWELL INTRODUCES COMMERCIAL GPS RECEIVER MODULE
Rockwell International plans to sell to the commercial market the
world's smallest and most powerful 5-channel GPS receiver module,
measuring 2 1/2 by 4 inches. Delivery of the receiver will begin in
late 1991 and will cost $450 in small quantities. Rockwell's GPS
equipment performed successfully during the Persian Gulf war on various
weapons delivery platforms.
SOVIETS LAUNCH ALMAZ-1 SATELLITE
After several delays, the Soviet Union successfully launched the Almaz-
1 commercial synthetic aperture radar satellite from the Tyuratam
center in Soviet Asia. The Almaz-1 was designed to map areas 180 miles
long with a resolution of 15 meters. The Soviets hope their 20,000
kilogram satellite will gain a share of the $123 million worldwide
market for remote sensing data.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ESA SHORTENS SPACE STATION LABORATORY
Financial pressures are causing the European Space Agency (ESA) to
shorten the space station's habitable laboratory by 20 percent. In
addition, ESA would prefer to use its future shuttle-type space plane,
Hermes, to exclusively service its laboratory rather than depending on
the main station.
NASA REVISES 1991 SHUTTLE LAUNCH PLAN
NASA has revised its 1991 space shuttle launch manifest because of the
February 1991 postponement of the first launch this year due to door
hinge cracks on the shuttle Discovery. The agency reports there will
be six shuttle flights this year rather than seven.
ORBITAL SCIENCES EARNS CONTRACT FOR APEX
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, CA, awarded a
contract to Orbital Sciences Corp., Fairfax, VA, to build a spacecraft
which will hold three scientific experiments related to advanced
designs for solar panels. The Advanced Photovoltaic and Electronics
Experiments (APEX) spacecraft would travel through the Earth's Van
Allen radiation belts, where the prime experiment would evaluate the
radiation's effect on samples of solar-cell materials. The two
remaining experiments will measure the frequency with which cosmic rays
disrupt microelectronics in orbit and the speed at which electronic
components deteriorate in the harsh environment of orbit.
ROCKWELL RECEIVES EXTENSION ON SHUTTLE OPERATIONS CONTRACT
Rockwell Space Operations Co. has obtained a $2.3 billion extension on
its contract to perform Shuttle operations activities at NASA Johnson
Space Center through the year 2000. With the extension, the total
value of Rockwell's shuttle operations contract is $4.8 billion.
SMITHSONIAN OBSERVATORY AWARDED $86.7 MILLION AXAF CONTRACT
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA, was awarded a
10-year, $86.7 million contract by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center to
design and operate a science support center for the space agency's
future Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) satellite. This
center will serve the international astronomy community by overseeing
AXAF's science observation program. The center will also manage the
reception and distribution of AXAF data.
SPACEHAB FINDS BUSINESS IN PROTOTYPING SPACE STATION EXPERIMENTS
The private Spacehab Shuttle middeck augmentation module sees a market
in the development of experiments for the U.S. Space Station. Foreign
experimenters will make up most of the non-NASA customers leasing space
in the module on its first six flights. A pending Japanese deal might
push occupancy to more than 90% for those flights. The Spacehab
module, located aft of the airlock in the Shuttle cargo bay,
accommodates 50 middeck locker equivalents of 60 pounds each, which can
be shifted through the airlock into Space Station modules if the
experiments need pressurizing during deployment.
SPACE STATION MOCK-UP TO BE EXHIBITED AT PARIS AIR SHOW
A full-scale Space Station mock-up module will be featured at NASA's
7,000-square-foot exhibit at the 39th Paris Air Show this June.
Visitors will be able to enter a habitat/laboratory module containing
crew quarters, personal hygiene and exercise facilities, and the
galley. The lab portion will contain a furnace facility, protein
crystal growth facility, modular containerless processing area and a
machine to grow vegetables for human consumption. Mission to Planet
Earth and aeronautics research are other NASA programs to be exhibited
at the event.
TECHNOLOGY:
MENTOR GRAPHICS GETS FIVE-YEAR PACT FROM ALLIED-SIGNAL UNIT
MENTOR GRAPHICS received a five-year, multimillion dollar contract from
ALLIED-SIGNAL's aerospace subsidiary. Exact terms were not disclosed. In
addition, Mentor Graphics has been given preferred vendor status at all of
Allied-Signal's operating divisions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Allied-
Signal will use Mentor Graphics' simulation tools and libraries, hybrid
design tools, printed circuit design software, integrated circuit layout
tools, and test and verification software to design both military and
commerical products. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 3, 1991)
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Distribution:
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BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
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SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO
JIM BALLANCE@EWO MERLE BAPTISTE@IVO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
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LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
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GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO RON BRODICT@PHO
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ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
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BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO
DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO
KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO STEWART GREATHOUSE@
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TOM HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ THOMAS HIPP@WRO JERRY HOLM@SEO
LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO
JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST LARRY HUDSON@LAO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO
JOHN HUMPHREY@STO ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO
ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV
CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
BOB JOHNSON@ORO DAVE JOHNSON@FZO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO ARTHUR JONES@TUO
RUSS JONES@NIO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO
JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO
BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO JIM KIRSILA@BWA STEPHEN KLINE@FVO
LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO
FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV
TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO
ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ
MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST
BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA
LEO MADRID@PBF JOHN MAGINNIS@IVO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO
DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO
DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO
STEVE MARINO@MRO MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO
HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO
JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO
BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA JANET MINARD@ORO
SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO
DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO BILL MOORE@MET
GARY MOORE@TSO ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BILL MORROW@WRO JIM MORROW@SEO
MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO
MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO
DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA
GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO BILL OVERMAN@WIO
BOB PACE@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO
HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO
CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO
DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD
ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO RON REENTS@OFO
TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO
BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO
ALLISON RICHARDSON@ DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO
RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO
ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO
ROBERT ROWE@IVO ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI
PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV
CHUCK SARGENT@DVO HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO
RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO BILL SLEZAK@DCO KEVIN SMITH@LIO
PEYTON SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO
MALCOLM SPENCE@STO LARRY STAHL@LAO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO
HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO
THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO
MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC
WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO LEE VARRICHIONE@MET DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO
GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO KEVIN WALSH@TTB
JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO
MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO PENNY WIEDENMAN@MKO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO
ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA DON WOLFE@WRO
HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO TOM WRIGHT@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO
MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO
ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.107 | YES | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Apr 18 1991 17:45 | 748 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 17-Apr-1991 05:28pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Weekly News Highlights, week of April 8, 1991
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 8, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 8, 1991
GENERAL:
BOEING TO SELL DE HAVILLAND UNIT
GRUMMAN REDUCES WORK FORCE
MAMCO ACQUISITION
'PURE' DEFENSE FIRMS OUTPACED OTHER AEROSPACE CONCERNS IN QUARTER
SDIO ALLOWS SCIENTISTS TO USE SUPERCOMPUTER
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
B-1B PROGRAM STALLS BECAUSE AIR FORCE LACKS FUNDS
B-2 BOMBER COST INCREASED BY $2 BILLION
BOEING, SIKORSKY TO BUILD FUTURISTIC HELICOPTERS FOR LH PROGRAM
MARTIN MARIETTA GETS $1 BILLION-SHARE IN BOEING-SIKORSKY DEAL
TRW GETS $100 MILLION-SHARE OF BOEING-SIKORSKY PACT (WESTINGHOUS)
SHAKEOUT SEEN AMONG U.S. HELICOPTER MANUFACTURERS
DOWTY TESTS ALL-COMPOSITE PROPELLER
EGYPT AND DOD SIGN F-16 AGREEMENT
THIRD JAS 39 GRIPEN PROTOTYPE ENTERS TEST FLIGHT PROGRAM
AVIONICS:
BALL DEVELOPING COMPUTER PILOT ARTIFICIAL NEURAL SYSTEM
EG & G DISCOVERS CODES THAT PREDICT HOW METALS FORGE
GRUMMAN UPGRADES EF-111A RAVEN JAMMERS
HEWLETT-PACKARD'S WORKSTATIONS COMPLY WITH TEMPEST
INTERGRAPH AWARDED $363 MILLION CAD/CAM SYSTEM CONTRACT FROM NAVY
JPL TESTING FOREST-FIRE DETECTOR SYSTEM
LOCKHEED TO SUPPLY TRANSMISSION TEST SETS FOR U.S. AIR FORCE
MARTIN MARIETTA/ITT MIMIC TEAM
NORTHROP DEVELOPS LOW-ALTITUDE HELICOPTER OBSTACLE SENSOR
RAYTHEON TO SUPPLY TRAINING SYSTEM FOR SUBMARINE COMBAT SYSTEM
SEQUA RECEIVED 5.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT FOR TEST EQUIPMENT
MISSILES:
ARMY ACKNOWLEDGES LOSAT MISSILE TEST FAILURE
ISRAELIS CRITICIZE PATRIOT
SDI NUCLEAR ROCKET PROJECT
SMALL ICBM PREPARED FOR SECOND TEST FLIGHT
STANDARD MISSILE-2 TEST COMPLETED
UPGRADED TITAN 4 SOLID ROCKET MOTOR DESTROYED
SATELLITES:
ARIANE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ANIK E-2
DISASTER PREVENTION PROJECT CREATED
FIRST AIRBORNE INSTALLATION OF SATELLITE TELEPHONE
INDONESIA CHOOSES U.S. ROCKET TO LAUNCH SATELLITE
JAPAN APPROVES INITIATION OF COMETS AND LUNAR-A PROGRAMS
LOCKHEED AND MOTOROLA TO DEVELOP GLOBAL CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
NASA PICKS HUGHES/SANTA BARBARA TO BUILD EOS INSTRUMENT
SATELLITE LAUNCHES FOR APRIL
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ENDS MISSION
SOVIETS PLAN TO COMMERCIALIZE MILITARY TECHNOLOGY
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CANADIANS MAY ACCELERATE STEAR PROGRAM FOR SPACE STATION
GALILEO TEMPORARILY SHUTS DOWN
INDUSTRY PLANS FOR REVIVAL OF SPACE CARGO VEHICLE
NASA APPROVES SECOND VENUS MAPPING CYCLE FOR MAGELLAN
NASA AND SCIENTISTS NEAR AGREEMENT ON SPACE STATION
SPACE PANEL AUTHORIZES SPACE STATION, HLLV
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER RELATED:
HP, ROCKWELL'S ALLEN-BRADLEY TO CODEVELOP LINK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BOEING TO SELL DE HAVILLAND UNIT
The Boeing Company will sell its unprofitable de Havilland commuter
aircraft division, located in Canada, to Aeritalia S.p.A of Italy and
Aerospatiale S.A. of France. The sale is estimated to be worth
approximately $200 million. Boeing bought de Havilland for $155
million in 1986. Although Boeing's shares dropped, analysts say the
sale will have moderately positive effects on Boeing's earnings.
GRUMMAN REDUCES WORK FORCE
During the next eight months Grumman Corp. expects to cut about 1,900
employees. This layoff comes in response to its shrinking business
base. The cutback will effect nearly all Grumman business units.
MAMCO ACQUISITION
As a result of an order by President George Bush, Mamco Manufacturing,
Inc., Seattle, was purchased by Vestar Capital Partners, Inc., from
China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp. Mamco makes
machined components for commercial aircraft. The new Vestar company,
Mamco/QAF Corp., will include the Quality Aluminum Forge division of
MAG Aerospace Industries another Vestar property. They will have
consolidated sales of about $40 million with 450 employees.
'PURE' DEFENSE FIRMS OUTPACED OTHER AEROSPACE CONCERNS IN QUARTER
Not long ago, companies with a mix of defense and commercial business were
seen to hold an advantage over firms that relied more exclusively on
military work. But in the latest first quarter, it looks like the "pure
plays" had an edge. Having recorded more than $4 billion in write-offs on
troubled defense contracts over the past two years, and having poured
billions more into several huge development programs, the major Pentgon
suppliers are proving they can be profitable. LOCKHEED should show
operational improvement, though its bottom line could be flat because of
higher taxes. RAYTHEON reported a two percent rise in first-quarter
earnings, but that was below many analysts' expectations as the company's
appliance business was hurt by recessionary pressures.
Meanwhile, those aerospace companies that also participate heavily in non-
defense markets, particularly automobiles, are being battered by the
downturn in the general economy. ROCKWELL is expected to register lower
earnings this period. So is ALLIED-SIGNAL. TRW Inc. could also post lower
year-to-year numbers. Even mighty BOEING had a bit of a tough time getting
commercial jetliners out the door in the first three months of the year.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS is always a candidate for earnings surprises. It is still
booking some military programs at a zero profit rate, and write-offs are
always a possibility on those projects. But one of the company's biggest
potential financial hazards, the C-17 military cargo plane, appears to being
doing better.
While Pentagon planners still officially talk about developing lots of new
aircraft over the next several years, "I just don't see how they can afford
all those things," says Robert Myers, GRUMMAN's president. Some are already
feeling the squeeze. General Dynamics, analysts say, will register lower
earnings in the first quarter, as it continues its struggle to cut expenses.
For all defense companies, the main challenge is to bring overhead costs
down as quickly as their piece of the military budget shrinks. Some probably
will not make it. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 11, 1991)
SDIO ALLOWS SCIENTISTS TO USE SUPERCOMPUTER
The U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) will let a
group of atmospheric scientists use their agency owned Cray 2
supercomputer for global change research, during periods when it
normally wouldn't be in use. The computer can perform one billion
calculations each second and is primarily used to simulate the
effectiveness of strategic defenses against nuclear assaults on the
United States. The Cray 2 supercomputer is based at SDIO's National
Test Facility at Falcon Air Force Base, Co., and the group of
scientists come from the federally funded National Center for
Atmospheric Research.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
B-1B PROGRAM STALLS BECAUSE AIR FORCE LACKS FUNDS
The U.S. Air Force claims that their decision to stop plans to correct
deficiencies in its $28 billion B-1B bomber fleet program was caused by
lack of money. The Air Force needs about $500 million to correct
problems in the bomber's ALQ-161 defensive avionics suite and is now
looking to Congress to provide necessary funds. Air Force officials
say that the suspension will cause at least a one-year delay in service
efforts to correct the bomber's deficiencies.
B-2 BOMBER COSTS INCREASED BY $2 BILLION
After Defense Secretary cut the B-2 stealth bomber program from 132 to
75 last April, the cost of the program has grown by $2 billion. The
total cost is now $64.8 billion in then-year dollars.
BOEING, SIKORSKY TO BUILD FUTURISTIC HELICOPTERS FOR LH PROGRAM
Boeing Helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Co., will together build
approximately 1,292 helicopters, under a roughly 2.8 billion contract,
for the top priority Light Helicopter (LH) program.This program is
expected to be worth more than $30 billion from the late 1990s to
2008. A team of McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co. and Bell Helicopter
Textron, were the losers in the seven year long competition. This loss
could prove devastating to the companies. The Boeing, Sikorsky team
focused much of its design on reducing the radar signature and noise of
the helicopter, with an unconventional tail rotor and the addition of a
fifth main rotor blade.
MARTIN MARIETTA GETS $1 BILLION-SHARE IN BOEING-SIKORSKY DEAL
MARTIN MARIETTA will provide night navigation and targeting system for the
U.S. Army's new Light Helicopter and it expects the value of its contracts
for the helicopter to exceed $1 billion. The company said that 300 of its
employees will work on the program during development and up to 1,200
workers could be required when the system reaches full production. (Source:
Dow Jones News, April 5, 1991)
TRW GETS $100 MILLION-SHARE OF BOEING-SIKORSKY PACT (WESTINGHOUS)
TRW Military Electronics & Avionics Division was selected as part of the
Boeing.-Sikorsky Group that was selected to develop the U.S. Army's Light
Helicopter. Under an initial award of about $100 million, TRW is providing
the helicopter's integrated communications, navigation and identification
avionics which include a range of advanced-technology innovations. It is
also providing, together with WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC, aircraft survivability
equipment which uses INEWS technology. INEWS, for Integrated Electronic
Warfare System, was jointly developed by TRW and Westinghouse. (Source: Dow
Jones News, April 5, 1991)
SHAKEOUT SEEN AMONG U.S. HELICOPTER MANUFACTURERS
Winning the contract to develop the U.S. Army's next-generation helicopter
eventually could mean tens of billions of dollars for BOEING and UNITED
TECHNOLOGIES, but the firms still face a long struggle to begin full-scale
production. If everything falls into place, the two winning contractors and
a host of subcontractors, led by MARTIN MARIETTA, HARRIS, TRW and
WESTINGHOUSE could garner more than $30 billion in new business over the
next two decades. But budget pressures and congressional criticism, which
already have forced the Pentagon to sharply scale back and revamp the light
helicopter project a number of times, threaten to make the army's top-
priority acquisition program a flashpoint in budget debates year after year.
(Source: Dow Jones News, April 8, 1991)
DOWTY TESTS ALL-COMPOSITE PROPELLER
Dowty Aerospace Gloucester tested, in California, its latest all-
composite R-373 propeller on an Allison GMA2100 engine for a Lockheed
P-3 Orion aircraft. This 13.5 ft. diameter propeller was tested to
illustrate the propeller/engine digital control compatibility and
propeller structural integrity in flight.
EGYPT AND DOD SIGN F-16 AGREEMENT
The U.S. Department of Defense agreed to supply Egypt with $1.54
billion worth of General Dynamic's F-16s, spare engines, weapons and
other equipment. This move was made to promote greater defense
cooperation among Middle East countries.
THIRD JAS 39 GRIPEN PROTOTYPE ENTERS FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM
A third JAS 39 Gripen Prototype entered its second flight test program,
and remained in flight for 46 minutes. This is the first of its kind
equipped with radar, and will be used primarily for testing avionics,
radar, weapons and navigation systems.
AVIONICS:
BALL DEVELOPING COMPUTER PILOT ARTIFICIAL NEURAL SYSTEM
Ball Systems Engineering Division, San Diego, Ca., under a contract
with the U.S. Air Force Human Resources Laboratory has developed an
artificial neural system (ANS) that captures fundamental pilot
expertise in air combat maneuvering (ACM) strategy, tactics and
offensive/defensive decision-making. This ANS simulation can fly
against a single pilot while displaying the "air battle" on a two-
dimensional workstation display.
EG & G DISCOVERS CODES THAT PREDICT HOW METALS FORGE
EG & G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, Co., are developing computer codes
that accurately predict a metal's shape response to forging by
combining an alloy's microstructural characteristics, rate of
contraction or expansion, its strain, stress and composition, die
temperature, and the metals speed during die application. EG & G makes
precision components in small lots of 20-100.
GRUMMAN UPGRADES EF-111A RAVEN JAMMERS
Grumman Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., won a $155 million, five-year
contract over Rockwell International Corp., to develop hardware and
software for an upgraded portion of the U.S. Air Force's fleet of EF-
111A Ravens AN/ALQ-99E tactical jamming system. Grumman leads the group
that includes: Eaton's AIL Division, Deer Park, N.Y.; IBM, Owego,
N.Y.; ACA, Milwaukee; Comtec, Buffalo, N.Y.; and Smiths Industries,
Grand Rapids, Mich.
HEWLETT-PACKARD'S WORKSTATIONS COMPLY WITH TEMPEST
Hewlett-Packard's new HP Apollo 9000 Series 700 workstations will comply
with TEMPEST requirements by Hughes Data Systems, established from
Hughes Aircraft to join activities with HP, for sale to military users.
The workstations are based on HP's Precision Architecture-RISC
processors, which offers extremely high performance at low prices.
INTERGRAPH AWARDED $363 MILLION CAD/CAM SYSTEM CONTRACT FROM NAVY
Intergraph Corp., Huntsville, Ala., won a $362.7 million contract from
the Navy for off-the-shelf computer-aided design and manufacturing
(CAD/CAM) systems. The work will take place in Huntsville, Ala., and
is scheduled to be completed in 2003.
JPL TESTING FOREST-FIRE DETECTOR SYSTEM
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is aiding the U.S. Forest Service to
detect forest fires by testing a new airborne infrared sensing system
in the Southern California desert. This Firefly system's infrared
sensor immediately transmits detailed, color digital maps to
firefighters on the ground, upgrading the current system which takes
hours to process and uses photographs. A Firefly prototype will be
available to the Forest Service for use during the 1991 fire season,
with two final system versions available in 1992.
LOCKHEED TO SUPPLY TRANSMISSION TEST SETS FOR U.S. AIR FORCE
Lockheed Sanders' Defense Systems Division has won a $30 million
contract to supply 290 AN/USM-638 Radio Frequency Transmission Line
Test Sets, to the U.S. Navy. These test sets find faults in coaxial
cable and waveguide transmission systems.
MARTIN MARIETTA/ ITT MIMIC TEAM
Martin Marietta and ITT teamed together in 1988, under a three year,
$49 million contract to develop microwave/millimeter-wave monolithic
integrated circuits (Mimic). Phase 1 is completed and phase 2 of the
program will begin this fall. Martin created 12 types of multifunction
chips for millimeter-wave radar applications, including a W-band
amplifier, and ITT created 28 types for microwave use. Mimic chips
will be applied to the Longbow Advanced Hellfire Missile, the Multiple
Launch Rocket System with terminal guidance warhead, the Sense and
Destroy Armor submunition, and electronic warfare systems.
NORTHROP DEVELOPS LOW-ALTITUDE HELICOPTER OBSTACLE SENSOR
Northrop's Electronics Systems Division received a $5 million, two-year
contract from the Army to design and develop a sensor system to help
helicopter pilots avoid obstacles while flying at low altitudes. The
Obstacle Avoidance System will use a laser radar, data processor and
cockpit display to allow Army helicopter pilots to bypass man-made
natural barriers during the day or night.
RAYTHEON TO SUPPLY TRAINING SYSTEM FOR SUBMARINE COMBAT SYSTEM
Raytheon Co., won a $80.9 million contract over General Electric and
IBM, to design and produce a combat team training system for the AN/
BSY-2 submarine combat system to be installed on the U.S. Navy's SSN-
211 attack submarines. Raytheon's Submarine Signal Division will build
a full-scale engineering development model of the Submarine Combat
System Team Trainer in Portsmouth, R.I. to be used for initial training
of Navy personnel.
SEQUA RECEIVED $5.5 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT FOR TEST EQUIPMENT
Sequa Corp.'s Kollsman Division, Merrimack, N.H., won a $5.5 million
Navy contract to manufacture BB-34 computer-controlled Automatic Test
Equipment. The equipment will test the pneumatic pilot static systems
of all Navy aircraft on carriers and at Naval Air Station intermediate-
level shops.
MISSILES:
ARMY ACKNOWLEDGES LOSAT MISSILE TEST FAILURE
The test firing of two Line-of-Sight Antitank (LOSAT) kinetic energy
missiles failed when the first missile missed its target and the second
failed to fire. This was the third of four tests to take place, and
was the first attempt to rapidly fire two LOSAT missiles at different
targets. The Army is unaware of the cause for failure.
ISRAELIS CRITICIZE PATRIOT
Israeli aversion toward the Patriot missile continues to grow despite
the successful performance during Operation Desert Storm. Israeli
critics say the Patriots hit the Iraqi missiles at too low an altitude
and with insufficient power, causing death and injuries from debris.
Israel's own antitactical ballistic missile (ATBM) interceptor, the
Arrow, provides higher, theater-wide coverage. Israel prefers a
theater-defense missile that can protect the entire country. Criticism
is mounting as U.S. and Israeli negotiators are talking about the
funding of ATBM.
SDI NUCLEAR ROCKET PROJECT
A highly classified, controversial Strategic Defense Initiative project
code-named Timberwind, will develop and test fly nuclear reactor-
powered rockets, costing approximately $7-8 billion. However, Defense
Department officials have stated that $7-8 billion would only cover the
effort through test flights. Nuclear rockets have been recommended for
a manned mission to Mars.
SMALL ICBM PREPARED FOR SECOND TEST FLIGHT
The second of 16 flight tests for the SICBM will occur on April 18 from
Vandenberg AFB, Ca. The second flight was previously scheduled for
November 1990, but was canceled after failure of a battery in the
instrumentation "wafer" used on test SICBMs to monitor pressure, speed
and other parameters for telemetry purposes. The new test program
improvements include a redesigned nozzle and a reworked instrumentation
"wafer" that fits between the stages.
STANDARD MISSILE-2 TEST COMPLETED
Raytheon Company successfully completed the first flight test of the
Block 3A configuration of the U.S. Navy's Standard Missile-2 at White
Sands Missile Range, N.M. General Dynamics designed the Block 3A
improvements to Standard Missile-2, which Raytheon also is producing.
UPGRADED TITAN 4 SOLID ROCKET MOTOR DESTROYED
An advanced Titan 4 solid rocket motor prototype exploded, caused by
static firing in the environmental tower. Although no injuries, it
caused significant damage to a recently refurbished test stand. Titan
4 launch schedules should remain as scheduled but the solid rocket
motor test mishap might slow development of the upgraded booster,
delaying its introduction to the Titan fleet.
SATELLITES:
ARIANE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ANIK E-2
With the successful launch of Anik E-2 by an Ariane 4 rocket, Canadian
broadcasters will soon begin using a new telecommunications satellite
which will deliver 34 channels of television to cable firms and home
satellite dish owners throughout Canada. The spacecraft cost Canada
100 million Canadian dollars ($86 million). The timing of the launch
was critical in that it replaced a spacecraft that was nearly out of
fuel.
DISASTER PREVENTION PROJECT CREATED
A group of scientists from a dozen countries formed the Space and
Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Relief project to aid the United
Nations effort to reduce the effects of natural disasters. This new
international Space Year project strives to coordinate various
satellites in orbit which will warn of potential floods, landslides and
volcano eruptions.
FIRST AIRBORNE INSTALLATION OF SATELLITE TELEPHONE
Racal/Honeywell's Satfone airborne satellite communications system and
Dassault Electronic's Satcom antenna will be installed for the first
time on an aircraft in May. Transmission from a Dassault Falcon 900
business jet, is scheduled to begin in June via an Inmarsat satellite.
INDONESIA CHOOSES U.S. ROCKET TO LAUNCH SATELLITE
Indonesia has decided to use a McDONNELL DOUGLAS Delta rocket to launch its
next communications satellite. The government's decision was based on cost,
technology and procedures required to pave the way for the launching. The
Palapa B-4 satellite was made by HUGHES AIRCRAFT. Previous Indonesian
satellites also were made by Hughes and launched by Delta rockets. Jakarta's
decision ends a debate that once had the government leaning toward a Chinese
company. McDonnell Douglas agreed to the launch for $44 million, down from
its initial bid last August of $47.8 million. (Source: Dow Jones News, April
9, 1991)
JAPAN APPROVES INITIATION OF COMETS AND LUNAR-A PROGRAMS
Japan's Space Activities Commission has agreed to commence with the
Comets and Lunar-A programs. Comets is a 2,000-kg. research satellite
used to test advanced communications technologies among moving vehicles
and satellites, to be launched in 1997 from Tanegashima Space Center
into a geostationary orbit. Lunar-A will be launched in 1996 on an M-5
rocket by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. Lunar-A
will transmit seismic wave data back to Earth from penetrators dropped
to the Moon's surface.
LOCKHEED AND MOTOROLA TO DEVELOP GLOBAL CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
A newly formed subsidiary of Lockheed Missile and Space Co., Lockheed
Commercial Space Co, was selected by Motorola to mutually develop a 77-
satellite constellation which will be the basis of a worldwide cellular
telecommunications system (IRIDIUM), to be fully operational in 1996.
Lockheed spokesman said that this contract could be worth more than $1
billion for their company.
NASA PICKS HUGHES/SANTA BARBARA TO BUILD EOS INSTRUMENT
NASA selected Hughes/Santa Barbara Research Center to build the Moderte
Resolution Imaging Spectrometer-Nadir (MODIS-N) instruments for Earth
Observing System space platforms. The cost of the contract is
estimated at $156 million. The MODIS-N instruments measure changes in
the terrestrial, atmospheric and oceanographic environments.
SATELLITE LAUNCHES FOR APRIL
April will be an exceptionally busy month for the commercial launch
industry. McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., Huntington Beach, Ca.,
will launch on April 12 a Delta 2 rocket, carrying the ASC-2 domestic
U.S. communications satellite, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
Fla. General Dynamics Commercial Launch Services Inc. of San Diego,
will launch an Atlas 1 rocket carrying the Japanese direct-to-home
broadcast satellite, BS-3H, on April 18.
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ENDS MISSION
The space shuttle Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force Base, Ca., after
a six-day mission. High winds had caused NASA to postpone the landing
one day. This first shuttle mission of the year completed its primary
mission of placing in orbit a $600 million 17-ton Gamma Ray
Observatory, a satellite that will scan the sky for the most powerful
radiations in the electromagnetic spectrum. Before it was deployed,
two of the five astronauts on the shuttle went out into space to help
extend a balky antenna on the satellite. Another space walk was
performed the next day to test equipment that will be used to assemble
the space station freedom. This was the first U.S. space walk in five
years.
SOVIETS PLAN TO COMMERCIALIZE MILITARY TECHNOLOGY
The Soviet Union intends to commercialize communications technology
used previously in military communications satellites. Soviets plan to
orbit 24 small satellites in four orbital planes, each with six
satellites, orbited at altitudes of 1,000 miles. Possible uses of the
satellites include: electronic mail, voice mail, facsimile, location
reporting, telemetry and other applications.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CANADIANS MAY ACCELERATE STEAR PROGRAM FOR SPACE STATION
The Canadian Space Agency may accelerate the development of advanced
technologies to be used on the Mobile Servicing System, which is their
prime contribution to the space station. The Canadian space station
program is also conducting a review of the changes that NASA made in
the space station's design, which may impact the Mobile Servicing
System, a sophisticated robotic manipulator system that will help
assemble the space station. This review will asses the technologies
being developed by the Strategic Technologies in Automation and
Robotics (STEAR) program, a subset of the Canadian Space Agency's space
station program. STEAR is developing technologies for the Mobile
Servicing System.
GALILEO TEMPORARILY SHUTS DOWN
NASA's Jupiter-bound Galileo was cruising 38 million miles from Earth
toward asteroid Gaspra, when a computer glitch caused one of Galileo's
two computers to take itself off-line. The spacecraft then went into a
condition known as safe mode, shutting down all onboard science
instruments and cutting its data communications rate to Earth by 75
percent. This temporary shut down will cause no permanent damage and
Galileo will be ready in time for its next major batch of commands from
Earth.
INDUSTRY PLANS FOR REVIVAL OF SPACE CARGO VEHICLE
NASA and about six other aerospace companies are all interested in
planning designs for the proposed cargo transport vehicle which could
be worth $600 million to $1 billion. This vehicle would transport
50,000 pounds of food, water and scientific supplies to the space
station. This is the sole intent of the new spacecraft, as opposed to
the previously proposed Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle which was to
perform numerous tasks, resulting in cost overruns.
NASA APPROVES SECOND VENUS MAPPING CYCLE FOR MAGELLAN
NASA approved a second 243-day Venus mapping cycle for the Magellan
radar probe, following its soon to be completed first cycle, which will
map 84 percent of the planet's cloud-fogged surface. The goal of the second
cycle, beginning May 16, will be to cover the remaining 16 percent of the
planets surface. This mapping will include the south pole, which has
never before been imaged.
NASA AND SCIENTISTS NEAR AGREEMENT ON SPACE STATION
NASA and the National Research Council (NRC) are coming to an agreement
on the proposed Space Station changes. These changes resulted in the
NRC claiming that the redesigned Station would be too small to justify
the $30 billion investment on science grounds alone. The NRC
complained of the absence of a node which contained a large centrifuge
on the redesigned Station which would provide a 1 g control environment
for experiments on the effects of weightlessness on organisms as well
as holding facilities for lab animals. NASA responded by going back to
a node solution which will be available at the flight after permanently
manned capability.
SPACE PANEL AUTHORIZES SPACE STATION, HLLV
The House Science space subcommittee authorized spending for the Space
Station and also the proposed NASA/DOD heavy lift launch vehicle
(HLLV), but both actions were clouded by a $1.2 billion cut in the
Administration's NASA request taken earlier by the House Budget
Committee. The subcommittee authorized $1.9 billion for the Space
Station in fiscal 1992, down from the Administration request of $2.029
billion, and approved $50 million for the NASA portion of the HLLV, a
$125 million cut from the Administration request.
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER RELATED:
HP, ROCKWELL'S ALLEN-BRADLEY TO CODEVELOP LINK
ROCKWELL's Allen-Bradley unit and HEWLETT-PACKARD will jointly develop
products that permit data transfer between HP's 9000 series workstations and
Allen-Bradley's factory automation equipment. The team's first product will
be a Network Data Table Library, a link that moves data 50 times faster than
traditional RS-232 interconnections do. (Source: Electronic Engineering
Times, April 8, 1991, page 24)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
GEORGE ANDERSON@AYO LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO
RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO
JIM BALLANCE@EWO MERLE BAPTISTE@IVO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO AUBREY BONE@MAO
BOB BONNER@IVO CAROL BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO JIM BOREL@LAO
STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO
GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO RON BRODICT@PHO
RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO
RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO GENE CERNAN@HSO DAVID CERULLO@OFO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO
GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO
BOB COHEN@IVO DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO
HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO
JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO
BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO
DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO
PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO
TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO
JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO TANNA DIBBLE@MPO
RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI
LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO
DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME FRED DUPLAIN@DYO
GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO
JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET JOHN FADEL@CLO
MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO
ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO
KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO TOM FLYNN@SYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO
FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO RALPH FOSTER@CWO
RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO
ROLF GAERTNER@MGO RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO
DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO
KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO STEWART GREATHOUSE@
CARTER GUIDER@FHO MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ THOMAS HIPP@WRO JERRY HOLM@SEO
LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO
JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST LARRY HUDSON@LAO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO
JOHN HUMPHREY@STO ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO
ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV
CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
BOB JOHNSON@ORO DAVE JOHNSON@FZO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO
ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO
JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO
BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO JIM KIRSILA@BWA STEPHEN KLINE@FVO
LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO
FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV
TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO
ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ
MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST
BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF
LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA JOHN MAGINNIS@IVO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO
DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO
DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO
STEVE MARINO@MRO MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO
HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO
JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO
BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA JANET MINARD@ORO
SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO
DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO GARY MOORE@TSO
BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BILL MORROW@WRO JIM MORROW@SEO
MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO
MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO
DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA
GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO BILL OVERMAN@WIO
BOB PACE@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO
HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO
CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO
DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M
MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO
RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO
ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO
JERRY RICHARDS@MTO ALLISON RICHARDSON@ DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO PHIL RIDDICK@HVO
ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO
PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO
ROBERT ROSE@STO ROBERT ROWE@IVO ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO
LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO JEFF SANDS@OGO
LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO
MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO
DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO
BOB SEIFERT@MKO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO
GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO
DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO BILL SLEZAK@DCO
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PEYTON SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO LARRY STAHL@LAO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO
LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO
STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO
DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO TRACY TRENT@SDO
LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO
WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO LEE VARRICHIONE@MET DALE VAUGHAN@LAO
MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO
KEVIN WALSH@TTB JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO PENNY WIEDENMAN@MKO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
TOM WRIGHT@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.108 | Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Apr 23 1991 10:58 | 851 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 23-Apr-1991 01:07am CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of April 15, 1991
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 15, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 15, 1991
GENERAL:
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE REORGANIZES DEFENSE GROUP
GROUND BROKEN FOR AIRSHOW CANADA
LOCKHEED'S INTERNATIONAL OFFICE MOVES TO WASHINGTON
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR LOCKHEED CORP.
QANTAS SLASHES SERVICES AND PLANS MAJOR LAYOFFS
REVENUES RISE AT ELRON ELECTRONICS
THREE SUBSIDIARIES OF TEXTRON MERGE AT TEXTRON DEFENSE DIVISION
UTC'S EARNINGS TUMBLE IN FIRST QUARTER
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE DELAYS B-2 DELIVERIES
NORTHROP WINS $43.2 MILLION B-2 FUNDING
AIR FORCE WILL SOON CHOOSE NEW ADVANCED TACTICAL FIGHTER
DOUGLAS REVISED MD-11 PRODUCTION RATE
DOUGLAS SEES ADVANTAGES OF ALUMINUM-LITHIUM FOR C-17
FIRST LH FUNDING RELEASED TO BOEING-SIKORSKY
LH STEALTH DEVELOPMENT
SUCCESSFUL B-2 TESTING
AVIONICS:
LH AVIONICS SUPPLIED BY HARRIS
LITTON TO MAKE LH NAVIGATION UNIT
ROCKWELL AWARDED HAVE QUICK II CONTRACT
SOFTWARE PRODUCTION NEEDED FOR SAR MOTION COMPENSATION PROGRAM
STV ROBOT TO BE TESTED
TITAN TEAM WINS NAVY ENGINEERING CONTRACT
MISSILES:
AAWS-M PERFORMS FIRST GUIDED FLIGHT TEST
AIR FORCE RESTARTS STRUCTURE STUDIES OF SMALL ICBM
CENTAUR MOTOR FAILURE CAUSED ATLAS EXPLOSION
DARPA PLANS SIXTH PEGASUS FLIGHT
NORWAY INCREASES FUNDING FOR ARIANE 5
OSC LAUNCHES FIRST FIREBIRD SUBORBITAL BOOSTER
PATRIOTS EFFECTIVENESS QUESTIONED ON CAPITOL HILL
SECOND FLIGHT TEST OF SMALL ICBM SUCCESSFUL
BOEING WINS $748 MILLION SMALL ICBM CONTRACT
WESTINGHOUSE TO PRODUCE ADVANCED LIGHTWEIGHT TORPEDOES
SATELLITES:
ARIANESPACE FORESEES GLOBAL MARKET FOR MINISATELLITES
U OF CAL. OPENS SATELLITE/MAP & IMAGERY LIBRARY
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ADVANCED X-RAY ASTRONOMY FACILITY CONTRACT AWARD
COSTS OF DOWNSIZED SPACE STATION MORE THAN $2 BILLION HIGHER
ESA SCIENCE PROGRAM MOVES AHEAD
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVES SOHO LAUNCH SERVICES CONTRACT
NASA DECIDES DATE OF DISCOVERY LAUNCH
SOVIETS UPGRADE MIR SPACE STATION
USAF/LOCKHEED PAYLOAD TO FLY IN EXPERIMENTAL ESS
VADEKO ROBOTIC SYSTEM TO FURNISH SHUTTLE MOTORS
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER RELATED:
CIM: CAN WE INTEGRATE THE PROCESS PLANT?
VOICE I/O IN MANUFACTURING
MANUFACTURING THE MAC WITH AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING
EXPERT SYSTEMS MOVE MANUFACTURING SOFTWARE INTO THE 90S
CUTTING COSTS AND SCRAP WITH AN EXPERT SYSTEM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE REORGANIZES DEFENSE GROUP
Deutsche Aerospace began reorganizing its defense systems group into a
new Defense and Civil Applications Division, as one plant closed and
1,000 jobs were eliminated. The company sees little new defense work
for the next few years and therefore hopes to emphasize civil
applications. The new division combines management and production
tasks from Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm (MBB), Dornier and TST in
electronics, radar, sensors, reconnaissance, command and energy
systems.
GROUND BROKEN FOR AIRSHOW CANADA
In Abbotsford, British Columbia, ground has been broken for a 150,000-
square foot permanent exhibition building that will be finished in time
for this year's Airshow Canada on August 7-11. Over 200 companies and
22 countries will participate in the event. Organizers hope the event
will eventually be North America's premiere aerospace trade show.
Eastern Europe will be strongly represented and Soviet officials claim
they will exhibit aircraft never before shown in the West.
LOCKHEED'S INTERNATIONAL OFFICE MOVES TO WASHINGTON
Lockheed will soon move its international business development
organization from California to Washington, where it will be more
convenient for overseas arm sales. International business accounted
for about 10% of the company's 1990 revenues of approximately $10
billion.
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR LOCKHEED CORP.
First-Quarter ended March 31, 1991 1990
Sales $2,236,000,000 $2,254,000,000
Net income $54,000,000 $69,000,000
LOCKHEED cited an increase in its effective tax rate, to 35 percent in 1991
from 21 percent in 1990. The company said program profits (before tax) were
$114 million in both quarters. It said program profits remained "strong,"
with margin increases in missiles and space, in defense electronics, and in
aeronautical systems, where there was no cost-sharing for the advanced
tactical fighter program. These increases were offset by declines in
commercial computer peripherals, because of generally poor market
conditions, and in technology services, because of costs related to new
business initiatives. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 18, 1991)
QANTAS SLASHES SERVICES AND PLANS MAJOR LAYOFFS
Qantas Airways, owned by Australia's government, is cutting flights and
will lay off approximately 3,000 employees. In the coming fiscal year,
which ends in June, Qantas expects a $277 million operating loss.
REVENUES RISE AT ELRON ELECTRONICS
Elron Electronic Industries Ltd's. consolidated revenues for 1990
totaled $364.3 million, more than double of 1989's $180.9 million.
About 80 percent of the Haifa, Israeli based company's sales took place
outside Israel. Much of the increase may be attributed to the purchase
of a 62 percent share of Elscint Ltd. by Elbit Computers Ltd., which is
Elron's primary subsidiary.
THREE SUBSIDIARIES OF TEXTRON MERGE AT TEXTRON DEFENSE DIVISION
Textron Defense Systems will integrate Avco Research Laboratory Textron
and Bell Aerospace Textron into a new division called Textron Defense
Systems. These previously independent subsidiaries will conduct
business that deals with strategic, tactical and electronic systems.
UTC'S EARNINGS TUMBLE IN FIRST QUARTER
United Technologies Corporation's (UTC) earnings fell more than two-
thirds in the first quarter of 1991. UTC earned only $40.2 million on
$4.8 billion in sales compared with $134.5 million earned on the same
level of sales in the same period of 1990.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE DELAYS B-2 DELIVERIES
The Air Force's fiscal year 1992-93 budget proposal will postpone
initial and full operational capability of the B-2 bomber program by
eight and 13 months, respectively. This moves deliveries beyond the
six-year defense plan. The Air Force will receive only 24 B-2 bombers
by the end of FY97. The peak production rate of 12 aircraft a year
won't be achieved until FY99.
NORTHROP WINS $43.2 MILLION B-2 FUNDING
NORTHROP CORP.'s B-2 Bomber Division received a $43.2 million U.S. Air Force
contract for long-lead funding for the bomber program. The company also
received a $7.1 million Air Force contract for improvement to B-2 bomber
production facilities at Palmdale, California. (Source: Dow Jones News,
April 15, 1991)
AIR FORCE WILL SOON CHOOSE NEW ADVANCED TACTICAL FIGHTER
The Air Force will soon choose between the YF-22 and YF-23 Advanced
Tactical Fighters (ATF), which will replace the aging F-15 Eagle. The
new ATF may use as much as 5% of the military's entire procurement
budget by the turn of the century, generating more than $60 billion in
business over the next two decades. The YF-22 is built by Lockheed
Corp., Boeing Co. and General Dynamics Corp. and has demonstrated
impressive maneuverability, at times flying belly into the wind at an
angle almost perpendicular to the ground. Wall Street analysts choose
the YF-22 citing its financial strength. The YF-23 is built by
Northrop Corp. and McDonnell Douglas Corp. and is heralded for stealth
and swiftness. The YF-23 is preferred for its light weight and
therefore lower costs.
DOUGLAS REVISED MD-11 PRODUCTION RATE
Douglas Aircraft Co. has slowed the production rate of its MD-11
aircraft to accommodate the changing market and to control inventory.
In 1991, Douglas will build 33 MD-11s as opposed to the previously
scheduled 38. This will result in a smaller investment in inventory
and overtime wages. For the following four years the delivery totals
will rise to 45, 50, 61 and 62. Although the buildup is more gradual
than originally planned, the resulting aircraft will number 254, 10
more than anticipated.
DOUGLAS SEES ADVANTAGES OF ALUMINUM-LITHIUM FOR C-17
McDonnell Douglas attempted to use aluminum-lithium for the MD-11 in
1987, but machine problems which caused cracking and a limited time
schedule forced them to return to conventional aluminum. However, as a
result of more time and study, aluminum-lithium has been used on the
company's C-17 transport aircraft and might be used on two other
planned Douglas Aircraft Co. commercial programs, the MD-12X and the
MD-XX. The C-17 saves 457 lbs. by using aluminum-lithium for 6,269
lbs. of both sheet and extrusions, in place of aluminum.
FIRST LH FUNDING RELEASED TO BOEING-SIKORSKY
The Boeing-Sikorsky team received its first $241 million Light
Helicopter funding for the initial stages of its 52-month extended
demonstration/validation phase. Four of six prototypes will be built
during this phase, and the remaining two will be built during the
shortened, restructured full-scale engineering development phase. At
Boeing's Philadelphia, PA, facilities the prototypes' empennage and
main rotor blades will be made, and Sikorsky will make the forward
fuselage in Stratford, CT.
LH STEALTH DEVELOPMENT
The first step for the Boeing-Sikorsky LH team following contract award
and preceding design freeze is to perform additional tests of the
aircraft's stealth qualities at an outdoor range at Boardman,
Washington, and at an enclosed facility with tighter security. Before
the contract was signed, tests of a full-scale LH model were run at
night, and the model was covered whenever a Soviet satellite passed
overhead.
SUCCESSFUL B-2 TESTING
The Air Force reported that the B-2 bomber has succeeded all design
objectives during initial low-observable and flight-performance tests
during its first 177 hours of flight. The plane has reached speeds of
400 knots and an altitude of 45,000 feet. The total cost of the 75-
plane program, including military construction, is now $64.8 billion in
FY92 dollars.
AVIONICS:
LH AVIONICS SUPPLIED BY HARRIS
Harris Corp's., Government Aerospace Systems Division, Melbourne, FL,
as a subcontractor to the Boeing-Sikorsky Light Helicopter (LH) First
Team, was awarded a contract to help develop the U.S. Army's new Light
Helicopter avionics. Harris will supply five separate avionics
subsystems for the LH at a value which could reach $1 billion over 15
years. The Harris LH Systems include a fiber-optic high-speed data
bus, a digital map generator, a sensor data network, a data transfer
unit and cockpit controls and displays.
LITTON TO MAKE LH NAVIGATION UNIT
Litton Corp.'s Guidance and Control Systems Division, Woodland Hills,
CA, will provide Boeing Helicopters with an advanced laser gyro
inertial navigation unit, which help to automatically steer aircraft,
for the U.S. Army's new light attack helicopter (LH). This technology
includes two versions of the flight control technology, including the
light-weight LN-100 Zero-Lock Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation Unit
and the LN-200 Fiber Optic Gyro Flight Control Altitude/Heading
Reference System.
ROCKWELL AWARDED HAVE QUICK II CONTRACT
Rockwell International Corp's. Collins Avionics and Communications
Division won a $18.3 million production option for the AN/GRC-171B(V)4
HAVE QUICK II ground-based communication system by the Air Force's
Electronic Systems Division. The AN/GRC-171B(V)4 system is designed
for reliable air traffic control communications in normal or frequency-
hopping modes at combined VHF/UHF transmitter and receiver sites.
SOFTWARE PRODUCTION NEEDED FOR SAR MOTION COMPENSATION PROGRAM
The Directorate of R&D Contracting at Wright Patterson AFB will issue a
request for proposals around April 24 for the production of a synthetic
aperture radar (SAR) motion compensation and navigation simulation
software package. The intent of this program is to perform a design
optimization and digital computer simulation evaluation of state-of-
the-art ultra high resolution SAR motion compensation techniques and
targeting for maneuvering tactical aircraft.
STV BATTLEFIELD ROBOT TO BE TESTED
Robotic Systems Technology (STV), a new company based in Hampstead, MD,
won a contract to provide the Unmanned Ground Vehicle Joint Project
Office at the Army's Missile Command with the systems under its
Surrogate Teleoperated Vehicle (STV) program. Fourteen firms were
competing for the $5.3 million contract to deliver 14 vehicles by this
December. This contract award was just recently officially announced.
The joint Army-Marine Corps office oversees the development of this
future robot and will begin field testing a demonstration vehicle in
January.
TITAN TEAM WINS NAVY ENGINEERING CONTRACT
Titan Engineering Services of San Diego, CA, teamed with Anaheim, CA-
based Comarco and San Diego-based Mantech Inc., won a $19 million
contract to provide engineering services for the Pacific Missile Test
Center in Point Magua, CA. The team will offer computer expertise and
software engineering and test and evaluation assistance for flight test
operations, surface-launched guided weapon systems and naval air weapon
systems.
MISSILES:
AAWS-M PERFORMS FIRST GUIDED FLIGHT TEST
The Advanced Anti-tank Weapon System-Medium (AAWS-M) missile
successfully completed its first guided flight test, the first in the
full scale development phase at Redstone Arsenal, AL. The missile
successfully hit a stationary M60 tank at 1,000 meters.
AIR FORCE RESTARTS STRUCTURE STUDIES OF SMALL ICBM
The Air Force awarded Boeing Defense and Space Group's Aerospace &
Electronics Division a $748 million cost-plus contract to restart
basing structure studies for the Midgetman Small ICBM. This contract
continues through September 1998.
BOEING WINS $748 MILLION SMALL ICBM CONTRACT
BOEING Defense & Space Group received a $748 million U.S. Air Force contract
for restart of hard mobile basing studies for the Small Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile program. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 15, 1991)
CENTAUR MOTOR FAILURE CAUSED ATLAS EXPLOSION
General Dynamic's Atlas rocket was blown up by radio command after the
booster began tumbling out of control as one of its two Pratt & Whitney
RL10 second-stage engines failed to ignite. The other engine started
in a normal fashion. A failure investigation is currently under way.
DARPA PLANS SIXTH PEGASUS FLIGHT
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Washington,
D.C., has exercised a $7.5 million contract option from Orbital
Sciences Corp., Fairfax, VA, for a sixth flight of its Pegasus air-
launched rocket. This flight is expected to take place in late 1993.
The second and third flights of the Pegasus vehicle are expected in
summer 1991. The sixth flight will be used by the U.S. Air Force Space
Systems Division for research and development projects a part of its
Space Test Program.
NORWAY INCREASES FUNDS FOR ARIANE 5
Norway is increasing its funding of Ariane 5 from 0.4% of the program's
cost to 0.6%. This brings the European Space Agency to 1.3 percent of
the total amount of money needed to complete the $5 billion program.
Ariane 5 is funded by all 13 ESA members except Britain. This new
funding will increase Norway's contribution to Ariane 5 to about $30
million from $20 million.
OSC LAUNCHES FIRST FIREBIRD SUBORBITAL BOOSTER
Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) Fairfax, VA, launched its first
Firebird suborbital booster from Wallops Island with a 2,000-pound MIT
Lincoln Laboratory payload developed for the Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization. The Firebird booster, consisting of a Talos
first stage and Aries second stage, flew for 12 minutes reaching an
altitude of 216 nautical miles and impacted 75 miles down-angle in the
launch.
PATRIOTS EFFECTIVENESS QUESTIONED ON CAPITOL HILL
The success of Raytheon's Patriot missile during the Gulf war was
questioned on Capitol Hill by a witness who claimed that the missile
inflicted more damage and injuries to Israel than if Iraq's Scud
missiles had fallen unchallenged. He argued that some Patriot missiles
dove into the ground, which caused more damage than Scud warheads. He
also pointed out that operators had trouble distinguishing between the
front and rear pieces of Scud missiles, which often broke on reentry,
and that the debris from clashing Scuds and Patriots inflicted an
unnecessary amount of damage.
SECOND FLIGHT TEST OF SMALL ICBM SUCCESSFUL
The second flight test of the Air Force's Small ICBM was conducted
successfully with the missile flying from Vandenberg AFB, CA, to the
Army's Kwajalein Missile Range in the Pacific Ocean. The missile's
single instrumented warhead landed about 30 minutes after it was
launched in its assigned target area at Kwajalein, about 4,000 miles
downrange. Midgetman's first test was 80% successful but was destroyed
by a range safety officer 70 seconds into the flight after detecting an
anomaly.
WESTINGHOUSE TO PRODUCE ADVANCED LIGHTWEIGHT TORPEDOES
Westinghouse Electric Corp's. Naval Systems Division, Cleveland, OH,
was awarded a $134 million contract by the U.S. Navy's Naval Sea
Systems Command, Arlington, VA, to build 165 Mk 50 advanced lightweight
torpedoes. The Mk 46 torpedo will be replaced by the Mk 50, which
possess greater diving capability, speed and increased performance than
the older Mk 46.
SATELLITES:
ARIANESPACE FORESEES GLOBAL MARKET FOR MINISATELLITES
Arianespace, Evry, France, predicts a global market for 10
minisatellites in low Earth orbit a year during the 1990s. A few years
ago, Hercules Aerospace Co., Orbital Sciences Corp., and Arianespace
signed a memorandum of understanding for marketing and sales of the
Pegasus air-launched space booster, which is designed for low-orbit
missions. Market analysis shows a probable development of
minisatellites' mass and volume characteristics. Scientific
applications projects are compatible with satellites of a 200 to 300
kilogram mass and are well adapted to Pegasus' performance.
U OF CAL. OPENS SATELLITE/MAP IMAGERY LIBRARY
University of California Santa Barbara claims to be the first U.S.
university to open Map & Imagery Library linking computerized mapping
information and satellite photos of earth using mainframes, work
stations, and personal computers. The library will use software
donated by Strategic Mapping and other computer vendors. In the past,
other universities stored imagery and maps but weren't able to link
maps to data.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ADVANCED X-RAY ASTRONOMY FACILITY CONTRACT AWARD
NASA awarded the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA,
a $86.7 million contract to design and operate a science center that
will help build and use the Advanced X-ray Astronomy Facility (AXAF).
The center's staff will be responsible for reviewing astronomers'
proposals, scheduling observations, and storing and processing data
from AXAF. The observatory's scientists will develop AXAF's high
resolution camera, which will image cosmic X-ray sources, and the X-ray
mirrors in the facility's telescope.
COSTS OF DOWNSIZED SPACE STATION MORE THAN $2 BILLION HIGHER
NASA officials stated that the space station will cost at least $2
billion more than the $30 billion projected costs through the year
2000. This includes a $1.5-$2 billion Assured Crew Return Vehicle
(ACRV) that is necessary once the station is permanently manned.
Although still receiving criticism from the scientific community, NASA
officials claim the science return for the space station will manifest
itself by providing the ACRV, meeting international commitments for 75
kilowatts of power and an eight-member crew, installing a third node
dedicated to life sciences research, and upgrading data downlinks.
These and other items will be added to the total cost of the station
after the year 2000.
ESA SCIENCE PROGRAM MOVES AHEAD
The 13-nation European Space Agency's science program will continue to
move forward after doubting its participation in Mars probes and other
solar-system missions from lack of funds. Science program managers
will soon choose from among several proposed planetary-exploration
missions, many including NASA as a partner, to be launched around the
turn of the century. The science program's budget for 1991 is 238
million European Currency Units ($286 million). With this funding, ESA
will be forced to limit its efforts to missions holding the greatest
scientific promise. Increased funding is expected to take place in
which the accounting change will amount to at least $12 million in
additional annual funds, providing the means to finance the Horizon
2000 program for the next 15 years. Horizon 2000 is the agency's
program that continues to the end of the century and expresses the
agency's long-term goals.
GENERAL DYNAMICS RECEIVES SOHO LAUNCH SERVICES CONTRACT
General Dynamics Commercial Launch Services, San Diego, CA, obtained a
$112 million, four year contract to conduct launch services for the
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission. The SOHO spacecraft
is expected to launch aboard an Atlas IIAS vehicle in July 1995. SOHO
will perform detailed investigations of the physical processes that
form and heat the solar corona, and will study the sun's interior
structure.
NASA DECIDES DATE OF DISCOVERY LAUNCH
NASA has decided on April 23 for the launch of Shuttle Discovery's next
mission. The launch window April 23 extends from 7:05 AM to 9:35 AM
EDT.
SOVIETS UPGRADE MIR SPACE STATION
The Soviet Union intends to expand the Mir space station with two new
Earth observation modules. The Spektr module, equipped for multi-
spectral photography, and the Priroda international ecological module,
will be launch early next year and in late 1992 or 1993 respectively.
USAF/LOCKHEED PAYLOAD TO FLY IN EXPERIMENTAL ESS
The U.S. Defense Department's first unclassified shuttle payload will fly
with a LOCKHEED developed Experiment Support System (ESS) aboard the space
shuttle Discovery. The launch is set for late April. The payload consists of
five scientific experiments that will gather data on Earth's atmosphere,
celestial objects and the environment, using infrared, ultraviolet and X-ray
data. Lockheed, as the integrating contractor, also was responsible for
integrating the five experiments with the ESS, integrating the system to the
space shuttle, developing and implementing an intensive shuttle crew
training program and conducting mission planning. Lockheed will provide
technical support during the flight. Astronauts aboard Discovery will
operate the system from a Lockheed-developed computer. The program's five
insruments mounted on the ESS include:
o The Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle (CIRRIS-1A)
observes Earth's limb and auroras in the infrared portion of the spectrum.
Prime contractor is Utah State Univeristy's Space Dynamics Laboratory. The
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization is the sponsor.
o The Far-Ultraviolet Experiment observes natural and man-made ultraviolet
phenomena. The experiment was developed by the Naval Reasearch Laboratory
in Washington, D.C.
o An instrument called HUP (for Horizon Ultraviolet Program) measures
ultraviolet radiation in Earth's atmosphere. On Discovery's flight HUP
will observe auroras, Earth's limb, and background clutter. The Geophysics
Directorate also developed HUP.
o The Quadrupole Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (QINMS) experiment supports
CIRRIS-1A, by measuring gaseous contamination around the orbiter. QINMS
also was developed by the Geophysics Directorate.
o The final experiment is called URA, or Uniformly Redundant Array, and is
designed to demonstrate capabilities of X-ray coded aperture-imaging
technology using X-ray sources in deep space. URA was developed by the Los
Alamos National Laboratory.
(Source: Business Wire, April 18, 1991)
VADEKO ROBOTIC SYSTEM TO FINISH SHUTTLE MOTORS
Vadeko International Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, won a 20.4 million
Canadian dollar ($17.5 million) contract to supply robotic systems to
NASA's new Advanced Solid Rocket Motor facility. This contract will
provide a complete case preparation facility, including three 70-foot
robots which perform various types of motor finishing for the solid
rocket motors, which are used to boost space shuttles into orbit. The
robots are scheduled to be delivered in the fall of 1992.
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER RELATED:
CIM: CAN WE INTEGRATE THE PROCESS PLANT?
In the traditional process industries, computer integrated manufacturing
(CIM) has yet to become reality. The real benefits of CIM appear when the
automated cell-level and area-level processes in these industries are
integrated with other computer systems and applications throughout the
organization. For true CIM, that effectively bridges the gap between process
control systems and the management information system in the plant manager's
office, a system is needed that integrates:
o A real-time database to support the flow of process data to and from other
system nodes.
o An embedded relational database management system, connected to the
real-time database, to quickly collect data from multiple plant floor
devices for historical archiving and to supply them with process data.
o An integrated data manager to pass information between system components
for storage or analysis.
o A tool set that lets nonprogrammers manage data, create screens and
retrieve and generate custom reports.
o Utilities to communicate with other databases or systems on the same
Ethernet network.
(Source: Automation, February 01, 1991, page 24)
VOICE I/O IN MANUFACTURING
The term "voice I/O" is used in industry to refer to devices that allow
users to input data into an instrument, controller or computer by speaking.
A computer-generated or prerecorded voice provides output.
o Voice input devices must deal with an infinite combination of words,
slangs, accents and inflections. Speech processors now available can
translate only a limited number of words and phrases.
o During initial setup, the voice I/O system is trained to recognize words
by storing in memory a digitized waveform of each user word. Later, when
the system is used, voice input is converted into digitized patterns which
are compared to those stored in system memory. If the two patterns match,
the input is acted upon. Most voice I/O devices easily handle from 50 to
100 words -- more than enough for the alphabet and numbers zero through
nine (for part identification, dimension, weight, etc.), plus additional
words for comments or machine direction.
o Most of today's voice I/O is speaker-dependent, meaning that the person
who will use the equipment trains it with his or her own voice. Where
more than one operator uses the equipment, multiple vocabularies can be
recorded, saved and loaded as required.
o Speaker-independent systems exist, but with a very limited vocabulary
(usually the numbers zero through nine and the words "yes" and "no").
o Voice input devices are discrete, connected or continuous. Discrete
devices require a pause after each spoken word. Connected voice input
systems require users to speak in predefined phrases; words spoken out of
sequence will not be recognized. Continuous voice input systems recognize
multiple words in any order without requiring a pause.
(Source: Automation, February 1, 1991, page 26)
MANUFACTURING THE MAC WITH AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING
APPLE COMPUTER automated material handling at its manufacturing facility in
Fremont, California, with a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) for final
assembly of high-end, mid-volume computer assembly, and an automated
material delivery system for delivering piece parts to the PCB assembly
lines.
o The FMS is made up of three hardware subsystems: two material highway
conveyor systems, one used to assemble the product to a "run-in" state and
the other to perform final test, final assembly, quality inspection and
audit; five automatic storage and retrieval carousels used for automated
assembly run-in and material staging; and a pack-out conveyor system that
can support a mix of four different products of varying configurations
simultaneously.
o The subsystems are integrated through cell-level computers controlling the
carousels, the pull manufacturing system in which assemblies and raw
materials are pulled rather than pushed through the production process and
production scheduling.
o For the Macintosh computer PCB assemblies, SMD reels are stored in
vertical carousels; all other electronic components are stored in totes in
horizontal carousels serviced by automatic extractor-inserters.
o Operators on the assembly line enter the part number of the needed
component into a Macintosh workstation. Components are picked
automatically from the horizontal carousels and sent by conveyor to a
station where an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) picks up the requested
tote and takes it to the assembly line. If an SMD reel is needed, the
request is displayed on the screen of a Macintosh at the vertical carousel
where an operator clicks the mouse on the request to process it. The
carousel automatically rotates to the proper position and a light bar
indicates the slot from which the reel is to be pulled. The reel is then
placed in a tote for delivery to the line via AGV.
(Source: Automation, February 1, 1991, page 16)
EXPERT SYSTEMS MOVE MANUFACTURING SOFTWARE INTO THE 90S
MRP is not the best way to accommodate the problems of configuration
control, pricing, labor and material requirements in configure-to-order
production environments. However, a front-end complement to MRP software,
called configure-to-order software, uses artificial intelligence principles
to apply user-defined rules to the order-entry process to ensure proper
configuration control, pricing and definition of production's labor and
material requirements, thus allowing configure-to-order manufacturers to
effectively use existing MRP II philosophy.
o The most often modified portion of almost all order entry software is the
"standard" special pricing system. Typically, a software package uses a
hierarchy to set such prices, but these system hierarchies may be so
restrictive as to preclude use of pricing incentives. With a rule-based
system, changes in pricing or discounts are accommodated by rewriting one
or two rules within the system. Rule-based software readily handles
pricing situations in which each order requires different amounts of
material and labor, and prices are based on costs.
o A rules-based software system can check selected features and options for
appropriate quantities and compatibility during order entry.
o Standard MRP systems do not accommodate the creation of realistic
final-assembly labor and routing requirements. Not having a realistic
indication of these requirements for a specific configuration can
significantly reduce a company's ability to price, or produce, the
product profitably.
o By employing user-defined rules, the manufacturer ensures that the correct
combination of both materials and routing steps are specified for each
custom-production order. Costs can be estimated before production begins
rather than being totaled after the product is built. Component
requirements are specific to each order. The system creates labor and hour
requirements from rule-based routings.
(Source: Automation, February 1, 1991, page 40)
CUTTING COSTS AND SCRAP WITH AN EXPERT SYSTEM
A prototype computerized expert decision support system (EDSS) was designed,
built and implemented at Mifromal Aluminum Industries in Israel, which
produces aluminum profiles in an extrusion process and has a production
capacity of about 10,000 tons of aluminum profiles per year.
o For each customer order, the EDSS helps determine which of the three
presses in the plant is best for the job, what quantity to produce and
calculates the production cost per kilogram.
o The prototype system uses analytical models and facilitates "what-if" and
"goal-seek" analyses. What-if shows the decision-maker what effect
changing the amount to be produced will have on the expected efficiency,
on the cost per kilogram, and on total production costs. Goal-seek allows
estimation of total production costs and costs per kilogram for a
predefined efficiency level.
o Before the EDSS was implemented, the production manager intuitively
allocated jobs among the presses based on quantity ordered, technical
parameters of the profile, and whether the order was for local supply or
for export. A global cost estimate was taken into account, but production
costs and utilization of raw materials were not explicitly estimated for
specific orders.
o As a result, the plant was losing money on a significant portion of the
orders, and presses were not utilized to full capacity. The annual cost
of scrap was estimated to be about $2,000,000. If the EDSS reduced just
five percent of the total scrap, savings could approach $100,000 per year.
(Source: Automation, February 1, 1991, page 42)
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Distribution:
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BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
GEORGE ANDERSON@AYO LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO
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JIM BALLANCE@EWO BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO
BILL BARGAS@TMO JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO
JIM BEALL@AQO TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO
GARY BENTON@TMO LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO
CHAD BIGONY@WRO BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO
AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
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MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO
RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO
RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO
DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO
ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO
JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO
GENE CERNAN@HSO DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO
GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO
BOB COHEN@IVO DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO
HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO
JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO
BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO
DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO G DAVIS@DVO GARY DAVIS@FOO JACK DAVIS@BMO
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TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO
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RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI
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DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME
FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF
KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO
MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO
PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO
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AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO BRUCE GARLAND@BIO
DOUG GARNER@CHO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO
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JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@
CARTER GUIDER@FHO MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO
KEN HAMILTON@VFO TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ THOMAS HIPP@WRO LEN HOCH@SEO
JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO PAUL HOSKINS@TFO
ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST LARRY HUDSON@LAO
AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO ZORAN ILIC@MRO
CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO MITCH JAFFE@LAO
BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO
SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA DAVE JOHNSON@FZO CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO
BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO
JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO
JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO
VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO JIM KIRSILA@BWA
STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY
KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO
MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO
BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO SHARON LENHART@SEO
ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO
MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST BRETT LOWE@MAO
CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA
LEO MADRID@PBF JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO
DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO
DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO STEVE MARINO@MRO
MARGARET MARINO@SEO MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO
HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO
SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO
BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO
BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO
ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO TOM MILLER@SEO PAUL MILLER@EDO
RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO
MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO
SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET
ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO BILL MORROW@WRO MICHAEL MORSE@STO
CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO
GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO
DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO
W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO
BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L
JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO
LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO
JACK PERRY@WRO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO BOB PETITTI@SEO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO
DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M
MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO
BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@VRO
KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET
TOM REYNOLDS@LAO URSEL RHEA@IVO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO ALLISON RICHARDSON@
DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO
KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO
MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO
ROBERT ROWE@IVO ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI
PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV
CHUCK SARGENT@DVO HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO
RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO
DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO
BOB SEIFERT@MKO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO
GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO
DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO
BILL SLEZAK@DCO PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI KEVIN SMITH@LIO
PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO
MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO JIM STANFILL@SEO
PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L
LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO BOB TASSONE@SEO
JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO
DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO ED TREMBLAY@SEO
TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO
LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO LEE VARRICHIONE@MET
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO DAVE WATTS@SEO
DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO
ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA DON WOLFE@WRO
HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO
TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO
MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO
ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.109 | Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Apr 30 1991 18:29 | 935 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 30-Apr-1991 05:09pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of April 22, 1991
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 22, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 22, 1991
ATF CONTRACT AWARD:
LOCKHEED TEAM WINS CONTEST TO BUILD ADVANCED FIGHTER
FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF ATF PARTICIPANTS
UT'S PRATT & WHITNEY GETS ENGINE ORDER FOR ATF
GM'S HUGHES AIRCRAFT TO MAKE ADVANCED JET'S FLIGHT COMPUTER
AFT WIN BOOSTS UK'S GEC AVIONICS
GE SEES HUNDREDS LOSING JOBS FROM LOSS OF FIGHTER ORDER
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO LAY OFF 500 AIRCRAFT WORKERS BY YEAR'S END
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE COMMANDER RETIRES
ALENIA PROFITS APPROACH $81 MILLION
FAIRCHILD'S FUTURE AT MATRA
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR GENERAL ELECTRIC
GE SEES DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD DESPITE FIRST-QUARTER GAINS
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR GTE
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR MARTIN MARIETTA
SECOND-QUARTER RESULTS FOR ROCKWELL
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR TRW
MARTIN MARIETTA TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND INTO NON-DEFENSE MARKETS
MAGNE TEK, THORN TO TEAM TOGETHER ON MARKETING
PROJECTED GPS SALES CLIMB
LITTON TO PURCHASE GENERAL INSTRUMENT'S DEFENSE SYSTEMS GROUP
PENTAGON'S SPENDING PLAN TOO OPTIMISTIC
RAYTHEON CO. ANNOUNCES $134 MILLION PROFIT
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE AWARDS AWACS ENGINE CONTRACT TO PRATT & WHITNEY
AX TOO COSTLY TO FINANCE
FAA MAY ORDER INSPECTION OF CORPORATE JET ENGINES (ALLIED)
FS-X MOCK-UP CONTRACT
LOCKHEED-BOEING-GD WORK FORCE FOR YF-22
MODERNIZATION PLAN FOR APACHE
PERFORMANCE OF APACHE COPTERS IN GULF WAR RAISES CONCERNS
AVIONICS:
AEL RECEIVES SUPPLY KIT CONTRACT FOR RU-21 AIRCRAFT
AEROSPATIALE, THOMSON PLAN TO MARKET ORCHIDEE TECHNOLOGY
ALLIED SIGNAL UNIT TO PROVIDE AVIONICS SYSTEMS TO SOVIETS
COUNTRIES TEAM ON IMPROVED DATA LINKS
LITTON ITALIA DEVELOPS RING LASER GYRO
MISSILES:
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO RECERTIFY TOMAHAWK
KINETIC ENERGY MISSILE FIRING FAILS DUE TO WEATHER
MATRA JOINS ALENIA TO MARKET AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES
RAYTHEON SAYS PATRIOTS HIT 90 PERCENT OF SCUD WARHEADS IN SAUDI
SLUMPING SOLID FUEL CAUSED TITAN EXPLOSION
UPCOMING AIWS DEVELOPMENT
VULCAIN TESTS CONTINUE
SATELLITES:
ANALYSIS: DYNAMICS' ROCKET FAILURE HURTS JAPANESE HDTV PLAN (UT)
CANADA'S ANIK-E2 SATELLITE MAY BE A COMPLETE LOSS
COMMERCIAL SPACE FORECAST
FEWER SPY SATELLITES IN THE 90s
SOVIETS LAUNCH METEOR-3 SATELLITE
SPACENET 4 COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LAUNCHED
TEST OF ULTRAVIOLET SENSORS AS POSSIBLE BRILLIANT PEBBLE COMPONENT
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ATLANTIS LANDED SLOW AND SHORT OF RUNWAY
DISCOVERY LAUNCHED
FUTURE OF SOVIET BURAN/ENERGIA SYSTEM IN DOUBT
GALILEO FLYBY OF ASTEROID GASPRA
LORAL AWARDED $145 MILLION CONTRACT FOR EOS INSTRUMENT
NASA REQUESTS NEW CENTER FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE
ORBITAL SCIENCES TO MAKE APEX SPACECRAFT
ROCKWELL UNVEILS SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR
SOFTWARE REWRITES CORRECT 95% OF HUBBLE JITTER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATF CONTRACT AWARD:
LOCKHEED TEAM WINS CONTEST TO BUILD ADVANCED FIGHTER
The U.S. Air Force chose a team led by LOCKHEED CORP. to build its fighter
plane of the future, the Advanced Technology Fighter. The Lockheed team
defeated one led by NORTHROP CORP. for the $95 billion project, the richest
aerospace contract in history, in a 54-month competition. Joining Lockheed
on the team winning the contract for the Advanced Tactical Figher jet are
BOEING CO. and GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP. The contract awarded by the Pentagon
to the Lockheed team is for $12.1 billion to develop a fighter jet designed
to rule the skies in the early 21st century. Each of the two teams had
invested more than $1 billion in their own planning money on the project,
which already has drawn skepticism over its necessity and the $95 billion
estimated total cost of the 650-plane program. It was likely to be the
biggest piece of airplane business awarded by the government in the 1990s
and could further determine which companies on a long-dwindling list of
military aircraft manufacturers survive. Robert F. Hale, an analyst for the
Congressional Budget Office, told the Senate Armed Services Committee
yesterday the futuristic fighter planes could end up costing as much as $135
million apiece, compared with the Air Force's highest estimate of $108
million.
Northrop, McDonnell Douglas and General Electric could find themselves
scrambling for orders at a time when overall defense spending is likely to
decline sharply. Both McDonnell Douglas and Northrop expect layoffs to
results. The loss will increase Northrop's reliance on the embattled B-2
bomber, which accounts for some 60 percent of its revenue. Although
McDonnell Douglas hopes to build a stretched F/A-18 in years to come, it
still needs to find "some way of filling the void" beyond that.
For Lockheed, the ATF win will provide steady revenue growth for its
aircraft operations and help revive an underutilized Marietta, Georgia,
facility. For Boeing, which has a good part of its military business tied to
nuclear armaments, the F-22 offers a way to branch into tactical weaponry.
And for General Dynamics, which could conceivably see its F-16 fighter line
wind down by late in the decade, the win will help stabilize employment at
its Texas military-aircraft factory. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 23,
1991)
FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF ATF PARTICIPANTS
The winners of the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program posted a
gain of approximately $137.6 million in market capitalization, while
the losers left nearly $300 million behind, immediately after the
decision was made. Lockheed ended the day up 37 cents to close at
$42.87. Boeing moved up a quarter to $47.74 and General Dynamics rose
62 cents to finish at $37.50. Northrop tumbled $3.25 closing at $23.75
and McDonnell Douglas fell down $3.63 at $46.75.
UT'S PRATT & WHITNEY GETS ENGINE ORDER FOR ATF
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES' Pratt & Whitney unit won the U.S. Air Force contract to
supply its F119 engine for the planned, new Advanced Tactical Fighter jet.
The value of the contract could exceed $12 billion. The company said initial
manufacturing, after full scale development, is expected to begin in 1997
and could exceed 1,500 engines. Full production volume will not occur until
after 2000. Pratt & Whitney cautioned that the contract award will not have
"any impact on our production operations until the late 90s." (Source: Dow
Jones News, April 23, 1991)
GM'S HUGHES AIRCRAFT TO MAKE ADVANCED JET'S FLIGHT COMPUTER
HUGHES AIRCRAFT's Radar Systems Group will provide the critical avionics
system computing power for the team selected by the Air Force to proceed
with full-scale development of the F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF).
HUGHES will produce the F-22's Common Integrated Processor which will handle
all sensor signal and data processing for the ATF, including radar,
electro-optical, infrared search and track, navigation, target recognition
and identification. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 23, 1991)
ATF WIN BOOSTS UK'S GEC AVIONICS
The United Kingdom's GEC Avionics is assured a place on both Europe's
and the U.S.'s next-generation fighters. Involvement in the European
Fighter Aircraft and the Advanced Tactical Fighter program makes GEC
the largest U.K. contractor presently involved in the YF-22 effort.
GEC Avionics is expected to receive up to $500 million in ATF
subcontracts for cockpit displays and flight control computer gear.
Initial contracts worth between $100 million and $118 million are being
finalized for the ATF's head-up display, side-stick controller and the
vehicle management system.
GE SEES HUNDREDS LOSING JOBS FROM LOSS OF FIGHTER ORDER
GENERAL ELECTRIC's aircraft unit said it expects at least 1,000 workers to
lose their jobs because of GE's failure to win a contract to develop and
build engines for the U.S.'s next fighter jet. However, a representative
said GE still has a healthy commercial and military business. GE Aircraft
Engines has a total of about 38,000 employees worldwide. The representative
couldn't say when the cutbacks would come. But he said there were a lot of
engineers working on the program because it was a development contract. GE
had worked for nearly a decade on its F-120 engine for the Advanced Tactical
Fighter. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 25, 1991)
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO LAY OFF 500 AIRCRAFT WORKERS BY YEAR'S END
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS said that because the Air Force did not choose McDonell
Douglas for the Advanced Tactical Fighter program, it will lay off about 500
employees at McDonnell Aircraft Co. by the end of the year. The company also
cited reduced orders for F-15s for the layoffs. (Source: Dow Jones News,
April 23, 1991)
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE COMMANDER RETIRES
The commander of the Air Force Space Systems Division, Lt. Gen. Donald
Cromer will retire June 1. He will be succeeded by Air Force Maj. Gen.
Edward Barry who is currently the Air Force's program executive officer
for tactical and airlift programs.
ALENIA PROFITS APPROACH $81 MILLION
The business group, Alenia, headquartered in Rome, approved the 1990
budget draft soon to be submitted at its annual shareholders meeting.
Turnover for the period is 4.9 trillion lire ($3.9 billion), while net
profit is approximately 101 billion lire ($80.6 million).
FAIRCHILDS FUTURE AT MATRA
Dramatic staff reductions at Fairchild Space & Defense Corp. over the
past six months is raising questions about the companies future.
Fairchild is part of the French Matra Group, originally purchased as a
vehicle for U.S. expansion. But with the shrinking aerospace market in
the United States and Europe, Matra was prompted to reduce the staff by
approximately 8 percent, down to 1,800 personnel overall with the most
dramatic changes taking place at the top.
LITTON TO PURCHASE GENERAL INSTRUMENT'S DEFENSE SYSTEMS GROUP
Litton Industries Inc., Beverly Hills, CA, plans to acquire General
Instrument's Defense Systems Group, which is the largest U.S. supplier
of threat warning systems, used to disrupt enemy radar and air defense
missiles. This move would make Litton one of the world's largest
electronic warfare manufactures.
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR GENERAL ELECTRIC
First-quarter ended March 31, 1991 1990
Revenues $13,300,000,000 $12,600,000,000
Net income $999,000,000 $950,000,000
GE said that much of the impact of the weak economy on its short cycle
product businesses was offset by strong productivity. The major strength
during the quarter came from "increased revenue and productivity
improvements in GE's long cycle businesses producing very strong earnings
growth in Aircraft Engines, Power Systems and Medical Systems." GE Financial
Services also had a very good quarter, with net earnings up 15 percent. Only
NBC had a significantly negative quarter-to-quarter comparison reflecting
higher news costs for the Persian Gulf war, lower ratings and a very weak
advertising market. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 15, 1991)
GE SEES DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD DESPITE FIRST-QUARTER GAINS
GENERAL ELECTRIC Chairman John W. Welch Jr. said that this year the company
is being "challenged by the toughest environment facing business in nearly a
decade ..." Citing the recently reported improvement in first quarter
results, Welch warned, however, the year is "far from over and difficult
times lie ahead, but we believe our efforts over the past several years have
positioned us to deal effectively with the uncertain times that we are in."
Welch said that that U.S. government defense cutbacks have increased
pressure for reducing operations at the defense-related facilities. Welch
also noted that the businesses in non-defense areas may offset some of the
defense-related cutbacks. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 24, 1991)
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR GTE
First-quarter ended March 31, 1991 1990
Revenues $5,224,000,000 $5,243,000,000
Income
before items $404,000,000 $375,000,000
Extraordinary charge $204,000,000 ...
Net income $200,000,000 $375,000,000
The extraordinary item is a one-time charge of about $245 million in
connection with GTE's merger with Contel; and a gain on the transfer of
minority interests in certain cellular properties of about $40 million. GTE
said operating income from telephone operations in the 1991 first quarter
rose to $964 million from $899 million. Operating income from
telecommunications products and services rose to $18 million from $13
million. Operating income from electrical products fell to $31 million from
$67 million. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 17, 1991)
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR MARTIN MARIETTA
First-quarter ended March 31, 1991 1990
Sales $1,400,400,000 $1,418,900,000
Net income $71,100,000 $67,100,000
The company said the slight sales decline reflected the absence of $115
million in non-recurring revenues from a Commercial Titan launch in the
first quarter of 1990 and the effect of the recession and adverse weather
conditions on the Materials Group this year. Buoyed by increasing business
in such areas as postal systems, Information Systems Co. sales rose more
than 25 percent. Earnings from operations rose 13 percent to $108 million,
reflecting increases in award fees and the ongoing benefits of improved
productivity and cost reductions. These gains were achieved in spite of the
negative influence on earnings of recessionary and weather factors in the
Materials Group. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 22, 1991)
SECOND-QUARTER RESULTS FOR ROCKWELL
Second-quarter ended March 31, 1991 1990
Sales $2,990,000,000 $3,151,000,000
Net income $155,200,000 $173,400,000
The company said that last year's second-quarter earnings included net of
four cents a share from a divested graphics product line. ROCKWELL
INTERNATIONAL CORP. said its backlog at March 31 totaled $17.3 billion, up
from $15.5 billion a year earlier. Rockwell said electronics operating
earnings for the quarter were up 9 percent from a year ago reflecting higher
volume and improved contract performance in defense electronics as well as
slightly higher earnings in the Allen-Bradley Industrial Automation and
Telecommunications businesses. Earnings of the Avionics business, while
below last year's performance, remained strong. Reduced earnings from the
Space Shuttle program as the Orbiter Endeavour nears delivery were more than
offset by favorable contract adjustments, principally related to the B-1B
program. Second-quarter earnings from automotive's components and systems
businesses were substantially down from 1990's second quarter due to
depressed worldwide markets, particularly in Brazil. Rockwell's chairman and
chief executive, Donald R. Beall, expects earnings for the fiscal 1991 year
will be somewhat higher than in fiscal 1990. (Source: Dow Jones News, April
16, 1991)
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR TRW
First-quarter ended March 31, 1991 1990
Sales $1,915,000,000 $1,991,000,000
Net income $35,000,000 $57,000,000
TRW Inc. said the decline in earnings was caused by weak market conditions,
primarily in the automotive industry. In the automotive segment, TRW said
sales for the quarter declined 2 percent to $977 million from $1.022 billion
in 1990. Lower customer demand was partly offset by sales from operations
acquired in 1990. Operating profit in the automotive segment was $40
million, down 50 percent from $81 million in the year-ago quarter.
In the space and defense segment, TRW said sales were $753 million, down 6
percent from $805 million in the year-earlier quarter. Operating profit for
the quarter increased 2 percent to $68 million from $66 million. Lower
customer demand for space systems produced most of the sales decline, while
the higher operating profit resulted from improved program performance and
higher customer-funded research and development. (Source: Dow Jones News,
April 17, 1991)
MARTIN MARIETTA TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND INTO NON-DEFENSE MARKETS
Norman R. Augustine, chairman and chief executive officer of MARTIN
MARIETTA, said the company will continue to expand into non-defense
government markets. Augustine said his company would take advantage of non-
dilutive acquisition opportunities in the defense market and would "very
selectively" pursue acquisitions in non-defense markets. Augustine also said
the company's cash flow trend will be "highly positive" well into the
decade. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 25, 1991)
MAGNE TEK, THORN TO TEAM TOGETHER ON MARKETING
Magne Tek Defense Systems, Anaheim, CA, has signed an agreement with
the Naval Systems Division of Thorn EMI Electronics, Rugeley, United
Kingdom for joint marketing, development and manufacture of its
military electronics products and Thorn's magnetometry products. The
agreement covers activities in the United States and the United
Kingdom.
PENTAGON'S SPENDING PLAN TOO OPTIMISTIC
The Pentagon may be $172 billion short over the next five years because
it is relying on budget savings that may never materialize. Although
the military's fiscal year 1992-1997 Future Years Defense Program
matches goals set by the Administration's fiscal year 1991 budget, its
savings rely on a combination of program terminations, base cutbacks
and management initiatives that will most likely not occur, says chief
accounting officer. Congress has not always agreed with what DoD has
proposed to terminate, for example, the F-14 and V-22 aircraft. Base
closures for the FY 1992-1997 period will save money over time, but
shutdown costs will total $5.5 billion more that the Pentagon planned.
PROJECTED GPS SALES CLIMB
Estimated sales over the next five years of Global Positioning System
(GPS) receivers will approach $6 billion in revenues, according to the
marketing and consulting firm, Colwell-Kirtland International of
Sunnyvale, CA. They estimate more than $2.5 billion will be spent for
vehicle tracking and navigation receivers, and more than $3.75 billion
on receivers for marine and aviation navigation.
RAYTHEON ANNOUNCES $134 MILLION PROFIT
Raytheon Co., Lexington, MA, posted earnings of $133.7 million, or
$2.04 a share on sales of $2.25 billion for the first quarter of 1991.
Last year, Raytheon posted $130.9 million in profits on $2.23 billion
in sales. Raytheon executive partially credits first quarter success
to strong operating results in government electronics and in Raytheon's
energy services and aircraft segments.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE AWARDS AWACS ENGINE CONTRACT TO PRATT & WHITNEY
The Air Force awarded a $7.5 million contract to Pratt & Whitney to
settle years-old claims on engines for NATO's fleet of AWACS aircraft.
The service awarded the settlement in the form of a face value increase
to an existing contract for TF33 turbofans, which power the Boeing
AWACS.
AX TOO COSTLY TO FINANCE
The U.S. Navy says that the AX is the best alternative for replacing
the canceled A-12 Avenger program. The Navy estimates it will cost $10
billion to develop an AX over the next decade, in comparison to the
$6.7 billion cost of the A-12 for research and development. But the
cost of the AX will likely increase substantially once the program
evolves. The Department of Defense seriously questions the ability to
fund the $1 billion a year required to begin developing AX.
FAA MAY ORDER INSPECTION OF CORPORATE JET ENGINES (ALLIED)
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is preparing an emergency order
that could require thousands of corporate-jet owners to inspect their planes
for possible engine defects. The order is expected to cover planes equipped
with Garrett TFE-731-2 and TFE-731-3 engines, which are made by the Garrett
Engine Division of Allied-Signal Aerospace Co. Cracks have been found in the
fan disk of the engine, and such cracks can lead to engine explosions. An
estimated 5,000 of the jet engines are in use around the world. The engines
are used in Dassault Falcons, Lockheed Jetstars and some Learjets.
(Source: Dow Jones News, April 12, 1991)
FS-X MOCK-UP CONTRACT
Japan's Defense Agency has awarded a $244.6 million contract to
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for a forward fuselage mock-up of the FS-X
next-generation close air support aircraft. The technology
demonstrator mock-up will be completed before March, 1994.
LOCKHEED-BOEING-GD WORK FORCE FOR YF-22
Lockheed, Boeing and General Dynamics are planning on involving 7,000
employees in the YF-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter program at the peak of
the effort. The project will also involve 650 suppliers in 32 states.
Under the full scale development phase, the team will manufacture 13
YF-22s -- the first flight is scheduled for 1995.
MODERNIZATION PLAN FOR APACHE
The Army was forced to outline a plan to modernize its fleet of 807 AH-
64 Apaches, focusing on reliability improvements, block upgrades and
service-life extensions. This plan was submitted to Congress and will
extend through the next ten years. Without this plan, the Army would
have received no more than half the funds authorized for the Longbow
program, as a result of the fiscal 1991 budget.
PERFORMANCE OF APACHE COPTERS IN GULF WAR RAISES CONCERNS
Among the unsung heroes of the Persian Gulf war are maintenance crews and
civilian technicians who kept the Army's Apache helicopters flying despite
recurrent breakdowns and spare-parts problems, according to the General
Accounting Office. GAO investigators, who visited Apache bases in Saudi
Arabia in January on the eve of the conflict, found that the army had
decided to "manage around the problem" with a number of desperate moves.
These included the liberal use of civilian technicians and orders that
virtually grounded some 250 Apaches based elsewhere in the world for use as
a source of spare parts. The management-intensive performance of the tank-
killing Apache, praised as "superb" and "fantastic" by top Army officials,
raises multibillion dollar questions for Congress and for Pentagon planners
studying the issue of high-technology weapons purchases in the more tight-
fisted budgetary atmosphere of the mid-1990s. Despite the pampering, the
average Apache helicopter was available to fly less than 37 hours during the
six-week Gulf conflict. While the Army says preliminary studies show Apaches
destroyed over 500 Iraqi tanks, the helicopters appear to have been
outgunned and outflown by A-10 Warthogs -- which are on the verge of being
scrapped by the Air Force. Round-the-clock efforts to keep Apaches flying
required use of numerous full-time civilian technicians including teams from
Martin Marietta Corp., which makes the helicopter's targeting system.
(Source: Dow Jones News, April 19, 1991)
AVIONICS:
AEL RECEIVES SUPPLY KIT CONTRACT FOR RU-21 AIRCRAFT
The U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command, St. Louis, MO, awarded AEL
Industries Inc., Lansdale, PA, a $2.8 million contract option to
produce kits for the RU-21 Guardrail V electronic eavesdropping
aircraft. This is part of the Army's effort to upgrade avionics for the
RU-21H aircraft fleet.
AEROSPATIALE, THOMSON PLAN TO MARKET ORCHIDEE SYSTEM
Due to its successful performance during Operation Desert Storm,
Aerospatiale and Thomson-CSF have begun marketing the Orchidee
helicopter-mounted battlefield surveillance radar on the international
market. Orchidee's initial mission during Operation Desert Storm was
to locate Iraqi Army jammers and to guide U.S. attack fighters that
would destroy them. The radar was also used to locate targets for U.S.
Army attack helicopters, and to gather intelligence on enemy forces
opposing the French-led column that penetrated 160 kilometers into
Iraq. Orchidee's radar has a range of 70 kilometers.
ALLIED SIGNAL UNIT TO PROVIDE AVIONICS SYSTEMS TO SOVIETS
Allied-Signal Aerospace Co.'s Bendix/King Air Transport Avionics division
will furnish commercial integrated avionics systems to the Soviet Union.
Terms were not disclosed. Plans call for equipment to be delivered for
flight testing beginning in mid-1992, with flight tests and certification to
be completed in mid-1994. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 12, 1991)
COUNTRIES TEAM ON IMPROVED DATA LINKS
Britain and France are joining forces on a program which will develop a
standard architecture to guide a common design for future data links
used by sea, air and land forces for speeding up the exchange of
information. They will be supported by Smith Associates, Britain's
leading independent system engineering consultancy. One of the major
military problems encountered during the Persian Gulf war was the slow
interchange of information to battlefield commanders.
LITTON ITALIA DEVELOPS RING LASER GYRO
Litton Italia, has won a three year development contract for the ring
laser gyro inertial navigation system for European fighter aircraft
(EFA). Litton will supply 25 Litton LN-93EF (navigation) systems to
Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug FmbH. of Germany. The LN-93EF will replace
Litton's LN-93, and will be smaller, lighter and will consume less
power.
MISSILES:
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO RECERTIFY TOMAHAWK
General Dynamics Convair Division, San Diego, CA, won a $12 million
contract to recertify 92 Tomahawk cruise missiles for the U.S. Navy.
Recertification means replacing components and systems in the missile
that have a limited service life and must be periodically replaced to
guarantee the Tomahawk's readiness to meet U.S. Navy requirements.
KINETIC ENERGY MISSILE FIRING FAILS DUE TO WEATHER
In a recent test to determine the Kinetic Energy Missile (KEM) firing
capabilities, the first missile fired lost track of the target and the
second never left the launch tube due to a power failure in the system,
which automatically shuts down when it detects a problem. The failure
is partly attributed to poor weather and 60 mph winds. The test will
be repeated this month.
MATRA JOINS ALENIA TO MARKET AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES
Matra, Paris, teamed up with Alenia, Rome, to work on future air-to-air
missile programs which will compete for contracts in the European
Fighter Aircraft program. Matra estimates that the market for European
air-to-air missiles will be worth between 30 billion and 50 billion
French francs ($5.3 billion to $8 billion) over the next ten years.
RAYTHEON SAYS PATRIOTS HIT 90 PERCENT OF SCUD WARHEADS IN SAUDI
RAYTHEON CO., assessing the performance of its Patriot missiles in the
Persian Gulf war, said the missile hit 90 percent of Scud missile warhead in
Saudi Arabia, but only "about half" of the Scud warheads fired at Israel.
Raytheon also said Patriot saved many lives. The success rate in Israel,
which Raytheon attributed to an Israeli military assessment, would have been
35 percent higher if the Israelis had considered partial destructions of
warheads or missiles as "kills." As for the recent criticism of Patriot,
Raytheon said "much of what has appeared in the media in this regard is
based on unsubstantiated, incomplete or inaccurate information. (Source: Dow
Jones News, April 25, 1991)
SLUMPING SOLID FUEL CAUSED TITAN EXPLOSION
The April 1 explosion of the upgraded Titan 1V space booster was most
likely caused by slumping solid fuel, rather than earlier suspicions of
failure of the new filament wound motor case. The Air Force believes
that reshaping the solid rocket propellant could solve the problem. A
replacement of the vertical test stand will take about a year to build.
Horizontal testing was more commonly used in the past.
UPCOMING AIWS DEVELOPMENT
The number one priority for McDonnell Douglas Missile Co. is winning
the Navy's Advanced Interdiction Weapon System (AIWS) full-scale
development contract. The three teams competing for this contract are:
Boeing-Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas-Hughes and Texas Instruments-LTV,
who have invested their own money to fly prototype demonstrator
vehicles. The Navy expects to buy about 16,600 AIWS units, 8,800
baseline models and 7,800 growing from a preplanned product improvement
program. Proposals are due by the end of next month and a decision
will be made by August. Revenues for the winning team could exceed
well over a billion dollars during the five to seven year life of the
program.
VULCAIN TESTS CONTINUE
Although a fire interrupted the last test of the Vulcain engine, which
will power the main stage of Europe's future Ariane 5 launch vehicle,
test firings are expected to resume April 25. The failed test was
supposed to last 62 seconds but was stopped after 57 seconds when
oxygen and helium were found to be in incorrect proportion. Vulcain is
fueled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
SATELLITES:
ANALYSIS: DYNAMICS' ROCKET FAILURE HURTS JAPANESE HDTV PLAN (UT)
With a single blow, the fiery destruction of an Atlas/Centaur rocket in mid
April has set back both GENERAL DYNAMICS' infant commercial launch business
and Japan's ambitions to begin the world's first commercial broadcasting of
high-definition television this year. One of two engines on the Centaur
second stage failed to ignite, forcing controllers on the ground to blow up
the rocket. The Engine maker, UNITED TECHNOLOGIES' Pratt & Whitney, declined
to comment on the cause of the mishap. Japanese broadcasters will now likely
be forced to temporarily eliminate one of the country's three existing
broadcast-satellite stations this summer, or remote areas of the country
will lose access to satellite television. More significantly, the mishaps
could delay plans by the Japanese government and industry officials to
introduce a new satellite channel by November that will deliver as many as
eight hours a day of HDTV. NHK, Japan's broadcasting giant that owned the
satellite, declined to comment. The accident is also likely to speed Japan's
rush to develop its own satellite and rocket-launching industry. However,
Japan's efforts have riled U.S. officials, who say Japanese government
support and protection violate free trade. The U.S. is particularly
sensitive to Japan's entry in the commercial space business, in large part
because of the ground it lost to French launcher Arianespace over the past
decade. Arianespace controls about half the $1.2 billion annual worldwide
commercial launch market. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 22, 1991)
CANADA'S ANIK-E2 SATELLITE MAY BE A COMPLETE LOSS
Telesat Canada's Anik-E2 satellite, the first of their new generation
of advanced communications satellites, might be worthless as a result
of antenna deployment problems on April 12. The Anik-E2 cost 90
million Canadian Dollars ($78 million) to manufacture, and was designed
to carry television signals from every Canadian broadcasting network.
Customers signed up for Anik-E2 will now use its sister satellite,
Anik-E1, scheduled for launch this July.
COMMERCIAL SPACE FORECAST
New Payload Forecast commissioned by the U.S. Transportation
Department's Office of Commercial Space Transportation predicts the
most growth will be in the low-Earth orbit arena. The study by
Decision Science Consortium, Inc., of Reston, VA, and Berner Lanphier &
Associates, of Bethesa, MD, concludes that the annual number of low-
orbit payloads will jump from 10.4 from 1993-1999 to 16.9 from 2000-
2005. Demand for geosynchronous communication satellites will remain
the same, while modest growth is expected in the remote-sensing area
with launches estimated to rise from 3.9 annually from 1993-1999 to six
per year during 2000-2005.
FEWER SPY SATELLITES IN THE 90s
The U.S. Air Force intends to launch fewer spy satellites during the
1990s due to the new defense budget and increased longevity of some
constellations already in orbit. The air force has decreased the
number of launches of its workhorse Titan 4 booster and has canceled
plans to build an additional Titan launch pad in California. Through
1997, the Air Force plans 10 Titan launches from Vandenberg Air Force
Base rather than the original 14 planned launches. The Air Force also
plans fewer launches of Titan 4 rockets from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, down 29 from the original 33 planned through 1997.
SOVIETS LAUNCH METEOR-3 SATELLITE
The Soviet Union successfully launched a Meteor-3 weather satellite on
a Tsiklon rocket. Observers in England said they detected the mission
several hours before it was announced by Moscow.
SPACENET 4 COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LAUNCHED
The GTE Spacenet 4 dual-band communications satellite was launched as
the payload of a McDonnell Douglas Delta 2 vehicle. The satellite will
primarily be used by retail stores and banks to relay news broadcasts
and financial and merchandising interactive date. Spacenet will be in
use late June and will supplement already existing GTE Spacenet Corp.
service, primarily Westar 4, which is approaching the end of its
lifetime.
TEST OF ULTRAVIOLET SENSORS AS POSSIBLE BRILLIANT PEBBLE COMPONENT
Space engineers will test later this year an ultraviolet sensor,
developed by Ball Aerospace Systems Group, that may help Brilliant
Pebbles orbiting interceptors pinpoint active enemy nuclear missiles.
This sensor, called multianode microchannel array, or Ultraseek sensor,
will complement, not replace, infrared sensors aboard the pebble
weapons. Ball and five other companies are developing designs which
will compete for pebble weapons in the U.S. Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization. The proposed system will contain ground-based
missiles in the U.S. and abroad, as well as 1,000 orbiting pebble
weapons.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ATLANTIS LANDED SLOW AND SHORT OF RUNWAY
The orbiter Atlantis safely landed over 600 feet short of the runway
threshold located in the desert at Edwards AFB, CA. An Air Force
controller who was at the controls blames himself and the unusual high
winds. This is the only shuttle landing ever to fall short of the
runway.
DISCOVERY LAUNCHED
The space shuttle, Discovery, was launched into space after being
delayed for half an hour because of problems with a tape recorder
aboard the spaceship. This is the first military mission where
everything is unclassified. At 161 miles above the Earth, the seven
astronauts are to test antimissile sensors for the Strategic Defense
Initiative. After a sensor-laden satellite is deployed, the orbiter
and satellite are to observe one another by orbiting around each other.
FUTURE OF BURAN/ENERIA SYSTEM IN DOUBT
The Soviet Buran-2 space shuttle orbiter and an Energia heavy lift
booster are almost ready for an unmanned shuttle mission to the Mir
space station in early 1992, but lack of payloads and high operating
costs questions the systems future.
GALILEO FLYBY OF ASTEROID GASPRA
NASA reported that the Galileo probe will continue with a scheduled
October 29 flyby investigation of the asteroid Gaspra -- although a
problem with its main communication antenna will postpone the data from
reaching Earth until Galileo performs its next flyby of Earth in
December 1992.
LORAL AWARDED $145 MILLION CONTRACT FOR EOS INSTRUMENT
NASA awarded Loral a $145 million five year contract to design and
build the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument which will be
flown on the Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites. AIRS will study
the effects of global warming, more specifically atmospheric
temperature, cloud cover, and atmospheric water vapor and sea-and land-
surface temperatures.
NASA REQUESTS NEW CENTER FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE
NASA has asked for proposals for at least one new Center for the
Commercial Development of Space to specialize in advanced satellite
communications technologies. NASA set a deadline of June 21 for
proposals, and selection is set for August. NASA now supports 16 of
the centers at $1 million a year. New centers will begin operations in
September.
ORBITAL SCIENCES TO MAKE APEX SPACECRAFT
Orbital Sciences Corporation, Fairfax, VA, has been awarded a $9.6
million contract by the Air Force Space Systems Division to design and
manufacture the Advanced Photovoltaic and Electronics Experiments
(APEX) spacecraft. APEX will perform three experiments examining the
performance of microelectronics and advanced solar arrays in space
environment. The spacecraft is scheduled to be launched in late 1992
on Orbital Sciences Pegasus air-launched vehicle and will have a life
of at least a year.
ROCKWELL UNVEILS SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR
Rockwell International Corporation introduced its new $1.8 billion
space shuttle Endeavor, the fifth, and possibly the last, orbiter built
for the space shuttle program. Rockwell's Space Systems Division
received a $1.3 billion contract in 1987 to build the shuttle Endeavor
after having built shuttles Columbia, Discovery, Challenger and
Atlantis. No new shuttles were included in the Bush administration's
1992 budget proposal.
SOFTWARE REWRITES CORRECT 95% OF HUBBLE JITTER
While celebrating the first anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope's
launch, officials announced that the persistent jitter on the telescope
has been improved 95% by repeated rewrites of the spacecraft's guidance
software. The solar arrays that cause the jitter will be replaced on
the first servicing mission to the orbiting observatory. The solar
array gain augmentation (SAGA) software initially loaded into the
telescope's flight computer has been refined to the extent that the
instrument is achieving 95% of its planned observational efficiency.
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Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
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RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO
JIM BALLANCE@EWO BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO
BILL BARGAS@TMO JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO
JIM BEALL@AQO TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO
GARY BENTON@TMO LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO
CHAD BIGONY@WRO BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO
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RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO
RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO
DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO
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ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO
KEVIN SALMON@SLO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO
HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA
BILL SLEZAK@DCO PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI KEVIN SMITH@LIO
PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO
MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO JIM STANFILL@SEO
PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L
LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO BOB TASSONE@SEO
JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO
DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO ED TREMBLAY@SEO
TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO
LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO LEE VARRICHIONE@MET
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO DAVE WATTS@SEO
DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO
ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA DON WOLFE@WRO
HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO
TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO
MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO
ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.110 | YES | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue May 07 1991 19:14 | 786 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 07-May-1991 05:42pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of April 29, 1991
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of April 29, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 29, 1991
GENERAL:
ARMY ENCOURAGES SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
BOEING CONSOLIDATES ITS OPERATIONS INTO FOUR DIVISIONS
BOEING REPORTS EARNINGS GAINS ON LOWER SALES
E SYSTEMS PROFITS RISE
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR HUGHES AIRCRAFT
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR LTV
GE-SNECMA VENTURE WINS $317.5 MILLION ENGINE CONTRACT
LORAL COMPLETES SPACE SYSTEMS SALE
LTV FILES BANKRUPTCY REORGANIZATION PLAN WITH COURT
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS' BALANCE SHEET
MD WINS $180.2 MILLION IN SAUDI MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS
NEW PRESIDENT OF TRW
PENTAGON OFFICIAL CRITICIZES DEFENSE CONTRACTORS ON A-12
U.S. NAVY BUDGET CHANGED TO UPGRADE CARRIER AVIATION FORCE
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE HOSTS 'STEALTH WEEK' FOR CONGRESS
BOEING AWARDS SEVEN CONTRACTS FOR 777
CONGRESS EXPECTED TO REJECT ARMY'S APACHE UPGRADE PLAN
GE HOPES ITS JET ENGINE TECHNOLOGY WILL TAKE WING
GPS TOP OF LIST FOR APACHE UPGRADE
GRUMMAN'S FINAL F-14 OFFER
AVIONICS:
AZURE SOFT DEVELOPS SIMULATING SOFTWARE FOR PILOTS
CAE-LINK TO SUPPLY EGYPTIAN AF WITH APACHE TRAINER
COMPTEK AWARDED EF-111 UPGRADE SUBCONTRACT
GEC PROVIDES COMPUTER FOR PROGRAM UPDATE OF F-5A/B
GEORGIA TECH RESEARCHERS DEVELOP THIN AIRCRAFT ANTENNA
LOCKHEED DIVISION TO PRODUCE AIR FORCE TEST LINE SETS
MARTIN MARIETTA TO BUILD NIGHT VISION SYSTEM FOR LH
NORTHROP WINS CONTRACT FOR NEW COPTER OBSTACLE SYSTEM
MISSILES:
CODAR TO SUPPLY ARMY WITH MLRS CUING SYSTEM
CONCERNS ARISE OF RAYTHEON PRODUCTION OF AMRAAM
INCREASED INTEREST IN THAAD OVER ARROW
NAVY, AIR FORCE JOIN ON AIM-9X PROJECT
NORTHROP WILL SPEND $10 MILLION TO CORRECT MISSILE FLAW
SATELLITES:
ARIANESPACE POSTPONES ERS-1 LAUNCH
BALL'S NEW ANTENNA MAY BE USED IN DIRECT BROADCAST RECEIVERS
DISCOVERY CREW DEPLOYS SDIO SATELLITE
SPAS-II SATELLITE RESCUED FROM SAFING MODE
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ALENIA PROPOSES ECOSAT SYSTEM
FUNDING OF LIFESAT PROGRAM
HUBBLE TELESCOPE'S FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION
LITTON TO BUILD OFF-AXIS MIRROR FOR SDI SEGMENT
LORAL TO BUILD EOS GLOBAL THERMOMETER
NASA UNDERSTATING SPACE STATION COSTS
ROCKETDYNE COMPLETES FOUR ENDEAVOUR ENGINES
TECHNOLOGY:
THE QUALITY COMPONENT OF CIM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
ARMY ENCOURAGES SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
The success during the Persian Gulf war is largely attributed to the
use of computer-guided weapons, resulting in the U.S. Army's increased
efforts to curtail the growing costs and problems associated with
software-driven weapon programs, and to improve the management of
software development and its integration into weapon systems.
Allocating more money to software technology and educating service
planners on the software development process is necessary for the U.S.
to remain the world's leader in the development of military software.
Problems with software development include a lack of understanding of
how software is written and how it controls weapons systems.
BOEING CONSOLIDATES ITS OPERATIONS INTO FOUR DIVISIONS
To remain competitive during the decline in defense spending, Boeing
Defense and Space Group will streamline its operations and organize
them into four product divisions. Boeing Group will be organized into
the following four divisions: the Military Airplanes Division, which
includes the Advanced Tactical Fighter and the B-2 bomber; the
Helicopters Division, including the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter and other
rotorcraft products; the Missiles and Space Division, which comprises
Boeing's work on the Space Station, the Inertial Upper Stage booster
and its missile programs, and the Electronic Systems Division, including
the Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft as well as other
military surveillance and electronic information systems.
BOEING REPORTS EARNINGS GAINS ON LOWER SALES
Boeing Co. posted earnings gains on lower sales for the first quarter,
much to the surprise of analysts. Net earnings moved up 2% to $309
million, or 90 cents a share, on 5% lower sales of just over $6
billion, although lower sales volume and higher research expenses for
the new 777 widebody jetliner hit earnings in the company's commercial
transport segment.
E SYSTEMS PROFITS RISE
E Systems' of Dallas first quarter sales totaled $476.2 million, up 4
percent from the $457.8 million during the same quarter in 1990. Net
income for the quarter reached $24.9 million, or 77 cents a share. The
profit represents a 13.7 percent increase from $21.9 million a year ago
at 70 cents per share.
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR HUGHES AIRCRAFT
For the first-quarter ended March 31, 1991 1990
Revenues $2,746,400,000 $2,859,400,000
Inc bef adj 65,800,000 145,600,000
Acctg adj 17,000,000 ...
Net income 82,800,000 145,600,000
GM HUGHES Chairman Robert J. Schultz said the reductions in revenues and
earnings in the latest quarter reflect significantly lower General Motors
vehicle production in the quarter. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 29, 1991)
FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS FOR LTV
First quarter ended March 31, 1991 1990
Sales $1,428,300,000 $1,492,800,000
Net income LOSS OF $46,300,000 $44,200,000
LTV said the loss resulted from an $89.9 million year-to-year decline in
steel operating results and a $10 million restructuring charge for costs
primarily related to personnel reductions. The company said demand from
automotive and steel service center markets was particularly low this
quarter. During the quarter, the company said its steel plants operated at
74 percent of capacity compared with 89 percent a year earlier. Higher
retiree expenses, arising from the April 1990 labor agreement with the
United Steelworkers of America, also contributed to the loss. (Source: Dow
Jones News, April 29, 1991)
GE-SNECMA VENTURE WINS $317.5 MILLION ENGINE CONTRACT
CFM International Inc., a venture of GENERAL ELECTRIC and Snecma of France,
received a $317.5 million U.S. Air Force contract for engines used on
KC-135R aircraft. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 30, 1991)
LORAL COMPLETES SPACE SYSTEMS SALE
Loral Corp., NY, completed the $182 million sale of 49 percent of its
Space Systems Division to a multinational group including the French
Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle and, Alcatel Espace Group
and Italy's Alenia. The division will remain under Loral's operating
control and will become one of the world's largest commercial
communications and weather satellite operations.
LTV FILES BANKRUPTCY REORGANIZATION PLAN WITH COURT
LTV CORP. filed its proposed reorganization plan in U.S. bankruptcy court in
New York, suggesting that unsecured creditors be paid no more than 25
percent of their claims. The company said it will make an initial payment of
$880 million in cash and assets to its biggest creditor, the federal Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corp., to help satisfy the agency's claims of more than
$2.3 billion. The payment to the agency, to be made when the reorganization
plan is confirmed by the bankruptcy judge, will be followed by annual fixed
payments of $100 million, plus 50 percent of available cash flow in excess
of $100 million. A significant condition of the agreement is LTV's
commitment to raise $300 million as part of the $880 million initial payment
to the pension agency. The company, as previously reported, said it is
considering the possible sale of assets to raise the $300 million in cash.
The company estimated total allowable claims at $6 billion. The
reorganization plan is the first filed by the company since it sought
bankruptcy court protection from its creditors in July 1986. (SOurce: Dow
Jones News, May 1, 1991)
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS' BALANCE SHEET
Financial analysts and company officials say that the loss of the ATF
contract will not be a blow to McDonnell Douglas' balance sheet.
Before the award winner was announced, McDonnell Douglas' Aircraft
president said the company's operating plans didn't include an ATF
award, and therefore shouldn't change with the loss. Investors
reacting to McDonnell Douglas' loss, still caused the stocks to drop
nearly $4.
MD WINS $180.2 MILLION IN SAUDI MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS
McDONNELL DOUGHLAS got $180.2 million in Air Force contracts for Saudi Air
Force maintenance, electronic equipment development, and C-17 training
systems. (Source: Dow Jones News, April 30, 1991)
NEW PRESIDENT OF TRW
Edsel Dunford was chosen to be president and chief operating officer of
TRW, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Dunford has run TRW's space business in
Redondo Beach CA, for the last four years as executive vice president
and general manager of the company's space and defense sector.
PENTAGON OFFICIAL CRITICIZES DEFENSE CONTRACTORS ON A-12
Deputy Defense Secretary Donald Atwood criticized the management of
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS and GENERAL DYNAMICS for failing to recognize that
potential cost overruns on the ill-fated A-12 attack plane threatened the
companies' financial viability. In the strongest attack yet on the
contractors by a senior Pentagon official, Atwood said that company
officials denied the potentially "horrendous" financial problems of pushing
ahead with the U.S. Navy's now-canceled A-12 bomber. (Source: Dow Jones
News, April 26, 1991)
U.S. NAVY BUDGET CHANGED TO UPGRADE CARRIER AVIATION FORCE
The White House sent Congress a revised U.S. Navy budget today providing for
buying additional F-A18 carrier warplanes and upgrading older A-6 bombers.
The budget amendment for fiscal 1992 and 1993 will reduce Defense Department
spending by $183 million next year and $48 million in fiscal 1993. The
action follows the navy's cancellation of plans to build the advanced A-12
all-weather night attack aircraft. Under the amendment, the navy would buy
210 more F-A18 Hornet model C and D fighter and attack planes. The F-A18's
prime contractor is MCDONNELL DOUGLAS. Its major subcontractor is NORTHROP.
The proposal also calls for replacing existing wings on 120 A-6E Intruder
bombers, which were built by GRUMMAN CORP. Production of the F-14 Tomcat
fighter plane, also manufactured by Grumman, would be shut down. Funding for
the advanced technology carrier-based aircraft program would be adjusted,
allowing for production of the advanced technology aircraft in fiscal 2002.
(Source: Dow Jones News, April 26, 1991)
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE HOSTS 'STEALTH WEEK' FOR CONGRESS
The Air Force will display and fly its prize stealth aircraft, the B-2
bomber, the F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter, the F-117, and the AGM-129A
Advanced Cruise Missile at Andrews AFB, MD, around June 7 to 13 for
members of Congress to view. A "media day" may occur sometime during
the week, where members of Congress will be individually briefed.
BOEING AWARDS SEVEN CONTRACTS FOR 777
Boeing Co.'s commercial airplane group awarded seven contracts to six
companies for its new 777 commercial aircraft line, with a total value
of more than $1.33 billion. Smith Industries PLC, of London, will
supply two avionics subsystems, worth $500 million over a 10 to 15 year
period. General Electric Co. Avionics Ltd. of Kent England, a division
of the General Electric PLC unrelated to the U.S. company, will supply
primary flight computers, worth more than $80 million over the next 15
years. Korean Air will provide flap support fairing, valued at about
$100 million. AeroSpace Technologies of Austria will supply the
rudder. Hawker de Havilland of Sydney will provide the elevators. The
Australian contracts together are worth about $350 million. And Alenia
of Naples will supply the wing outboard, valued at $300 million.
Delivery of the Boeing 777 is scheduled for may 1995.
CONGRESS EXPECTED TO REJECT ARMY'S APACHE UPGRADE PLAN
Congress will soon begin deliberations on the 1992 Department of
Defense spending plan, and are likely to reject the U.S. Army's plan to
modernize the AH-64 Apache helicopter. Three upgrades would take place
over the next ten years. The Army sees the modernization program as
pivotal to the reliability of the Apache, and to the survival of Apache
developer, McDonnell Douglas Co., Mesa, AZ. Congress senses that the
service blueprint lacks detail and may exacerbate reliability problems
that have plagued the helicopter since it was first fielded in 1983.
GE HOPES ITS JET ENGINE TECHNOLOGY WILL TAKE WING
What do you do with a military jet engine that consumed nearly a decade and
$1 billion to develop, if the customer doesn't want it? GE Aircraft Engines
unit, which lost the engine competition for the next generation of fighter
planes, said the advanced technologies it developed will eventually show up
in a range of new military and commercial jet engines. Already, work on the
engine has spun off major innovations in composite materials and ceramics,
electronic controls, engine combustion and "variable cycle" technology that
allows an engine to fly efficiently at both subsonic and supersonic speeds.
Hollowing out the fan blade, for instance, enabled GE to cut the weight of
that part and its attachment by 20 percent.
The high-temperature combustor of GE's F-120 military engine is already part
of the so-called GE 90 engines, a new generation of high-thrust commercial
jet engines currently under development. The loss of the F-120 business
won't affect the commercial project, to which it has already committed
between $1 billion and $1.5 billion. GE is already upgrading the existing
engine for the Navy's F-18 fighter plane with the exhaust systems it had
developed for the F-120. The company also plans to pitch some version of the
engine, which has high-thrust capability twice that of conventional fighter
jets, to improve the load-carrying capacity of the F-16 fighter plane.
(Source: Dow Jones News, April 29, 1991)
GPS TOP OF LIST FOR APACHE UPGRADE
The success of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for desert
navigation during the Persian Gulf War made the system a top priority
for the U.S. Army's planned upgrading of the Apache helicopter fleet.
The Army hopes to fully integrate GPS into the aircraft's fire control
system. While GPS was to eventually be retrofitted into the 807-
aircraft Apache fleet, it and a communications improvement project have
replaced the Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS) missile as the Army's most
immediate priority for the upcoming block improvement, which will
convert 580 Apaches to the "B" model.
GRUMMAN'S FINAL F-14 OFFER
Grumman has unsuccessfully offered Defense Secretary Cheney 132 of the
F-14 planes for the medium-attack role at a fixed price, in an effort
to keep the F-14 line open. The Pentagon says that although the F-14
is a great plane, they don't need any more in the force structure and
are moving on with newer designs.
AVIONICS:
AZURE SOFT DEVELOPS SIMULATING SOFTWARE FOR PILOTS
Azure Soft, San Jose, CA, has developed software that allows pilots to
simulate instrument approaches using Macintosh II or IBM desktop
computers. With the navigation data base for a specific area, a pilot
can practice any kind of instrument approach within a 30-50 mile radius
of the main airport.
CAE-LINK TO SUPPLY EGYPTIAN AF WITH APACHE TRAINER
CAE-Link Corp., Binghamton, NY, has received a $25.5 million contract
to supply an AH-64 Apache combat mission simulator to the Egyptian Air
Force. This is the first international sale of the Apache combat
simulator, while CAE-Link is currently building nine of the systems for
the U.S. Army. The simulator will include a terrain database using
specific geographic map features and Egyptian-specific avionics
systems.
COMPTEK AWARDED EF-111 UPGRADE SUBCONTRACT
Comptek Research Inc., received a two year, $4.8 million subcontract
from Grumman to help upgrade the Air Force's EF-111A aircraft software.
This contract will provide management and technical support services in
the design, deployment and testing of encoder-converter interface (ECI)
signal processing software. ECI aids pilots to identify and analyze
the electronic emissions of enemy weapons.
GEC PROVIDES COMPUTER FOR PROGRAM UPDATE OF F-5A/B
Bristol Aerospace has chosen GEC Avionics' miniature standard central
air data computer (MSCADC) for the avionics update program for the
Canadian F-5A/B. This order is the first production contract for the
MSCADC, GEC's next generation of standard central air data computer
equipment. This size and weight of this equipment has been reduced
while the performance level remains unchanged.
GEORGIA TECH RESEARCHERS DEVELOP THIN AIRCRAFT ANTENNA
Georgia Tech Research Institute engineers have developed a small,
broadband, spiral antenna 3 inches in diameter which can be bonded
conformally almost anywhere on the outside of an aircraft. The antenna
can be used by several systems operating at different frequencies.
This inexpensive device might first be used on stealthy aircraft for
communication and passive electronic warfare systems, but may also be
used on conventional aircraft and non-aviation systems.
LOCKHEED DIVISION TO PRODUCE AIR FORCE TEST LINE SETS
Lockheed Sanders' Defense Systems Division received a two-year $30.1
million contract to make 290 AN/USM-638 Radio Frequency Transmission
Line Test Sets (RFTLTS) for the U.S. Air Force's San Antonio Air
Logistics Center. RFTLTS is a man-portable transmission line system
tester that allows maintenance personnel to test radio frequency
transmission lines while leaving aircraft components intact. The
purpose of the system is to provide swift and accurate automatic
testing and fault detection of coaxial and waveguide transmission
systems and components.
MARTIN MARIETTA TO BUILD NIGHT VISIONSYSTEM FOR LH
Martin Marietta Corp.'s Electronic Systems division, Orlando, FL, will
provide advanced night navigation and targeting gear for the U.S.
Army's new Light Helicopter (LH). Martin will provide its Target
Acquisition System/Night Vision Pilotage Sensor, which incorporates
advanced heat-sensing focal plane array technology to produce high-
resolution images at long ranges.
NORTHROP WINS CONTRACT FOR NEW COPTER OBSTACLE SYSTEM
Northrop Corp's Electronics Systems Division won a $5 million, two-year
contract to develop a navigation aid that will help U.S. Army
helicopters avoid obstacles while flying at very low altitudes. This
Obstacle Avoidance System (OASYS) is made up of a laser radar, data
processor and cockpit displays, which can be used during the day or
night. When the OASYS laser discovers an obstacle in flight, an image
is displayed in the cockpit. If the pilot still doesn't change course,
a voice warning is sounded.
MISSILES:
CODAR TO SUPPLY ARMY WITH MLRS CUING SYSTEM
Codar Technology, Inc., Longmont, CO, won a $14.6 million contract to
supply and service the U.S. Army with computerized target cuing
systems to pass information between the Army Tactical Missile Systems
and its launcher, the Multiple Launch Rocket System. Codar will
manufacture an unannounced number of Model 700M dual VAX computer
systems for integration into the Multiple Launch Rocket System. This
contract may reach $60 million over three years.
CONCERNS ARISE OF RAYTHEON PRODUCTION OF AMRAAM
While the U.S. Air Force attempts to secure Department of Defense
approval for full-rate production of the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-
Air Missile (AMRAAM), manufacturing deficiencies, in missiles supplied
by the Raytheon Co., are gaining attention. Raytheon, Lexington, MA
and Hughes Missile Systems Group, Canoga Park, CA, are the two U.S.
producers of the dogfighting missile. Air Force officials say that
Raytheon falls behind Hughes in design and production modification.
Raytheon also trails Hughes in AMRAAM production by at least eight
months. The two companies are competing for production orders of the
AMRAAM which are intended for launch on F/A-18, F-15, F-16 aircraft,
along with the Advanced Tactical Fighter.
INCREASED INTEREST IN THAAD OVER ARROW
The U.S. developed Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program
has become increasingly attractive with rising concerns of the
technical ability of the Arrow antimissile defense system. The U.S. is
concerned with the inability of the Arrow to successfully meet all
objectives during two test launches. THAAD is expected to be smaller,
lighter, operate in higher altitudes and cover more area than the
Arrow. Arrow is a $158 million experimental tactical ballistic missile
interceptor developed by Israel and funded largely through the U.S.
SDIO. Low-rate production of the missile could begin by 1996 or 1997. The
THAAD program is several years behind the Arrow in development. SDIO has no
intentions of abandoning the Arrow.
NAVY, AIR FORCE JOIN ON AIM-9X PROJECT
The U.S. Navy and Air Force will together update the AIM-9M missile and
continue development of the AIM-9R, both within the AIM-9 missile
series. A Joint Short Range Missile Office has been organized to
oversee the new missile effort, called AIM-9X. The AIM-9X program will
begin concept exploration in fiscal year 1991, and begin a three-year
demonstration/validation phase in fiscal 1992.
NORTHROP WILL SPEND $10 MILLION TO CORRECT MISSILE FLAW
Northrop Corp., who confessed last year of falsifying testing of air-
launched cruise missile components, will spend about $10 million of
their own money to fix a flaw in the nuclear-tipped missile. Since
Northrop's confession, questions have been posed as to the reliability
of the equipment in extremely cold weather. Records show that a fluid
used in the guidance unit's gyroscopes may freeze before reaching the
required military specification of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Northrop
will have to replace the gyroscopes or more likely will have to
substitute the fluid with another fluid that can withstand the cold
temperature.
SATELLITES:
ARIANESPACE POSTPONES ERS-1 LAUNCH
Arianespace delayed the May 3 launch of Ariane Flight 44 to an
undetermined new date, claiming the need of more preparation time for
the third-stage engines. The ERS-1 remote sensing satellite flight
will eventually take off into sun synchronous orbit from Kourou, French
Guiana. Five small private and academic satellites will accompany the
ERS-1.
BALL'S NEW ANTENNA MAY BE USED IN DIRECT BROADCAST RECEIVERS
Ball Aerospace Systems Group, Boulder, CO, has developed a new flat
antenna that may be used in direct broadcast satellite receivers and
other satellite applications. Company officials state that the high
efficiency antenna could be smaller for a specific use than traditional
satellite dishes because of its efficiency. And the antenna also does
not require the external feed apparatus located in the center of dish
antennas, making it quicker and easier to assemble.
DISCOVERY CREW DEPLOYS SDIO SATELLITE
The Shuttle Discovery crew successfully deployed the Chemical Release
Observation (CRO) experiment containing three subsatellites to collect
infrared, visible and ultraviolet data from planned release of liquid
rocket propellants. Also, the SPAS-II satellite observed the first
three of Discovery's thruster firing maneuvers. Discovery was to
separate from SPAS-II for five orbits.
SPAS-II SATELLITE RESCUED FROM SAFING MODE
The SDIO SPAS-II satellite went into a safing mode after its deployment
from the Shuttle Discovery, but soon after returned to normal
operations. The satellite, which was designed to observe Shuttle
engine firings, turned away from the Shuttle when its sun sensor
detected excessive sunlight.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ALENIA PROPOSES ECOSAT SYSTEM
Alenia Spazio is proposing an ecological satellite system, called
Ecosat, for environmental monitoring of the Mediterranean basin,
northern Europe and the equatorial area. The system will include an X-
bank synthetic aperture radar called SAR-X and a multispectral imaging
optical sensor operating in the visible and near infrared bands.
Alenia Spazio was recently formed after the merger of Aeritalia and
Selenia, and Ecosat is one of their first new space projects.
FUNDING OF LIFESAT PROGRAM
Members of Congress have expressed reservations about authorizing funds
for NASA's life sciences program, Lifesat. This program began as a $2
million study this year but will grow to approximately $870 million by
the end of the decade. NASA did not ask official congressional
approval for Lifesat as a new program in its 1992 budget request, but
plans to begin launching the small recoverable satellites as early as
1996, to study radiation effects on plants and small animals. NASA
claims that the White House Office of Management and Budget approved
long-term funding for Lifesat in the space agency's 1991 budget.
HUBBLE TELESCOPE'S FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION
After an entire year in orbit, NASA's troubled $1.5 billion Hubble
space telescope has been partially cured of its two major problems.
Its first problem is that a main mirror was ground to a slightly wrong
shape, which causes a blur. Second, the telescope's solar arrays shake
violently each time Hubble passes between sunlight and the Earth's
shadow. Recently, NASA sent a revised computer program to Hubble that
helped reduce this jitter by half. NASA officials may soon approve
construction of a $40 million device designed to correct most of the
blur. This solution is known as the Corrective Optics Space Telescope
Axial Replacement (COSTAR).
LITTON TO BUILD OFF-AXIS MIRROR FOR SDI SEGMENT
Litton's Itek Optical Systems Division, Beverly Hills, CA, will build
the largest off-axis mirror ever produced, for the Strategic Defense
Initiative's Large Optical Segment. This U.S. Air Force contract is
worth millions of dollars and lasts two years. The Large Optical
Segment is a SDI program that will demonstrate the technology for large
active mirrors for spaceborne applications, such as transmitting energy
over large distances to destroy enemy missiles.
LORAL TO BUILD EOS GLOBAL THERMOMETER
Loral Corp.'s Infrared and Imaging Systems unit, Lexington, MA, has
been awarded a $145 million contract by NASA to design and build a
global thermometer instrument for the space agency's Earth Observing
System (EOS). The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument will
measure temperatures with an accuracy of one degree Centigrade at
intervals of one kilometer in altitude throughout the atmosphere. It
will also collect data on atmospheric water vapor content, cloud cover
and sea surface temperature. AIRS is expected to operate for at least
five years.
NASA UNDERSTATING SPACE STATION COSTS
The Comptroller General told Congress that NASA has understated the
cost of building the Space Station by $10 billion and underestimated
the cost of operating it over its 30-year life span by approximately
$24 billion. He said the $30 billion estimate for building the
downsized Station was incorrect because factors such as Shuttle flights
and a rescue vehicle for the crew was not included in the estimate.
With these factors included, the total cost of the program will be at
least $118 billion, about $40 billion to achieve permanent occupancy
and about $78 billion to operate the station between 2000 and 2027.
ROCKETDYNE COMPLETES FOUR ENDEAVOUR ENGINES
Rockwell International's Rocketdyne Division has completed making four
new main engines for the space shuttle Endeavour, which are to be
delivered to the Kennedy Space Center by the end of June. These
engines will be the first shuttle engines with a new block-2
controller, while the remainder of the space shuttle main engine
inventory will be eventually retrofitted with block-2 devices. The
block-2 stops, starts, and throttles the main engine as well as
monitors vital engine functions.
TECHNOLOGY:
THE QUALITY COMPONENT OF CIM
To establish Total Quality Management (TQM) and reduce the associated costs,
a manufacturer must measure and track quality at every inspection and
process step via an integrated plant-wide, or enterprise-wide, quality
information management system. Computer-integrated quality (CIQ) will prove
to be a strategic advantage as the fully functional, integrated quality
information system specification becomes another component of computer-
integrated manufacturing (CIM).
o Quality should be another dimension of manufacturing, comparing actual
results with targets in real time, sending instant feedback and updates
to the functional and management areas of an enterprise.
o JIT reduces manufacturing costs only if the manufacturer can identify
suppliers that consistently provide acceptable material on time. A
supplier quality application would use inspection strategies and a history
of inspection results to help identify good suppliers, and this
information would continuously update the procurement application.
o The quality department should have online access to engineering
specifications for test procedures and CAD files with design
specifications, to ensure that the latest specifications are used in
quality inspections.
o CIQ should share information with accounting to record the actual scrap,
repair, and rework costs associated with nonconforming events, in order
measure and track the cost of quality.
(Source: Manufacturing Systems, April 1, 1991, page 58)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
GEORGE ANDERSON@AYO LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO
JIM BALLANCE@EWO BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO
BILL BARGAS@TMO JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO
JIM BEALL@AQO TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO
GARY BENTON@TMO LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO
CHAD BIGONY@WRO BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO
GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO
LERAH BORDANO@FOO JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO
IAN BOURNE@OLO BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO
CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO
RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO
RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP
RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA
WANDA CALHOUN@AOO LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO
BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO
ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO
GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO
BOB COHEN@IVO DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO
HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO
JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO
BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO
DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO
ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO GARY DAVIS@FOO STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO G DAVIS@DVO
JACK DAVIS@BMO BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO
RON DEFUSCO@OFO RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO
CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO
JIM DEZUTTER@UPO TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO
LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO
EDWARD DRUST@PHO RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO
TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO
GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO
JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET
GARY EVANS@SEO JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO
WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO
CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO KEN FLOYD@RCO
TOM FLYNN@SYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO
RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO
AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR
ROLF GAERTNER@MGO JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO
JOE GANNON@MKO BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO
CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO
JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO
MICHAEL GRAM@MRO LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO
TOM HAAS@BWA MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO TOM HAMILTON@CWO
KEN HAMILTON@VFO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO
ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
DAVE JOHNSON@FZO CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO
RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO
BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO
DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO
MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO
NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA
BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO
CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO
SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO
LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO
LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA
JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO
CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO
BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARGARET MARINO@SEO
MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO
SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO
JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO
EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO
JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO
BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO TOM MILLER@SEO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA
BETTY MILLS@SEO JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO
DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO
DON MONTOYA@DVO GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO
BOB MORGAN@PDO BILL MORROW@WRO CLAY MORSE@PHO MICHAEL MORSE@STO
MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO
ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO
BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO
TERRY OHLRICH@CWO STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO
BOB PACE@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO
MATT PARTLOW@SEO MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO
LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO
JACK PERRY@WRO CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO
JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR
IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO
DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO
JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO
TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO
BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY
URSEL RHEA@IVO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@
PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO
RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO
SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO
KEVIN SALMON@SLO ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV
CHUCK SARGENT@DVO HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO
RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO
DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO
BOB SEIFERT@MKO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO
GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO
DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO
CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA BILL SLEZAK@DCO PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.111 | Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue May 14 1991 17:30 | 831 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 14-May-1991 03:44pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of May 6, 1991
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of May 6, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 6, 1991
GENERAL:
BOEING TO DEVELOP 212-ACRE SITE FOR ABOUT $700 MILLION IN 10 YEARS
CIA CHIEF RESIGNS
GENERAL ELECTRIC LAYOFFS
HARRIS CORPORATION'S NET INCOME DROPS
JURORS FIND NORTHWEST AIR LIABLE FOR 1987 DETROIT CRASH (DOUGLAS)
MAJOR RESTRUCTURING AT GENERAL DYNAMICS
MARTIN MARIETTA HEADS RESEARCH FUND LIST
NORTHERN TELECOM GETS $20 MILLION CONTRACT FROM MARTIN MARIETTA
ROLLS-ROYCE CLOSES FACILITIES
UNC EARNING RISE 24 PERCENT
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE CLAIMS ATF IS ONLY AIR SUPERIORITY OPTION
AMERICAN AIRLINES BEGINS MD-11 SERVICE
LTV AWARDED $1.5 BILLION PACT FOR BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS
NORTHROP'S B-2 CONTRACT EXTENDED
PILOT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY OF BOEING 727
U.S. NAVY SECURES AX FUNDING
V-22 PROTOTYPES PASS 500-HOUR FLIGHT TIME
AVIONICS:
ADVANCED AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
AIR FORCE AWARDS MISSION SUPPORT SYSTEM
AMHERST TO SUPPLY SIMULATOR FOR B-2
BALL DEVELOPS SMALL CERAMIC MICROSTRIP ANTENNA
FAA ORDERS ROCKWELL COLLISION SYSTEM OUT OF ORDER
HARRIS TO PRODUCE DATA BUSES FOR NEW MILITARY AIRCRAFT PROGRAMS
HELMET FOR RAH-66 PILOTS ENHANCES VIEW
HUGHES DEVELOPING RADAR THAT ENABLES REDUCED-VISIBILITY LANDINGS
SEQUA CORP. DEVELOPS TEST SETS FOR NAVY
MISSILES:
ALLIANT JOINS TEAM FOR ARMY'S SADARM
ARMY SELECTED AEROJET FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SADARM
JOUST-1 FAILS TO FIRE
LITTON TO SUPPLY ACCELEROMETERS FOR TRIDENT II MISSILES
MARTIN RECEIVES $55 MILLION COMPENSATION AWARD
PENTAGON CUT 39% OF AMRAAM PURCHASE
SUCCESSFUL SUB-LAUNCHED TEST FLIGHT FOR UPGRADED TOMAHAWK
TI-LTV TEAM COMPLETES FIRST FLIGHT OF AIWS VEHICLE
SATELLITES:
ALASKA TO OFFER COMMERCIAL SATELLITE LAUNCH SITE
BUSH BARS SATELLITE EXPORTS TO CHINA
DATE SET FOR SUPERBIRD E LAUNCH
NAVSTAR GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM SATELLITE FOR JUNE LAUNCH
NEW GENERATION EARLY WARNING SATELLITES
SPACE SYSTEMS:
GALILEO RESTORED TO NORMAL CRUISE MODE
LAWMAKERS REQUIRE NEW STUDY OF REDESIGNED SPACE STATION
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LANDS IN FLORIDA
TECHNOLOGY:
COMPETING WITH TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORLD ARENA
BEYOND MRP II: THE ENTERPRISE SOLUTION
MRP II: IN THE MIDST OF A CONTINUING EVOLUTION
LINKING CAD AND CMM
PLCS: FOCUSING ON INTEGRATION
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BOEING TO DEVELOP 212-ACRE SITE FOR ABOUT $700 MILLION IN 10 YEARS
BOEING said development plans for its new 212-acre site at Longacres Park
will cost between $700 million and $800 million. The company said that the
plan which includes construction of a customer services training center, an
employee center, and general office buildings, will occur over a 10- to 12-
year period. The company said upon completion the three-million-square-foot
development will house about 12,000 employees. (Source: Dow Jones News, May
9, 1991)
CIA CHIEF RESIGNS
CIA Director William Webster announced that he will officially leave
his post by May 26. He will have been in office for exactly four
years. Robert Gates, Bush's deputy national security advisor, is
suspected to be the most likely successor.
GENERAL ELECTRIC LAYOFFS
General Electric Aircraft Engines is planning to lay of 1,800 employees
by the end of July. About 1,000 of these are a result of the ATF loss,
300 are due to the general economic turndown, and the remaining 500
cuts are positions that GE failed to eliminate under an earlier work
force plan.
JURORS FIND NORTHWEST AIR LIABLE FOR 1987 DETROIT CRASH (DOUGLAS)
Northwest Airlines was 100 percent responsible and not the plane's maker,
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS, in the 1987 jet crash that killed 156 people at Detroit
Metropolitan Airport, a U.S. District Court jury said. The court said that
there was no negligence in the construction and design of the MD-80
jetliner. The court also said Northwest was negligent in its training and
supervision of the crew, and the crew was negligent in its operation of the
plane. The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled the plane's crew
failed to set the wing flaps properly for takeoff. The board also said a
cockpit warning system failed to alert the crew to the problem. Northwest
has decided to appeal. Most claims have already been settled. (Source: Dow
Jones News, May 8, 1991)
HARRIS CORPORATION'S NET INCOME DROPS
Harris Corp., Melbourne, FL, reported lower earnings in the third
quarter ending March 29. Quarterly net income was $27.1 million or 70
cents per share, compared with $34.8 million or 87 cents in the third
quarter of last year. Sales for the quarter were $750.3 million
compared with $772.7 million last year.
MAJOR RESTRUCTURING AT GENERAL DYNAMICS
General Dynamics Corp., the nation's No. 2 defense contractor, plans to
undertake a major restructuring during the next three to four years,
which will cost a total of 27,000 jobs. GD also plans to reduce
capital spending by 60%. Over the past four years, capital spending
totaled about $1.6 billion, which is high compared with GD's market
capitalization of only $1.2 billion. The company will also keep
research and development spending to a maximum of $850 million -- half
of what it spent between 1987-91.
MARTIN MARIETTA HEADS RESEARCH FUND LIST
For the second consecutive year, Martin Marietta Corp., Bethesda, MD,
headed the list of the 500 top defense contractors who receive funding
for research, development, test and evaluation (RD&E) contracts in
1990. These top contractors received more than $21.5 billion in
Defense Department funding, a 4.4 percent decline from 1989. The
biggest share of the $21.5 billion, 31 percent, went to RD&E contracts
for missile and space programs. Aircraft contracts accounted for
nearly 20 percent; services, 18.6 percent; electronics and
communications equipment, 17.6 percent; and ammunition, 3.1 percent.
Other areas accounted for 10.2 percent.
NORTHERN TELECOM GETS $20 MILLION CONTRACT FROM MARTIN MARIETTA
Northern Telecom will provide more than $20 million in voice and data
network operations services during the next five years to MARTIN MARIETTA
facilities in Denver and Orlando, Florida, under two agreements. Included
are a three-year, $14 million agreement to provide telecommunications
network operations and maintenance for Martin Marietta's Denver Astronautics
Group, and a five-year, $6 million agreement involving similar services for
the company's Orlanda Electronics, Information and Missiles Group. (Source:
Dow Jones News, May 8, 1991)
ROLLS-ROYCE CLOSES FACILITIES
Rolls-Royce, after being pounded by declines in commercial and military
engine markets and cash losses as a result of a strong dollar, is being
forced to close its Leavensden helicopter facilities by the end of next
year. Six thousand workers will be laid off and the remaining
employees may be faced with a six-month pay freeze. Airline flying is
down by about 10% worldwide, which led to a 15%-18% reduction in Rolls
spares business.
UNC EARNINGS RISE 24 PERCENT
UNC Inc., Annapolis, MD, moved its first-quarter 1991 net earnings up
24 percent, from $1.16 million in 1990 to 1.44 million. Earnings per
share also increased from 7 cents to 8 cents during the same period.
UNC Inc. manufactures and remanufactures engine and air-frame parts,
overhauls aircraft accessories and aircraft engines and provides
contract aviation services.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE CLAIMS THAT ATF IS ONLY AIR SUPERIORITY OPTION
The U.S. Air Force has ruled out modified versions of its F-16 and F-15
fighters as low cost alternatives to the F-22 Advanced Tactical
Fighter. Defense Department critics argue that modest enhancements to
existing planes can retain U.S. superiority over Soviet Air-to-air
threats. Congress says they will not block the $13 billion required
for ATF development over the next eight years, but do question the
estimated $80 billion in procurement funding if economic conditions in
the Soviet Union remain unchanged.
AMERICAN AIRLINES BEGINS MD-11 SERVICE
American Airline officials, after complaining about the performance of
the first McDonnell Douglas MD-11 it received, delayed accepting the
second aircraft until performance was improved. Recently, American
Airlines said that modifications made by the manufacturer and the
engine builder, General Electric, have corrected most of the faults.
American Airlines has now put two MD-11's in service on domestic
flights and plans to start transpacific flights with the aircraft on
June 1, when it starts operating its third MD-11.
LTV AWARDED $1.5 BILLION PACT FOR BOEING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS
BOEING CO. awarded LTV AEROSPACE & DEFENSE CO. a contract valued in excess
of $1.5 billion for production of major sections of the Boeing 747, 757 and
767 airliners. LTV's aircraft division has produced more than 1,500 tail
sections for Boeing airliners since beginning work on the 747 when it was
launched in 1967. The new agreement covers continuing production of aircraft
structures for the 747, 757 and 767 programs extending into the 1990s. LTV
has delivered more than 850 747 tail sections to Boeing since 1967. LTV
manufactures the vertical and horizontal stabilizers for the Boeing 757 and
the horizontal stabilizer for the 767. Since the start of their production
by Boeing, LTV has delivered more than 375 assemblies for each of the two
aircraft types. About 1,500 of LTV's Dallas-based employees work directly or
indirectly on the Boeing programs. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 2, 1991)
NORTHROP'S B-2 CONTRACT EXTENDED
Northrop was awarded a $378 million face value increase by the Air
Force's Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB, on its
B-2 bomber contract which extended long lead requirements and raised
the government's liability if the contract is terminated. The Air
Force awarded the increase to Northrop's fixed-price incentive,
successive targets contract.
PILOT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY OF BOEING 727
TWA Flight 841 was cruising at 39,000 feet above Flint, Michigan, when Capt.
H.G. Gibson felt the plane vibrate and roll suddenly to the right. Engines
roaring, the Boeing 727, with 89 people aboard, keeled over into a
terrifying spiral, plummeting almost seven miles in a minute. Passengers
screamed, cried and sobbed goodbye. At the last moment, Gibson pulled the
plane out of the dive, just 5,000 feet above the ground, and landed in
Detroit. It was April 4, 1979, and Gibson was hailed as a hero. But Gibson's
glory didn't last long. Investigators could find nothing wrong with the
plane and quickly turned their attention to the crew. And the cockpit voice
recorder was found mysteriously erased.
o On June 9, 1981, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled that he
caused the accident by monkeying with the controls in a foolhardy effort
to improve the plane's performance. Nearly 10 years later, the Gibson, who
was never disciplined by the Federal Aviation Administration and continued
flying for Trans World Airlines until he retired in 1989, is still
fighting with the safety board in a crusade to clear his name.
o On May 2, he filed a petition with the board asking that the case be
reopened, citing new evidence about a possible safety defect with the
autopilot of the Boeing 727 and sharply criticizing the original probe.
Gibson and the Air Line Pilots Association say they have received nine
complaints from pilots saying they had control problems similar to those
Gibson described -- although none were as serious. The Federal Aviation
Administration and Boeing Co. are reviewing the information.
(Source: Dow Jones News, May 3, 1991)
U.S. NAVY SECURES AX FUNDING
The U.S. Navy will receive about $100 million of the 1992 budget to
fund concept studies for a new stealthy AX attack aircraft. Possibly
five contractor teams will be funded beginning later this year. AX is
a $14 billion development program to design a new attack aircraft which
will replace the Navy's canceled A-12 program.
V-22 PROTOTYPES PASS 500-HOUR FLIGHT TIME
Flight time of the four prototypes in the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft
development program passed the 500-hour mark, according to Bell and
Boeing. Now underway is the Flying Qualities and Performance
Evaluation.
AVIONICS:
ADVANCED AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
Air Force researchers are trying to build a complex network of improved
sensors that will allow pilots to identify distant aircraft 99 percent
of the time at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA. However, officials at
Tactical Air Command (TAC) at Langley Air Force Base, VA, are skeptical
of this advanced Hostile Target I.D. research effort, insisting that
researchers must prove the system further before receiving accelerated
funding. The Hostile Target I.D. is sponsored by Electronic Systems
Division.
AIR FORCE AWARDS MISSION SUPPORT SYSTEM
The Air Force has awarded a $12.4 million Mission Support System
contract to McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co., St. Louis, MO, and
Lockheed Sanders' Information Systems Division, Merrimack, NH.
McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed will produce competing computerized
mission planning systems, used by bomber and fighter pilots to plan
tactics for air strikes. These two computer systems will compete
against each other in July 1992, and a winner will be selected.
AMHERST TO SUPPLY SIMULATOR FOR B-2
Amherst Systems Inc., Buffalo, NY, was awarded a $5 million contract by
Northrop Corp., to supply an electronic warfare simulator which will
test the B-2 stealth bomber. The simulator is called the Combat
Electromagnetic Environment Simulator and will test the B-2's defensive
avionics. Amherst previously supplied the simulator to test the B-1B
bomber's defensive electronics.
BALL DEVELOPS SMALL CERAMIC MICROSTRIP ANTENNA
Ball Communication Systems Division produced a small, ceramic substrate
microstrip antenna which contributes to the increasing demand for
commercial and military Global Positioning System (GPS)-based
navigation products. The antenna weighs 1 oz. and measures 1.5 in. or
2 in. square by 0.1 in. thick. New GPS applications include receivers
in aircraft, automobile, truck and train navigation systems. Hand-held
versions are used by hikers and surveyors, and businesses are placing
GPS units in rental cars, vehicle fleets and boats.
FAA ORDERS ROCKWELL COLLISION SYSTEM OUT OF ORDER
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has ordered the version of a
collision avoidance system built by the Collins Air Transport Division of
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL taken out of service. The FAA said that Collins'
version of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, known as the
Collins TCAS II, used on some commercial airliners must be removed from
service until a fault in the units' computers can be fixed. The FAA said it
took the action because of a few incidents in which Collins TCAS II units
have given false indications of the near proximity of other aircraft. The
Collins units account for about one-third of the 700 TCAS installations now
on airline aircraft, the FAA said. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 2, 1991)
HARRIS TO PRODUCE DATA BUSES FOR NEW MILITARY AIRCRAFT PROGRAMS
Harris will provide fiber-optic high-speed data buses for both of the
new military aircraft programs, the Air Force F-22 advanced tactical
fighter and the Army RAH-66 helicopter. The bus will perform at
greater than 50 megabits per sec. Fiber-optic multichip modules
provide point-to-point data links with a throughput of 240 megabits per
sec. The modules will connect sensors with data processors and
transmit video data to cockpit displays. Harris integrated the
multichip modules with the fiber-optic network interface units in a
standard electronic module, type E. An integrated unit, with four
transmit and receiver channels, will achieve nearly one gigabit of
throughput. The estimated value of both contracts is $1.6 billion
HELMET FOR RAH-66 PILOT ENHANCES VIEW
The crew of the U.S. Army's new RAH-66 Comanche attack helicopter will
use a helmet-mounted video projector to avoid enemy air defenses while
concentrating fire upon targets hidden among trees or other
obstructions. The projector, mounted on the side of the helmet, is
linked to computers that process images from sensors located at the
nose of the helicopter which scan the battlefield. But the complete
sensor and flight package has not been assembled or thoroughly tested
on the aircraft.
HUGHES DEVELOPING RADAR THAT ENABLES REDUCED-VISIBILITY LANDING
The new Commercial Division of Hughes Aircraft is developing advanced
sensors that could allow commercial aircraft to land at airports
normally shut down by adverse weather conditions. If this project is
pursued through certification with the Federal Aviation Administration
and other international agencies, these on-board radar and infrared
sensor systems could reduce the number of flight cancellations,
diversions and delays caused by harsh weather conditions.
SEQUA CORP. DEVELOPS TEST SETS FOR NAVY
Sequa Corp.'s Kollsman Division, Merrimack, NH, will develop 28 Mil-
Spec BB-34 test sets that will be used to test pneumatic pilot static
systems used in Navy aircraft. This Navy contract is worth $5.5
million, and the systems are expected to remain in use through the year
2010. The Navy is currently using over 100 BB-34s. The BB-34 has a
building block architecture that will enable it to be used for other
Navy automatic test systems.
MISSILES:
ALLIANT JOINS TEAM FOR ARMY'S SADARM
Alliant Techsystems, Minneapolis, MN, was chosen by the Army to be a
part of Aerojet's team for full-scale development and production of the
Army's Sense and Destroy Armor (SADARM) program. Recently, the Army
announced its intention to continue with SADARM after cost overruns
forced a restructuring of the program in 1990. Alliant and Aerojet
were awarded competitive full-scale development contracts for SADARM in
1986, and recently, the Aerojet design was selected by the Army.
Production will begin in 1993 and continue into the next century.
ARMY SELECTED AEROJET FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SADARM
Aerojet will complete the full-scale development of the Army's Sense
And Destroy Armor (SADARM) program. SADARM is a weapon designed to hit
stationary artillery pieces and armored vehicles and will be used with
the Multiple Launch Rocket System and the 155-millimeter howitzer. The
Army's most recent plan calls for 222,756 submunitions at about $4.6
billion. This plan was restructured from the previous program cost of
$5.3 billion for 600,00 submunitions.
JOUST 1 FAILS TO FIRE
The already delayed launch of the Joust-1 commercial suborbital rocket
recently failed to fire for an unknown reason. The rocket was built by
Orbital Sciences Corp. Space Data Division in Chandler, AZ. The Joust-
1 was to carry 10 experiments sponsored by the University of Alabama-
Huntsville's Consortium for Materials in Space.
LITTON TO SUPPLY ACCELEROMETERS FOR TRIDENT II MISSILES
Litton's Guidance and Control Systems Division, Salt Lake City, UT,
will make accelerometers for the Mk-6 inertial measurement unit aboard
Trident II (D5) fleet ballistic missiles. This contract from the
Navy's Strategic Systems Programs Office is worth $13.6 million.
Specifically, Litton will build an unknown number of pendulous
integrating gyroscopic accelerometers (10 PIGA).
MARTIN RECEIVES $55 MILLION COMPENSATION AWARD
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Martin Marietta $55 million to
compensate for increased costs arising from the Air Force's scaled-back
launch plans for its Titan 4 booster. The funding will pay for slowed-
down production of solid rocket motors used in the Titan 4. Building
boosters at a slower rate increased the unit cost of each by reducing
economics of scale. The Air Force plans 39 launches of the Titan 4
through 1997, rather than the previously planned 47, as a result of
tight military budgets, changes in the SDI and fewer launches of spy
satellites.
PENTAGON CUT 39% OF AMRAAM PURCHASE
The Pentagon announced plans to buy 15,450 Advanced Medium Range Air-
to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) as opposed to the previously agreed 24,320
units. The two contractors, Hughes and Raytheon, are still to be
retained for the competition. The total cut of 36% to be purchased
will inflate AMRAAM unit flyaway cost by about 39%, primarily because
the less expensive missiles have been eliminated, forcing more of the
start-up costs to be spread over fewer and more expensive units. The
Air Force quoted the flyaway cost at about $700,000 a round, meaning
the new cost will be over $1 million each.
SUCCESSFUL SUB-LAUNCHED TEST FLIGHT FOR UPGRADED TOMAHAWK
The Navy successfully launched a Block III Tomahawk from the torpedo
tube of a submerged submarine off the coast of southern California.
The missile, with an inert warhead, flew a guided flight of about 600
miles to its destination at Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA.
After reaching the target area, the missile's parachute recovery system
was activated, and it was retrieved for refurbishment.
TI-LTV TEAM COMPLETES FIRST FLIGHT OF AIWS VEHICLE
The Texas Instruments and LTV team recently completed the first free
flight of its Advanced Interdiction Weapon System (AIWS) air vehicle.
This vehicle is competing with vehicles from Boeing-Lockheed and
McDonnell Douglas-Hughes teams for the Navy contract. The vehicle
dropped from a F-4 aircraft at an altitude of 15,000 feet over Edwards
Air Force Base, CA, test range, and flew over 20 miles downrange.
Proposals for the FSED phase are due in May. The Navy is expected to
purchase 16,600 AIWS units.
SATELLITES:
ALASKA TO OFFER COMMERCIAL SATELLITE LAUNCH SITE
Alaska is about to enter the commercial satellite launch market, with
the first flight planned for 1993. The launch site is located at Poker
Flat, a 5,200-acre site 35 miles northeast of Fairbanks that is owned
by U. of Alaska. Eleven undisclosed companies have make recent
inquires about launches into polar orbits. The advantage of Poker Flat
is that is does not have many government regulations inhibiting launch
capability.
BUSH BARS SATELLITE EXPORTS TO CHINA
President Bush has barred U.S. exports of parts for China's Dong Fang
Hong 3 (DFH-3) domestic communications satellite, claiming components
are on U.S. Munitions List, and FY 1991 Foreign Relations Authorization
Act prohibits such exports unless President finds they are in national
interest. The source of the parts is not known but the three U.S.
communications satellite makers -- GE, Hughes and Loral -- denied
selling parts to China. Officials say that China is assembling the
satellite on its own.
DATE SET FOR SUPERBIRD E LAUNCH
In January 1992, a replacement for the defunct Superbird A satellite
will be launched, allowing the Japanese Space Communications Corp. to
provide transmission capacity for the first time in over a year. Space
Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, CA, built this replacement satellite,
called Superbird E, which will be launched from Kourou, French Guiana,
aboard an Ariane rocket. Broadcasting is scheduled to begin March
1992.
NAVSTAR GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM SATELLITE FOR JUNE LAUNCH
The next launch of a Navstar Global Positioning System satellite is set
for June, and will carry a Strategic Defense Initiative experiment
satellite as a secondary payload. The Losat-X spacecraft, built by
Ball Aerospace Systems Group, Boulder, CO, will carry two sensor
packages. The experiment may help determine the design of sensors
aboard the Brilliant Pebbles orbiting strategic defense interceptors.
NEW GENERATION EARLY WARNING SATELLITES
A new generation of early warning satellites will replace Defense
Support Program (DSP) satellites, beginning development in 1994. These
new satellites will contain advanced equipment to detect and track
ballistic missile launches around the world. Several contractors,
including Grumman Corp., Bethpage, NY; Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.,
Sunnyvale, CA; and TRW Space and Technology Group, Redondo Beach, CA,
are currently working on a replacement for the DSP. The Air Force is
expected to announce the request in summer 1991 for this new Tactical
Warning and Attack Assessment (TW/AA) system. The first-phase
contracts could be worth as much as $165 million to $200 million for
each prime contractor selected.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
GALILEO RESTORED TO NORMAL CRUISE MODE
Galileo was returned to its normal cruise mode by ground controllers
after the spacecraft unexpectedly entered a safing mode. The failure
was almost identical to a previous incident in which one of Galileo's
two redundant data processors shut down and reduced the spacecraft's
data transmission rate from 1,200 bits per second to 10. Although
unable to determine the direct cause of the failure, JPL engineers
suspect that a static electrical signal, such as a cosmic ray or
charged particle from the sun, was to blame. The problem is unrelated
to Galileo's high-gain antenna, which has failed to fully deploy.
LAWMAKERS REQUIRE NEW STUDY OF REDESIGNED SPACE STATION
The House recently approved legislation requiring a study that will
determine the most efficient way to achieve the planned scientific
objectives of the smaller, $30 billion space station. The House also
authorized $14.9 billion for Fiscal 1992, excluding money already
authorized for the CRAF/Cassini project. Although the bill authorized
temporary continuation on the station, floor debate signaled trouble
for NASA's space station.
SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LANDS IN FLORIDA
As a result of crosswinds at Edwards AFB, CA, the shuttle Discovery was
forced to land at Kennedy Space Center, FL, after an eight day
unclassified Department of Defense mission to observe space phenomena
for possible missile defense applications. Near the end of the
mission, Discovery's crew released a small classified payload, possibly
a satellite. Although a slight recorder problem limited the amount of
data collected, the mission was concluded successful. It carried out
numerous experiments and measurements to aid missile defense designers
to better understand the environment.
TECHNOLOGY:
COMPETING WITH TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORLD ARENA
Companies manage R&D in a number of ways: globally, multinationally,
internationally or transnationally. Each represents a different strategic
approach to meet the bases of competition in an industry. As global networks
form, these companies and others like them will respond to forces pushing
for greater efficiency of scale -- for global perspective. Pulling in the
opposite direction, however, are forces for strong decentralized
responsiveness. Managers of international operations walk a fine line in
their efforts to balance the tension between exploiting global economies and
satisfying regional priorities. In this context, the international
management of technology presents a particularly difficult challenge. The
triple tasks of effectively harnessing these technologies and developing
products suited to regional markets, while still exploiting the economies
from worldwide product lines in global R&D efforts, all fall within the
range of international management. This article discusses three different
strategic approaches to meeting the bases of competition in an industry:
global management, multinational management and international management.
(Source: The Journal Of Business Strategy, Mar/Apr 1991 pp. 11-16)
BEYOND MRP II: THE ENTERPRISE SOLUTION
To gain strategic advantages, many manufacturers in the past have turned to
manufacturing resource planning (MRP II) and have fully exploited the
potential of that technology. But manufacturers must continue to improve on
the competitive gains MRP II has provided to survive and thrive in today's
markets. Some have turned to computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) for
additional business benefits, but the competitive gains of even the most
successful CIM implementations have some limits, and many manufacturers have
yet to be convinced that CIM is a meaningful solution to their individual
needs. How then does a manufacturing enterprise continue to use computer
technology to support competitive advantages? Manufacturers must go beyond
MRP II with an integrated solution that includes MRP II, CIM and an
executive information system (EIS). The combination of these components is
referred to as the Enterprise Solution, which provides a dynamic enterprise-
wide information system and also offers the ability to everyone in the
organization to make decisions using "real-world" data by providing the
right data where and when it is needed. (Source: Industrial Engineering,
March 1991 pp. 33-36)
MRP II: IN THE MIDST OF A CONTINUING EVOLUTION
MRP II is a tool for managing, predicting and controlling a company's
resources and the bulk of their operating investments. Expanding on the
original concept of material requirements planning, MRP II involves the
broader functions of purchasing, capacity planning and master scheduling, as
well as inventory and production planning. The main benefit of MRP II is the
potential for controlling all of a company's production resources. Given the
progression to date, it is natural for industry to consider such questions
as whether MRP II will experience absolute growth, whether it will expand
into a broader, more comprehensive concept, and whether artificial
intelligence, or some other new applied technology, will propel MRP II into
something other than what it is today. This article explores the progression
of MRP II from the original MRP, and addresses the role of MRP II in the
emergence of computer integrated manufacturing, or CIM. (Source: Industrial
Engineering, March 1991 pp. 38-40)
LINKING CAD AND CMM
AEROJET's propulsion division in Sacramento, California, makes liquid rocket
engines for U.S. space and defense programs. Traditional inspection methods
for the curved surfaces of these engines are time-consuming and vary in
accuracy. Aerojet improved inspection of curved surfaces with software from
Valisys Corp. that performs the inspection electronically, using a computer-
aided design (CAD) model of the part.
o First, a three-dimensional inspection file is built from the design data.
Next, all the features to be used in the process are defined, including
all attributes inspected. Software then uses the dimensional and tolerance
data to construct a worst-case model of the mating part (allowing for
applicable degrees of freedom), defining the limits of acceptability.
Using the criteria defined, the software then interacts with the user to
determine the inspection paths for each feature, which are previewed
graphically on the CAD system.
o The paths are linked together in a process defined by the CAD operator.
A reference point is defined on the part, and the processes are run,
beginning with an orientation.
o The Valisys software directly links Aerojet's CAD system and coordinate
measuring machines (CMMs), drives the CMMs to measure part features and
compares the measured features with the CAD model to determine whether
the part is within tolerance. The measured points can be displayed to
show graphically any out-of-tolerance locations.
(Source: Automation, April 1, 1991, page 52)
PLCS: FOCUSING ON INTEGRATION
Programmable controller (PLC) vendors are focusing on ease of use and
"integratability" of PLCs, and on product service. Most vendors say that
an important factor determining what PLC the customer buys will be how well
PLC functions are integrated within the controller and with devices
connected to the controller.
o Vendors now are offering integration solutions that include better and
more diverse communication products, closer merging of PLCs with other
factory devices, and software and software tools to aid in programming a
PLC and configure it for applications.
o All vendors are developing communication modules, drivers and other
options to facilitate interconnection of PLCs to other factory controls
and devices, in a shift from point solutions to systems solutions.
o Because the 9600 baud rate is a bottleneck in communication, vendors are
introducing faster control networks and integrating personal computers
and PLCs on the same backplane.
(Source: Automation, April 1, 1991, page 28)
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Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
GEORGE ANDERSON@AYO LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO
JIM BALLANCE@EWO BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO
BILL BARGAS@TMO JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO
JIM BEALL@AQO TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO
GARY BENTON@TMO LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO
CHAD BIGONY@WRO BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO
GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO
LERAH BORDANO@FOO JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO
IAN BOURNE@OLO BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO
CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO
RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO
RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP
RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA
WANDA CALHOUN@AOO LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO
BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO
ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO
GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO
BOB COHEN@IVO DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO
HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO
JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO
BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO
DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO
ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO GARY DAVIS@FOO STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO G DAVIS@DVO
JACK DAVIS@BMO BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO
RON DEFUSCO@OFO RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO
CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO
JIM DEZUTTER@UPO TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO
LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO
EDWARD DRUST@PHO RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO
TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO
GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO
JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET
GARY EVANS@SEO JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO
WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO
CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO KEN FLOYD@RCO
TOM FLYNN@SYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO
RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO
AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR
ROLF GAERTNER@MGO JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO
JOE GANNON@MKO BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO
CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO
JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO
MICHAEL GRAM@MRO LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO
TOM HAAS@BWA MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO TOM HAMILTON@CWO
KEN HAMILTON@VFO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO
ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
DAVE JOHNSON@FZO CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO
RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO
BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO
DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO
MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO
NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA
BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO
CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO
SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO
LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO
LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA
JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO
CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO
BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARGARET MARINO@SEO
MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO
SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO
JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO
EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO
JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO
BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO TOM MILLER@SEO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA
BETTY MILLS@SEO JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO
DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO
DON MONTOYA@DVO GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO
BOB MORGAN@PDO BILL MORROW@WRO CLAY MORSE@PHO MICHAEL MORSE@STO
MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO
ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO
BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO
TERRY OHLRICH@CWO STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO
BOB PACE@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO
MATT PARTLOW@SEO MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO
LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO
JACK PERRY@WRO CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO
JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR
IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO
DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO
JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO
TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO
BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY
URSEL RHEA@IVO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@
PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO
RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO
SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO
KEVIN SALMON@SLO ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV
CHUCK SARGENT@DVO HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO
RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO
DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO
BOB SEIFERT@MKO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO
GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO
DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO
CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA BILL SLEZAK@DCO PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.112 | New notes for conference DECpc_PORTABLES | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed May 22 1991 09:52 | 719 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 21-May-1991 04:44pm CET
From: ROACH
ROACH@YIPPEE@MRGATE@HUGHI
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PAT ROACH@VBO
Subject: New notes for conference DECpc_PORTABLES
------------------------DECpc 320sx Notebook------------------------------------
3.3 STU03::RENZ -< wainting for the machine !!! >-
3.4 FRSCS::FRERICH -< Thanks for answer; then I've to wait.... >-
3.5 SEDSWS::HEGARTY -< WHERE ARE THEY??????? >-
3.6 ISLNDS::SCHMIDT -< When? >-
3.7 STU03::RENZ -< german junkies listen !!!!! >-
3.8 STU03::RENZ -< special for helmut !! >-
------------------------Integrated Mouse Pad------------------------------------
7.2 KIPPIS::BACKSTROM -< Nice, but not that nice. Good, but not that goo
7.3 STAR::BECK -< A bit of orange in apples-to-apples comparisons
7.4 HOTAIR::INGRAM -< But how bad is it *really* ? >-
7.5 MSDOA::MCCLOUD -< J key/mouse ??? >-
7.6 SKRAM::STETSON -< It's not that bad! (An Editorial) >-
7.7 KIPPIS::BACKSTROM
7.8 STAR::BECK -< As a unique feature, definitely worth promoting
------------------------Who are you?--------------------------------------------
8.27 VCSESU::BOWKER -< Joe Bowker >-
8.28 ASDG::MISTRY -< Kaizad Mistry >-
8.29 MS3100::SCHELL -< Mark Schell >-
8.30 WORDS::ALOISI -< I am >-
8.31 KIPPIS::BACKSTROM
8.32 MSDOA::MCCLOUD -< Steve Mccloud @noo >-
8.33 COOKIE::WITHERS
8.34 SEGAL::SEGAL -< Len Segal >-
------------------------Product Improvements------------------------------------
9.9 RIPPLE::NORDLAND_GE -< How about a car plug? >-
9.10 SEGAL::SEGAL -< Some Comments on DECpc Laptop >-
------------------------Next Generation???--------------------------------------
10.1 TECRUS::REDFORD -< Pens, Nets, CDs >-
------------------------Service Information-------------------------------------
13.7 MVDS01::PREHATIN -< response to 13.5 >-
13.8 SANTEE::GREENE
13.9 BSS::R_GEIGER -< Toshiba's ESP >-
13.10 SALSA::BLUNDELL -< T1000SE ESP prices >-
------------------------Non-Product Questions-----------------------------------
16.4 ZYDECO::PEACOCK -< Price????? >-
16.5 BTOVT::PREVO -< Time will Tell - See 3.3 >-
------------------------Where to find illustrations of these products-----------
17.1 BTOVT::PREVO -< Thanks, Erik! >-
------------------------Laptop ads, display quality-----------------------------
18.0 YNGSTR::BROWN
18.1 STAR::BECK -< Display quality looked good to me (in person, n
18.2 SEGAL::SEGAL -< Laptop Video Quality is Poor >-
18.3 LRCSNL::WALES -< Probably the first seen in Australia! >-
Notes start on next page.
<<< RANGER::$2$DUA241:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DECPC_PORTABLES.NOTE;1 >>>
-< DECpc _Portables >-
================================================================================
Note 3.3 DECpc 320sx Notebook 3 of 8
STU03::RENZ 9 lines 16-MAY-1991 03:22
-< wainting for the machine !!! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI WOLFGANG,
be patient and don't give a cent for the rumors.about 2 weeks ago i
talked with a guy at DEC-direct who is responsible for employee buying
of those machines.
we must wait until july.if you want to know more call me here in ulm
tel.0731/61771
regards hermann (waiting for the machine!!)
================================================================================
Note 3.4 DECpc 320sx Notebook 4 of 8
FRSCS::FRERICH 0 lines 16-MAY-1991 03:36
-< Thanks for answer; then I've to wait.... >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
Note 3.5 DECpc 320sx Notebook 5 of 8
SEDSWS::HEGARTY 7 lines 20-MAY-1991 14:48
-< WHERE ARE THEY??????? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm waiting for the machine aswell, could whoever is in the know, tell
me why it takes so long to make a product available to employees,
especially one that is going to prove very popular, that is, as long as
interest does not fade in the waiting period?????
expectant of Surrey!!!!!!!
================================================================================
Note 3.6 DECpc 320sx Notebook 6 of 8
ISLNDS::SCHMIDT 11 lines 21-MAY-1991 00:05
-< When? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It looks like a nice product, but I can't wait three weeks or 9
months or
more--depending on which availability rumor one hears last. I really
need to understand that IEG will be able to get notebooks to us
quickly--two or three weeks max--or forget it and ask my cost center
to buy either a TI TM300 or Compaq. I don't want to do that, but
there seems to be no end to the uncertainty about availability?
When will they be available?
Marty
================================================================================
Note 3.7 DECpc 320sx Notebook 7 of 8
STU03::RENZ 14 lines 21-MAY-1991 07:40
-< german junkies listen !!!!! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this is for all the laptop and notebook-junkies in germany (sorry,only
germany!!!!)
there's a guy named helmut roesch at dec-direct in munich who is
responsible for employee-buying.
he said there must be a head-nicking by the b i g managment to bring
the program in work.
so, i think it's the time to serve this guy's in munich !!!
give them fire so we can get the machines in a short time !!!
hermann
================================================================================
Note 3.8 DECpc 320sx Notebook 8 of 8
STU03::RENZ 4 lines 21-MAY-1991 07:43
-< special for helmut !! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
to helmut !
sorry helmut,but it must have been done ! N O W !!!!!!!!
================================================================================
Note 7.2 Integrated Mouse Pad 2 of 8
KIPPIS::BACKSTROM "bwk,pjp;SwTools;pg2;lines23-24" 12 lines 17-MAY-1991 09:25
-< Nice, but not that nice. Good, but not that good. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My personal opinion is that we shouldn't make too big a deal of this
gadget.
We've had a unit over here for a couple of months now and I can tell
that you can learn to live with it, but it doesn't come near to
replacing a real mouse.
We can mention it, point out how handy it is when there's no desk
to use the machine on (but if there is, I recommend sticking in
a normal mouse).
...petri
================================================================================
Note 7.3 Integrated Mouse Pad 3 of 8
STAR::BECK "Paul Beck" 13 lines 17-MAY-1991 11:08
-< A bit of orange in apples-to-apples comparisons >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sort of ditto. I played with the notebook at the state-of-the-company meeting,
and it's definitely a cute feature (the mouse pad), and adequate for moving
the pointer around, but anything requiring dragging is murder, and even the
double click action requires either two hands or moving the finger/stylus from
the mouse pad to the "button" part. A real mouse is a much more natural motion,
and I think the Microsoft Ballpoint would work better (haven't tried one yet).
You would have a hard time playing Solitaire with the mouse pad (which is why
most people get Windows in the first place).
That said, it is quite handy for less demanding action (like moving a cursor in
an editor), and being a unique feature is something to focus on in promoting
the units. It would be a good idea to mention the fact that the units also have
mouse ports for the "real thing", so both options are readily available.
================================================================================
Note 7.4 Integrated Mouse Pad 4 of 8
HOTAIR::INGRAM "That was then, This isn't happening." 8 lines 17-MAY-1991 17:53
-< But how bad is it *really* ? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mouse pad sounded like a great idea, but the negative reviews
worry me. Must you use the stylus to activate the mouse pad? Or
can you use your finger? Do you need the stylus for the buttons
too?
Larry
================================================================================
Note 7.5 Integrated Mouse Pad 5 of 8
MSDOA::MCCLOUD 5 lines 17-MAY-1991 18:50
-< J key/mouse ??? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What about the J key/mouse option. I know this
is not a option on our unit but has anbody out
there had any experence with this gadget. Maybe
the detachable keyboard will make this an easy
option to add in the future??
================================================================================
Note 7.6 Integrated Mouse Pad 6 of 8
SKRAM::STETSON "Rick Stetson @WKO DTN 367-4038" 27 lines 18-MAY-1991 09:59
-< It's not that bad! (An Editorial) >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you open a magazine like Computer Shopper or PC Magazine you can
find an array of hardware to plug into a mouse port. I believe the
whole idea behind the integrated mouse pad was to eliminate the need to
carry an external device for mouse capability. I also believe there is
a port for an external mouse on our new machines for those who prefer
a particular device.
I've used the integrated pad on a prototype machine and was able to
drive it with the little finger of my right hand while making
depressions of MB1 & MB2 with the index finger of my right hand. If I
had one of these machines I don't believe I would carry an external
mouse device. I found the integrated pad very satisfactory.
Like the pad or not, it's a great gadget! And in the PC space (very
commodity oriented!) gadgets sell units! That's the real issue here.
Executives (MIS or otherwise) like gadgets that catch their eye and
make them more productive.
I would like to see all of us get behind these products, try to put our
individual concerns about the various parts of the units, and help
drive sales of the units beyond any of our wildest expectations. After
all, the more of these that get sold the greater the likelihood that
we'll be here to read additional replys in this conference in a year.
THANKS!!
Rick
================================================================================
Note 7.7 Integrated Mouse Pad 7 of 8
KIPPIS::BACKSTROM "bwk,pjp;SwTools;pg2;lines23-24" 26 lines 18-MAY-1991 17:19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, you can operate the mouse pad without the stylus (the 386SX
doesn't even have one).
For me the most comfortable way of using the mouse pad is with
two hands (right hand index finger for the cursor movement and
the left for mouse buttons). While O.K. for Solitaire ;-) it is
not that pleasant if you also need to type something.
With non-graphical applications (i.e. those where the mouse is
used virtually solely for menu selections) one-hand operation
is sufficient.
Both portables have a port for a PS/2 style mouse. Stick the
mouse in and power on and it's in use instead of the pad.
Still, so that you won't get me wrong ;-), these machines are
among the nicest portable PCs I've dealt with. Especially if
all the issues that existed with the prototypes are fixed
in the final units (which is the case, I've been assured, by
product management).
The only thing we need is a price cut � la Compaq. I.e. we
won't sell PCs that are more expensive than what others have.
...petri
================================================================================
Note 7.8 Integrated Mouse Pad 8 of 8
STAR::BECK "Paul Beck" 20 lines 18-MAY-1991 22:20
-< As a unique feature, definitely worth promoting >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RE .6 - Nobody's said it was "bad", but it's not perfect, and some
people will adapt to it better than others. Because it's a unique
feature which does work (fairly well, with some limitations), it's
worth promoting to the hilt, since in this market any unique
feature is a wedge that can be used to leverage sales and (if
nothing else) garner attention.
But it could be a mistake to oversell it ... I wouldn't think
people should be told "you'll never need a mouse", because some
people won't get the hang of the more elaborate operations
(dragging) on the mouse pad. The presence of the mouse port means
all bases are covered, and there's no reason not to focus on this
in the sense of completeness.
Anybody who uses a mouse in a continual way (e.g. CAD/CAM
applications) will most probably want to make use of the mouse
port. Users who have more casual requirements (e.g. word
processing, Microsoft Works, etc.) can probably be quite satisfied
with the mouse pad by itself. I'd put Windows use on the
borderline between the two, myself.
================================================================================
Note 8.27 Who are you? 27 of 34
VCSESU::BOWKER "Joe Bowker, KB1GP" 10 lines 16-MAY-1991 09:11
-< Joe Bowker >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Bowker
VAXcluster Systems Support Engineering
Loc: MRO1
DTN 297-7314
I currently use a DS212 at home and my group is looking at getting
a laptop for our support trips.
================================================================================
Note 8.28 Who are you? 28 of 34
ASDG::MISTRY 10 lines 16-MAY-1991 21:39
-< Kaizad Mistry >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaizad Mistry
Advanced Semiconductor Development
Loc: HLO
I'm looking for a '386 note for myself and for another notebook
for word-processing type applications for a friend.
I would love to get my hands on the DECpc note for my very own,
but I need to get my notebook by september . . .
================================================================================
Note 8.29 Who are you? 29 of 34
MS3100::SCHELL "Mark Schell, Sls Support, 367-4040" 10 lines 16-MAY-1991 22:47
-< Mark Schell >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Schell
Sales Support
Desktop Integration Consultant
Winston Salem, NC
Loc: WKO
Been involved with PC's since the Rainbow (still have one in the
closet!) and travel a fair amount. Currently have a Gateway 2000 386
PC at home, a Bondwell 300 laptop while traveling, and would love to
have a DECpc.
================================================================================
Note 8.30 Who are you? 30 of 34
WORDS::ALOISI 11 lines 17-MAY-1991 06:22
-< I am >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Aloisi
Networks ESU
MKO1-1D28 / Moving to TWO June 17
I study architecture, throughput for networks, standards for
communications, and develop communications chips. At times I spend a
lot of time on the road and in meetings. I am interested in portable
computers for work and for architecture problems they will be leading
to.
================================================================================
Note 8.31 Who are you? 31 of 34
KIPPIS::BACKSTROM "bwk,pjp;SwTools;pg2;lines23-24" 6 lines 17-MAY-1991 09:39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...petri b�ckstr�m
Desktop support,
Finland
PCs, PC integration, networks, UNIX, VMS, whatever... that's what
I deal with.
================================================================================
Note 8.32 Who are you? 32 of 34
MSDOA::MCCLOUD 6 lines 17-MAY-1991 18:57
-< Steve Mccloud @noo >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEPHEN MCCLOUD
Customer Service Eng
New Orleans LA
DTN 436-2262
It's nice to have a product on the top of MY wishlist...
================================================================================
Note 8.33 Who are you? 33 of 34
COOKIE::WITHERS "Bob Withers" 15 lines 17-MAY-1991 21:22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Withers
Software Principal Engineer
DSS DCSE SEAM CSSE (ask me offline)
CXN1/4
DTN 523-2819, COOKIE::Withers
My interest is in the realm of computer systems as "utility services",
much as we view telephones and electric power. I carry my Cambridge Z88
everywhere, have several computers at home, use a large VAXCluster and
a workstation at the office, and think that this notebook system goes a long
way toward fulfilling the Dynabook idea, where everyone oneday will have
their computer with them much as we carry wallets today.
BobW
================================================================================
Note 8.34 Who are you? 34 of 34
SEGAL::SEGAL "Len Segal, MLO6-1/U30, 223-7687" 16 lines 20-MAY-1991 15:13
-< Len Segal >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Len Segal
Principal Product Safety Engineer
LESREG::SEGAL
MLO6-1/U30
Work Interest: We review and support all US-sourced PC's that DEC
makes/sells (our counterparts in Reading, UK support the
Olivetti/DEC PC's).
Personal Interest: One of the founders and officers of the
long-defunct DEC Computer Club. I've been using PC100+ since the
proto days, and now have a Gateway 2000 386-33 at home as well as a
PC100+. A "Lightweight" Notebook or Laptop would be nice for
traveling/portable use. [My Wife is more interested in the Notebook
or Laptop than I...she works in DEC's Human Factors/Ergonomics
Group.]
================================================================================
Note 9.9 Product Improvements 9 of 10
RIPPLE::NORDLAND_GE "SCUD: Sure Could Use Direction" 12 lines 20-MAY-1991 14:42
-< How about a car plug? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While shopping for a Notebook to take with me on a drive across
country (to pick up my daughter from school) I found that only a few of
them have an accessory power supply that connects to a 12V automobile
outlet.
Seems like a simple thing to add to the product list without
redesigning the whole product. Would certainly appeal to those customers
who use their car a lot. (And it would be a shame to miss sales
without it :^)
Jerry
================================================================================
Note 9.10 Product Improvements 10 of 10
SEGAL::SEGAL "Len Segal, MLO6-1/U30, 223-7687" 79 lines 20-MAY-1991 16:03
-< Some Comments on DECpc Laptop >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After "playing around" with the DECpc 333 Laptop (Actually the
Olivetti model that was here for EMI/FCC qualification testing) for
~1 hour, I have a number of comments. I also invited my Wife and a
number of her co-workers in Human Factors (HF) to come down and look
at it...their comments paralleled mine.
- The machine is VERY heavy, I weighed it on our calibrated scale
and found it to weigh 13.25# with the battery (most weights are
probably advertised without battery included, but this is
unrealistic!) and 16# with the battery charger/AC adapter (but
without power cord) placed with it. This was a common comment
from a number of people...I wouldn't want to have to carry it
through an airport! Long-term use on one's lap may not be too
comfortable, due to the weight. The carry bag should have an
extra wide strap to help dissipate the weight.
- The mouse "pen" should probably be tethered, or many users will
end up losing it in quick order. A label would be nice, none of
us spotted this "pen" for quite a while. Unfortunately, the
mouse driver wasn't loaded on this machine, so I couldn't try it
out. [We also had very little software, and weren't running
Windows. :-(]
- The screen latch is INADEQUATE!! The screen flipped back on us
twice when different people picked it up. The cover/screen must
be forced down to ensure that it latched properly. In the little
use that it had seen, the edges of the plastic slot were already
showing wear. This could result in a serious quality problem.
- The screen hinge latch was not obvious as to purpose, I flipped
one side and not the other and "converted it to a super-twist LCD
screen" :-( This could also result in a quality problem.
- I am puzzled as to why this particular model, with the German
Safety Approvals, is marked "25Vdc 2.7A", whereas the battery is
marked "18V 2600mAh". Nancy can you please explain the
discrepancy? [Is there a voltage converter (18V -> 25V) in the
PC? Is the higher current rating due to the potential use of
add-on keyboard/VGA monitors, etc.?]
- The add-on memory (SIMMs) door is easily accessible, I like
that. However, the door should be hinged to prevent anyone from
losing it. [A recent editorial in PC Mag or Byte about "losing
doors" on portables has sensitized me to this issue.]
- Is it my imagination or is the unit not quite balanced? It
appeared to be heavier on the left side, causing a slight tilt
when carrying it by the handle.
- I really like the LCD battery condition meter.
- I am surprised that the unit uses a b&w LCD instead of amber,
especially due to the Ergonomic leanings of the Germans (where
the Olivetti is made). I would greatly prefer to see it in
amber, as would the HF folks who looked at it.
- Unfortunately, none of us liked what we saw on the quality of
the screen. I (and a number of others who looked at it) consider
the quality of the video to be "unacceptable"! I have seen other
LCD (and plasma) screens which are much better quality than this
machine. [My Wife, who really wants to buy a portable/notebook
PC, said that she is not interested in this machine, regardless
of price! I agree 100%.] Also, for the size of the case and
weight, the screen should have been larger. The latches for
removing the screen weren't marked, I couldn't figure out what
they were for (later someone told me)!
- I liked the texture of the case (Olivetti's), but not the color
(yes, I know that we'll convert it to 068 Gray). Other people
(HF) found the texture "strange".
- The machine "screams" at 33MHz, but I couldn't find the switch
to "slow it down" so that the screen could be read. [This unit
had the German keyboard, so perhaps it was marked, but in
German?]
- Be careful about pricing, the price of these "commodity" items
drops drastically on (practically) a monthly basis. By the time
these units FCS, they could be non-competitive price-wise.
================================================================================
Note 10.1 Next Generation??? 1 of 1
TECRUS::REDFORD "Entropy isn't what it used to be" 27 lines 20-MAY-1991 15:56
-< Pens, Nets, CDs >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmmm, how far out would you like to look? In the next couple of
years I would like to see:
- A tablet with a stylus and handwriting recognition. A few
companies are building these already. This is for everybody who
can't touch-type, or needs to do a lot of sketching. They're also
great for entering forms. You should
be able to have these in place of a keyboard (for the sake of
weight) or in addition to a keyboard (for the sake of
versatility). Microsoft is working on an interface to Windows
that will take stylus input.
- Integrated networking. Preferably wireless. You should be
able to go into any conference room and hook up to the main
machines without having to plug anything in. A number of firms
are looking at low-power FM radio LANs. Infrared-based LANs
are also possible. There should be a cheap way to interface
whatever wins onto a portable machine. Longer term, there will
be data networks that can cover you anywhere in the country.
- A built-in CD reader. This gets you giant databases and multi-media
applications. Both databases and multi-media need the huge data
capacities of CDs. Multi-media also needs good sound and
probably image-processing hardware. I hope we'll also have
writable CDs soon.
Well, that's for starters. /jlr
================================================================================
Note 13.7 Service Information 7 of 10
MVDS01::PREHATIN 18 lines 20-MAY-1991 10:19
-< response to 13.5 >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RE: 13.5
Toshiba's "Exceptional Care"- good point, whats the cost ? from
the data we've seen its somewhere above $450/year, also the turn-a-
round time is not 24-48 hours. Turn-a-round time can not be determined.
As far as warranty extension, the customer can buy a mail-in contract
post warranty for $264 (notebook) or $300 (laptop) per year in the U.S.
The details for post warranty support are still being work out at the
country level.
Unique might not be the correct term.
George
================================================================================
Note 13.8 Service Information 8 of 10
SANTEE::GREENE "Michael Greene" 12 lines 20-MAY-1991 14:50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If I had one of these I would not be excited about the service policy. In fact
I would probably not buy the unit because of the service policy. We have a
couple of GRID 1450SX and one of the major points was their service policy.
Warranty includes software and hardware support, with telephone
support for software and return to repair center for hardware repair. The key
item for us was that for an additional $180/year over the std service
GRID would at our request FedEX us a replacement unit (of the same config)
anywhere in the US and FedEx would take away the problem unit. We'd swap again
when the fixed unit was returned. We've (unfortunately) had to use this once
and it worked great! This way when we're travelling we can still get work done,
with at most 24 hours downtime.
================================================================================
Note 13.9 Service Information 9 of 10
BSS::R_GEIGER "Bo knows DART" 4 lines 20-MAY-1991 19:05
-< Toshiba's ESP >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toshiba's "Exceptional Care" for a T1200XE is about $200 for years 2
and 3. The turn around time has been about 24 hours.
Richard
================================================================================
Note 13.10 Service Information 10 of 10
SALSA::BLUNDELL 14 lines 21-MAY-1991 00:30
-< T1000SE ESP prices >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exceptional Care cost for a T1000SE is $ 124.50 per year for years two
and three. Year one is No Charge, but you must register the product
and send in the payment for years two and three at that time.
Toshiba will send a loaner product, which you may elect to keep for
ever if you do not want your original product returned, or until your
own product is returned to you if you requested return of your original
system. (You do have to pay the shipping charges for the return!)
Contact me off line George, if you would like copies of the agreement
and the follow up letters that Toshiba send.
Jeff
================================================================================
Note 16.4 Non-Product Questions 4 of 5
ZYDECO::PEACOCK "Shakin' the bush, Boss" 7 lines 17-MAY-1991 10:08
-< Price????? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is it the case that no one knows what the internal price for these
machines will be, or is no one willing to say? I really could get by
with a ballpark figure, or a general idea of what the discount will be
for employees. Does anyone know?
Tim
================================================================================
Note 16.5 Non-Product Questions 5 of 5
BTOVT::PREVO 11 lines 17-MAY-1991 19:13
-< Time will Tell - See 3.3 >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See 3.3 here. It seems that there is some discussion on making
these more attractive than normal through the EPP, but it is not nailed
down at this time.
I've seen the PCF memo regarding the laptop procurement policy for
Europe and the Dan Infante memo...as well as Don Z's note discussing
the need for a U.S. policy. I assume that we will have to wait for the
discussion to settle down before we will have our answers.
-Jim
================================================================================
Note 17.1 Where to find illustrations of these products 1 of 1
BTOVT::PREVO 4 lines 17-MAY-1991 19:02
-< Thanks, Erik! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you, Erik! I find your illustrations extremely valuable in
general.
-Jim
================================================================================
Note 18.0 Laptop ads, display quality 3 replies
YNGSTR::BROWN 16 lines 20-MAY-1991 10:57
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 8 page advertising spread that hit Business Week (and others) this
last week looks great, with one exception: the two pages for the laptop
make the display look like sh!t. Compare the DEC ad with IBM's ad
(unfortunately not in the same issue of BW, but it is in this week's
PC Mag, for example): both have multi-MSWin displays, but the DEC ad is
virtually unreadable. The contrast on the DEC screens is terrible.
Suggestion: I haven't yet seen a DEC laptop, but if the display *is*
that bad, don't use a real display or just "brush" it (as Compaq does
in their ads, see same BW). And if it is that bad, the last thing I'd
want to do is sit down next to an IBM'er with one on an airline flight...
If the display isn't that bad, which I suspect is the case, then we need
to photograph in a much more flattering manner for our ads. Note that
this is really only applicable for when this particular spread is run in
a magazine capable of doing high quality image ads like BW... in a
newspaper the same ad would be ok. .02 Kratz
================================================================================
Note 18.1 Laptop ads, display quality 1 of 3
STAR::BECK "Paul Beck" 3 lines 20-MAY-1991 11:23
-< Display quality looked good to me (in person, no in ad) >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I haven't seen the ad in question, but have played with the notebook, and the
screen seems quite good ... at least comparable to the other VGA screens I've
seen lately. They may be hard to photograph, though.
================================================================================
Note 18.2 Laptop ads, display quality 2 of 3
SEGAL::SEGAL "Len Segal, MLO6-1/U30, 223-7687" 6 lines 20-MAY-1991 16:28
-< Laptop Video Quality is Poor >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RE: .0
I haven't seen the ad yet, but it sounds like a copy of the "real
screen". Please see Note 9.10 for my comments regarding screen
quality on the Laptop. The quality is very poor, I wouldn't want to
use it!
================================================================================
Note 18.3 Laptop ads, display quality 3 of 3
LRCSNL::WALES "David from Down-under" 9 lines 20-MAY-1991 23:20
-< Probably the first seen in Australia! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G'Day,
Can't talk about the laptop because I haven't seen one yet (that's
this afternoon) but I did play with the notebook and thought the
display was acceptable. I managed to play Solittare without any
problems so it must be OK :-).
David.
<<< End of extracted notes >>>
Extraction performed by AIOLI::ROACH at 16:34 on 21-May-91 (Tue)
using AIOLI::AI$DEV2:[AI$USER.ROACH.NOTES]NOTES.COM;1 -- v37
with switches "/name=<ROACH_NOTES_DAILY> /class=<daily> /again_at=<tomorrow+4:00>"
|
| 20.113 | Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jun 04 1991 12:57 | 791 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 29-May-1991 02:30pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of May 20, 1991
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 29-May-1991 0818
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of May 20, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
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Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 20, 1991
GENERAL:
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES SEEKING COMPUTER SYSTEM
HAROLD SIMMONS SAID TO PLAN BIG ACQUISITIONS TRY THIS YEAR
KAMAN CORP. UNIT GETS BOEING PACTS THAT COULD EXCEED $200 MILLION
MAGNAVOX CLOSES TWO FACILITIES
NORTHROP TO ESTABLISH NEW ORGANIZATION
NORTHROP WHISTLEBLOWER SETTLEMENT PLAN DROPPED
SCIENCE APPLICATIONS TO PROVIDE ARMY LAPTOPS
THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS FOR ROHR INDUSTRIES
TWA RESTRUCTURING
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE TO SUPPORT A-X EFFORT
CHINA TO BUY SOVIET FIGHTERS
DASSAULT C-01'S FIRST TEST FLIGHT
FAIRCHILD SEEKING PARTNERS FOR NEW AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT
FIRST FLIGHT OF T-37B TRAINER WITH NEW EXTENSION KIT
GE UNIT PAYS $1 MILLION TO SETTLE ENGINE TESTING CASE
AVIONICS:
F-22 TO USE ALL-GLASS COCKPIT
INTEL SUPPLIES MICROPROCESSOR FOR ARMY AIRCRAFT
MARCONI PROVIDES RADAR FOR GERMAN CONTRACTOR
SILICON GRAPHICS INTRODUCES SKYWRITER
TEAM TESTS NON-LINE-OF-SIGHT RADIO SYSTEMS
VLSI AND HUGHES DEVELOP ASIC
MISSILES:
ARMY EXERCISES CONTRACT OPTION FOR ERINT TARGET LAUNCHER
COMPUTER FAILURE BLAMED FOR SUCCESS OF DHAHRAN SCUD ATTACK
ERIS TEST DELAYED AFTER DERAILING
ITALIAN DEFENSE BUDGET INCLUDES PATRIOT ACQUISITION
RAYTHEON RECEIVES PATRIOT UPGRADE
ROCKWELL RECEIVES ORDER FOR MORE AGM-130'S
SUCCESSFUL 2ND FLIGHT TEST OF SMALL ICBM
THAAD PROTOTYPE FOR EMERGENCY USE AVAILABLE IN 1995
U.S., ISRAEL RESOLVE ARROW DISPUTES
SATELLITES:
ARABSAT 1C LAUNCH CONTRACT
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SHARES SPY SATELLITE DATA
HUGHES RECEIVES $183 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MEXICAN SATELLITES
INSURANCE TOO HIGH FOR INTELSAT LAUNCHES
LANDSAT DISCOVERS 65 MILLION YEAR OLD CRATER
ROCKWELL TO BEGIN PRODUCING MILSTAR TERMINALS
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ENDEAVOUR ENGINE TESTING COMPLETED
HUBBLE FINDS HINTS OF NEW SOLAR SYSTEM
MAGELLAN MISSION UPDATE
NASA TRIES TO SELL STATION TO CAPITOL HILL
SHUTTLE COLUMBIA LAUNCH DELAYED
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER RELATED:
AUTOMATED FACTORIES: MYTH OR REALITY?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES SEEKING COMPUTER SYSTEM
The Canadian armed forces are in need of a new computerized system to
manage its multibillion dollar supply inventory. Four industry teams
are competing for the 165 million Canadian dollar ($143.2 million)
supply contract, which will be awarded by September 1993. Groups
competing for the contract include SHL System House Ltd., which is
teamed with IBM Canada and MacDonald Dettwiler. Andersen Consulting
and Digital Equipment of Canada also lead a six-company team. DMR
Group Inc. is paired with Bombardier Inc., Martin Marietta Canada Ltd.,
Oracle Corp. Canada Inc. and Intermec Systems Corp. CGI Group Inc. is
teamed with Paramax Electronics Inc.
HAROLD SIMMONS SAID TO PLAN BIG ACQUISITIONS TRY THIS YEAR
Dallas investor Harold Simmons, unfazed by a sizable loss in his LOCKHEED
CORP. investment, has amassed more than $800 million in cash and is planning
another acquisition attempt this year, his top lieutenants say. Officials of
Simmons's companies wouldn't comment on who his next target might be.
Through Valhi Inc. Simmons owns interests in chemicals, sugar, timber and a
fast-food franchisee. Simmons's accumulation of cash comes as he and other
investors have bailed out of failed acquisition attempts in recent months.
With lenders still shaky about heavily leveraged purchases, Simmons'
strategists say the investor will need the cash available to fund a
multibillion-dollar acquisition.
But while credit may be tight for buyouts, the investor has managed to raise
most of his cash by adding debt to his operating companies. For instance, in
March, a specialty chemicals unit of Simmons-controlled NL Industries
borrowed $115 million under a seven-year term loan. The subsidiary, Rheox
Inc., then paid the cash as a dividend to NL. The debt will be repaid from
Rheox's operations, and NL had to guarantee only $15 million of the loan. NL
officials said Rheox now is up for sale because it has reached a size where
it must either expand its business or be divested.
Altogether, NL had about $690 million in cash and equivalents at March 31,
and another $220 million in long-term assets invested in government
securities as part of debt agreements. A large portion of the cash comes
from its Lockheed stock sale. But NL also had more than $400 million in cash
before that sale, much of which came from a seven-year, $1 billion loan
denominated in marks that its titanium dioxide subsidiary took out last
year. As a result, the company's subsidiaries now have about $1.23 billion
in debt, only a small portion of which is guaranteed by their parent
company. And NL itself has less than $40 million in debt. Simmons has access
to another $130 million in cash for an acquisition through Tremont Corp.
(Source: Dow Jones News, May 16, 1991)
KAMAN CORP. UNIT GETS BOEING PACTS THAT COULD EXCEED $200 MILLION
Kaman Aerospace Corp. unit received a multi-year contract from BOEING
Commercial Airplane Group to manufacture wing structure components for
Boeing's new 777 jet aircraft. The initial order is for delivery of hardware
beginning in 1993, with options for additional production through 2000. The
unit also received follow-on orders to existing contracts from Boeing for
767 wing structure components manufacturing. Delivery on this contract will
begin in 1996 following completion of existing orders, and covers production
through 2000. In addition, Kaman said Boeing has continued contracts for
other aircraft components through the end of the decade. Kaman said the
value of all the new awards, including options, could exceed $200 million.
(Source: Dow Jones News, May 20, 1991)
MAGNAVOX CLOSES TWO FACILITIES
Magnavox Government and Industrial Electronics Co. is closing two East
Coast facilities, and performing its remaining work at its Fort Wayne,
Indiana headquarters. The two facilities being closed are the Magnavox
Electronic Systems Co. plant in Ashburn, VA, and the New England
Research Center in Sudbury, MA. Management was also restructured with
James Loomis appointed as chief executive officer and Gene McAllister
as chief operating officer.
NORTHROP TO ESTABLISH NEW ORGANIZATION
Northrop Corp. intends to form an advanced technology and design
organization, and expand its presence in the commercial aircraft
industry. The new organization will include future manned and unmanned
military aircraft development, and will incorporate talent from
Northrop's current aircraft operations. Specific details of the
organization are yet to be determined.
NORTHROP WHISTLEBLOWER SETTLEMENT PLAN DROPPED
A proposed $8.8 million settlement of whistleblower claims against NORTHROP
CORP. over the faulty air-launched cruise missile has been scuttled, as the
plaintiffs' attorneys alleged that government prosecutors tried to limit the
amount the whistleblowers would receive. The settlement agreement fell apart
after the U.S. Air Force disclosed that Northrop had agreed to spend about
$10 million to fix a flaw in the missile's guidance unit. The disclosure of
the agreement was particularly irksome to the plaintiffs, since the
government had refused to join their claims that Northrop had knowingly used
the defective fluid when building guidance systems for the nuclear-tipped
missiles. The Justice Department did, however, join the whistleblowers in
their claims that the company falsified test results on the missile
components. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 16, 1991)
SCIENCE APPLICATIONS TO PROVIDE ARMY LAPTOPS
The U.S. Army's Communications Electronics Command division awarded
Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, CA, a $500 million
contract to develop Lightweight Computer Units. The company will
supply the Army with up to 21,000 battlefield laptop computers in
addition to communications links. The computers will also be used by
the U.S. Marine Corps.
THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS FOR ROHR INDUSTRIES
Third quarter ended April 28, 1991 1990
Sales $358,182,000 $297,555,000
Net income $9,000,000 $4,378,000
ROHR INDUSTRIES attributes its 1990 results to new program introduction,
increasing production rates, incorporation of engineering changes, higher
than planned start up costs of satellite assembly operation and adherence to
the government's redefined acceptance criteria. The company said its
aircraft deliveries are approaching rates double the average of the 1980s.
It believes the rate will remain high. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 16,
1991)
TWA RESTRUCTURING
Trans World Airlines is buying back approximately $500 million in
various debt securities in a financial restructuring. This is the
first in a series of restructuring events which will enable the airline
to survive. The purchase was made possible with the sale of three
U.S.-London routes to American Airlines for $445 million.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE TO SUPPORT A-X EFFORT
The Air Force will support the Navy's A-X project which fulfills its
need for a post-2000 interdiction/strike aircraft. This poses a
potential threat for the funding of the F-16 follow-on and sets the
stage for a tug-of-war with Congress over an F-117 upgrade. The A-X
aircraft will take the place of the A-12 as the AF's Advanced Tactical
Aircraft. The AF is not interested in a shorter-range "Strikefighter"
A-X, which is available in the F-22, but wants a very stealthy, long-
range aircraft with sizable payload which more resembles the canceled
A-12.
CHINA TO BUY SOVIET FIGHTERS
China will buy 24 Soviet-made Su-27 fighters from the Soviet Union to
modernize its aging MiG-19 and MiG-21 fleet. The deal is worth $600
million. The Chinese had been doing business with Grumman Corp. to
develop the F-8-2 fighter, but Grumman withdrew after the Tiananmen
Square massacre, and the U.S. placed restrictions on selling military
equipment to China.
DASSAULT C-01'S FIRST TEST FLIGHT
Dassault's Rafale C-01 fighter-bomber prototype recently completed its
first test flight. It reached 36,000 feet and occasional supersonic
speeds. Dassault claims that several foreign states are interested in
the plane, which will enter French service in 1996.
FAIRCHILD SEEKING PARTNERS FOR NEW AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT
Fairchild Aircraft's new management wants partners for development of
new 30 to 50-seat commuter turboprop and jet aircraft. The company is
also pursuing an aggressive sales campaign to capture a significant
portion of the developing market in Eastern Europe for its present
aircraft. The new management as of mid-1990, plans to increase
production of the current Metro 23 commuter aircraft to more than 40
per year. They hope that the updated versions of the basic Metro 23
will remain in production for another 10-15 years. The research,
development and startup costs of a follow-on aircraft are too large and
costly for Fairchild alone.
FIRST FLIGHT OF T-37B TRAINER WITH NEW EXTENSION KIT
The first flight of a U.S. Air Force T-37B trainer with a new Service
Life Extension Program kit was performed by St. Louis-based Sabreliner
Corp. in Perryville, MO. The purpose of the kits is to extend the life
of the aircraft for at least a decade. Sabreliner built the
modification kits with engineering support from San Antonio, Texas-
based Southwest Research Inc. as part of a $30 million contract to
upgrade the Air Force's 644 Cessna T-37B training aircraft.
GE UNIT PAYS $1 MILLION TO SETTLE ENGINE TESTING CASE
The Justice Department said that GENERAL ELECTRIC paid $1 million to the
U.S. government to settle claims that the company didn't properly test
aircraft engine parts supplied to the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. The
settlement arose from claims involving GE's Elano subsidiary in the period
from 1980 through 1986. Elano had previously paid the government $1.1
million to settle similar claims involving other military parts. (Source:
Dow Jones News, May 20, 1991)
AVIONICS:
F-22 TO USE ALL-GLASS AIRCRAFT
The F-22 is the first U.S. tactical aircraft fighter to use a true,
all-glass cockpit. Kaiser Electronics of San Jose, CA, will contract
the displays, in addition to a helmet-mounted display that is an
additional option for the future. The cockpit includes seven active
matrix, liquid crystal displays of various sizes. The main display is
an 8 x 8 inch panel, which is augmented by two 6 x 6 inch panels, two 4
x 4 inch panels and two smaller units. Information ranging from
altimeter, fuel gauge and weapons status to navigation and radar data,
will be presented in full color on the multifunction, flat panels with
no "round gauges" for backups. Kaiser will receive a full-scale
development contract for about $50 million, followed by production
contracts of up to $150 million.
INTEL SUPPLIES MICROPROCESSOR FOR ARMY AIRCRAFT
Intel Corp. will provide its i960 microprocessor for the U.S. Army's F-
22 Advanced Tactical Fighter and RAH-66 Comanche helicopter. One of
the two 32-bit processors approved by the Joint Integrated Avionics
Working Group for use in the Common Avionics Processor (CAP-32), the
i960, will serve as the general purpose data processor for the
aircraft. The i960 architecture has built-in data security, fault
tolerance and multiprocessing computing features. The F-22 will house
60 of the i960 processors.
MARCONI PROVIDES RADAR FOR GERMAN CONTRACTOR
Marconi Command and Control Systems, Camberley, Surrey, the United
Kingdom, will provide a Type 282 ranging radar to Marine and
Sondertechnik GmbH, Bremen, Germany. The radar will be equipped with
an electro-optic tracking system and then provided by Germany to Spain
for use on a weapon testing site. The Type 282 radar is a small radar
designed to provide testing agencies with accurate measurements of
targets such as artillery shells, missiles and aircraft. Marconi
officials claim the radar offers improved accuracy and is expected to
process information faster than existing methods.
SILICON GRAPHICS INTRODUCES SKYWRITER
Silicon Graphics, Mountain View, CA, has introduced an inexpensive,
midrange simulation system called Sky Writer. The system incorporates
the host computer and image generator into one cabinet that produces
multiple channels of realistic, real-time visual scenes with features
such as photo-derived texture mapping, anti-aliasing, atmospheric
effects, and special effects for sensor simulation. The SkyWriter
sells for about $200,000.
TEAM TESTS NON-LINE-OF-SIGHT RADIO SYSTEMS
McDonnell Douglas and Rockwell Collins have performed tests of a non-
line-of-sight radio system on an AH-64 Apache at Fort Rucker, AL. This
system demonstrates that a reliable communications link can be
maintained between a helicopter flying at 10 ft. altitude and a ground
station 300 km. away. The system is based on a Collins ARC-217 high-
frequency radio with an automatic link establishment feature. Within 8
seconds of a request-to-talk command, the unit automatically determines
the correct transmission frequency for current atmospheric conditions,
then alerts the pilot when he can begin communicating.
VLSI AND HUGHES DEVELOP ASIC
VLSI Technology, Inc., and Hughes Aircraft Radar Systems Group have
developed a complex, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to
be used in radar systems. The single board, dual processor (SBDP) chip
contains about 1 million transistors functioning as 73,000 logic gates,
550 Kbits of read only memory, and 4.6 Kbits of random access memory.
The SBDP processor replaces seven boards in a current radar system,
reducing weight by 86% and power consumption from 350 w. to 50 w.
MISSILES:
ARMY EXERCISES CONTRACT OPTION FOR ERINT TARGET LAUNCHER
The Army Strategic Defense Command exercised an $11.5 million contract
option for Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Extended Range Intercept Technology
(ERINT) Target System (ETS) program. The option includes three
additional simulated theater missile target vehicles to be launched
beginning in 1992 from White Sands Missile Range, NM. The 41-foot,
15,000 pound ERINT target vehicle is a two-stage suborbital rocket of
the Starbird booster family developed by Orbital's Space Data Division,
Chandler, AZ.
COMPUTER FAILURE BLAMED FOR SUCCESS OF DHAHRAN SCUD ATTACK
The U.S. Army said that a computer failure in the Patriot missile system let
a Scud missile sneak through U.S. defenses in Saudi Arabia and destroy a
barracks in Dhahran, killing 28 people. The latest explanation is at
variance with past statements the military has made about the barracks
destruction. At the time of February 25 attack, a U.S. central command
representative blamed the disaster on the Scud's disintegration in the
atmosphere. But more recently, U.S. officials acknowledged that nearly every
Scud broke up during descent, making the barracks attack seem routine rather
than unusual. On May 19, though, a U.S. Army representative in Huntsville,
Alabama, changed the story again. He said that the Scud was intact when it
landed on the barracks. Presumably, this would have given the Patriots a
bigger target to hit, but neither of the two Patriot batteries in range
fired any missiles at the Scud. The representative said that one of the
batteries was down for repairs, while the radar on the other battery wasn't
working because of a computer software failure. (Source: Dow Jones News, May
20, 1991)
ERIS TEST DELAYED AFTER DERAILING
The second flight test of a ground-based strategic-defense interceptor
was derailed because ground controllers thought the interceptors
target, a Minuteman missile, was flying off course. The test of the
Exo-atmospheric Re-entry Vehicle Interceptor Subsystem (ERIS) might be
delayed until autumn. The ERIS was to be launched from Kwajalein Atoll
in the Pacific Ocean to destroy the missile launched from Vandenberg
Air Force Base, CA. Investigators believe that the instrument
reporting the missile's position was flawed.
ITALIAN DEFENSE BUDGET INCLUDES PATRIOT ACQUISITION
The 1992 Italian defense budget will allocate 50 billion lire ($39
million) for the purchase of Patriot air defense and antiballistic
missile systems. The desired deployment of 20 Patriot batteries will
cost 7 trillion lire ($5.5 billion). There are no sure signs that the
latter funding will occur.
RAYTHEON RECEIVES PATRIOT UPGRADE AWARD
Raytheon was awarded a $17.7 million increase to an Army contract to
enhance its Patriot missile's antitactical ballistic missile
capability. The upgrade will increase the range of Patriot's ground-
based phased array radar and provide software improvements allowing
greater flexibility in the placement of Patriot launchers.
ROCKWELL RECEIVES ORDER FOR MORE AGM-130'S
Rockwell International's Tactical Systems Division recently received a
$29 million Air Force order for additional AGM-130 standoff weapons.
The order represents the exercise of Lot 2 of a production contract
awarded last November and calls for procurement of 48 AGM-130s and
related items. The order will support flight test, fielding and
preparation for rate production. The first AGM-130 delivery is
scheduled for the fourth quarter of calendar year 1992, and delivery of
Lot 2 units will begin in mid-1993.
SUCCESSFUL 2ND FLIGHT TEST OF SMALL ICBM
The U.S. Air Force conducted the second flight test, from Vandenberg
Air Force Base, CA, of an unarmed Small Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile (ICBM). The missile flew approximately 4,000 nautical miles in
30 minutes and landed in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The
53-foot long Small ICBM development program is being managed by a
Ballistic Missile Organization program office at Norton Air Force Base,
CA. The 37,000 pound missile is designed to be launched from a mobile
vehicle.
THAAD PROTOTYPE FOR EMERGENCY USE AVAILABLE IN 1995
In 1995, a demonstration/validation version of the Theater High
Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be available to be used in an
emergency situation. A request for proposals will soon be published
for the THAAD dem/val phase. The contract will be worth several
hundred million dollars. THAAD will be capable of intercepting
warheads up to 200 kilometers downrange, and up to 150 kilometers in
altitude. THAAD is the primary system of the proposed tactical missile
defense system called Global Protection Against Limited Strikes
(GPALS).
U.S., ISRAEL RESOLVE ARROW DISPUTES
U.S. and Israeli officials have settled their differences concerning
the transfer of technology and funding for the Israeli Arrow program.
The primary issue dividing the two sides was technology transfer and
Israeli officials agreed to U.S. demands for control of the technology
developed. The U.S. was concerned that Israel might offer sensitive
technology to the People's Republic of China or South Africa, and
therefore wanted to control all newly developed technology in the
program. Israel will be able to use Arrow-derived technology for the
possible deployment of the antimissile system in Israel. However, U.S.
permission will have to be given for use of Arrow technologies for
other purposes. Officials decided on a funding split of 75 percent
U.S., and 25 percent Israeli. Israeli officials had sought an 80-20
split and U.S. officials had sought a 50-50 split.
SATELLITES:
ARABSAT 1C LAUNCH CONTRACT
Arianespace, a European launch consortium, will launch Arabsat 1C from
a 2,992 pound platform. Arabsat will supply communications services to
the 21 Arab League member nations. This launch marks Arianespace's
93rd launch contract and brings its backlog to 35 launches over four
years with a total value of $2.75 billion.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SHARES SPY SATELLITE DATA
Defense Department officials are willing to make data from the spy
satellites available to environmental researchers. Before, the United
States Multi-billion-dollar spy satellite program was completely
classified. The data will be released under the Strategic
Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), created by
Congress last year to use Pentagon assets to aid environmental
research.
HUGHES RECEIVES $183 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MEXICAN SATELLITES
Hughes Aircraft Co. has signed a $183.47 million contract with the
Mexican government for two communications satellites to replace
Mexico's Morelos system, which Hughes also built, when its satellite
service life ends in 1994. The contract includes two Hughes HS601
satellites, ground equipment and training. The satellites will be
built by Hughes' Space and Communications Group, Los Angeles, with the
first to be delivered in 28 months and the second three months later.
Coverage will include all of Mexico, parts of the southern U.S., the
Caribbean and Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. Spot beams will
provide service to Chicago, Washington, New York, Santiago and Buenos
Aires.
INSURANCE TOO HIGH FOR INTELSAT LAUNCHES
Intelsat has been forced to withdrawal plans to purchase insurance
coverage for its next six spacecraft launches because of increasing
insurance rates due to recent launch and satellite failures. The
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat) is
the world's largest commercial satellite operator. The most recent
satellite failure was with the ASC-2 spacecraft, built by GE Astro
Space, East Windsor, NJ. The spacecraft lost use of some of its Ku-band
transponders. As a result, satellite owner GTE Spacenet, McLean, VA,
will make an insurance claim of about $16 million for partial satellite
loss.
LANDSAT DISCOVERS 65 MILLION YEAR OLD CRATER
By observing images from LANDSAT 5 thematic mapper instruments,
scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory discovered a large impact
crater, possibly created by a comet or asteroid that may have caused
the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. The 125 mile
diameter crater is located in the northwestern corner of the Mexican
state of Yucatan. This new evidence matches earlier discoveries of a
buried crater in the same area.
ROCKWELL TO PRODUCE MILSTAR TERMINALS
Under a $93 million contract increase from the Air Force Electronic
Systems Division, Rockwell International Corp.'s Command and Control
Systems Division plans to begin low rate initial production of
terminals for the Milstar satellite communication system. The
terminals are to be used in airborne command post aircraft, Air Force
ground command posts and at tactical warning and attack assessment
sites. The work will take place at company facilities in Richardson,
TX, and at Rockwell's Collins Avionics and Communications Division in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ENDEAVOUR ENGINE TESTING COMPLETED
The final testing of the Endeavour engines was successfully completed
with the testing of the fourth main engine from test stand A-2 at
NASA's Stennis Space Center, MS. This testing ended a series that
started in October 1990. The engine will be delivered to Kennedy Space
Center FL, when data analysis and hardware inspection are completed.
In addition to the engines for the new Orbiter, the tests also involved
a new "Block II" engine controller that is lighter and less expensive
but has more memory capacity.
HUBBLE FINDS HINTS OF NEW SOLAR SYSTEM
Hubble's Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph has uncovered the best
evidence of a solar system forming around another star. The
spectrograph detected dense clumps of ionized iron around the star Beta
Pictoris that changed dramatically between two separate observations.
Although it is a very large stretch to assume that there are planets
there, it is the closest thing that scientists have discovered to our
Earth's solar system.
MAGELLAN MISSION UPDATE
The Magellan spacecraft, built by Martin Marietta, recently completed
the first cycle of Venus mapping on May 15, producing an abundance of
information, which sparked ambitious plans for future use of the
spacecraft. A second cycle of mapping just started which will cover
most of the surface that was not mapped on the first cycle, with
emphasis on the south polar regions that have never been seen. The 243
day cycle, one planetary rotation under the satellite, will end next
Jan. 15. The radar used to map Venus' surface was built by Hughes
Space and Communications Group.
NASA TRIES TO SELL STATION TO CAPITOL HILL
NASA officials are trying to convince officials on Capitol Hill that
without the Space Station, the U.S. will lose competitive ground for
want of a focus in the manned space arena, especially if Japan decides
to abandon the program in favor of its own manned space program.
International competition is quickly becoming more intense. A recent
vote to eliminate all but $100 million of the Administration's fiscal
1992 Station funding request triggered the concern.
SHUTTLE COLUMBIA LAUNCH DELAYED
The launch of the Shuttle Columbia was delayed until June 1, due to a
late-night warning that four-inch steel temperature probes might break
off inside cryogenic fuel lines and be ingested by one of the orbiter's
main engines. If launched as scheduled and one of the nine probes had
failed, an engine might have been lost directly after launch. After
the temperature probe problem was discovered, two unrelated computer
problems appeared that will require parts changeout. The most
complicated task involves a multiplexer demultiplexer in Columbia's aft
compartment that will take several days to remove and replace, along
with associated wiring. The launch date may move up a day if the
replacement activities go well. The temperature probes were
manufactured by RDF Corp. of Hudson NH.
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER RELATED:
AUTOMATED FACTORIES: MYTH OR REALITY?
After touring numerous automated, semi-automated and nonautomated factories,
Industrial Computing editors agree that success or failure is determined
more by response to markets than by the degree of automation.
o Improvement of factory response to market demands means an increased need
for real-time computing power on the factory floor. However, the data thus
gathered are valuable only if someone or some program is responding
appropriately to that information. Management of the flow of data and
information is key to the successful automated factory.
o The integrated manufacturing facility may be the factory of the future.
Such a facility will have an integrated data system that brings under one
control system environmental conditions and process or batch operation
conditions, and ties everything together with a management information
systems package.
o An integrated facility will (1) eliminate redundant databases and operator
terminals, (2) improve product quality and consistency by keeping all
variables under close scrutiny and central control, (3) increase uptime by
warning of unsafe or out-of-spec conditions in time to allow for in-
process adjustments, (4) reduce scrap by alerting operators immediately of
unacceptable conditions, (5) facilitate documentation of safety and
standards requirements for government and environmental reports, (6)
facilitate focusing on human safety in all aspects of manufacturing and
research, (7) allocate product costs, including utilities usage, through
all stages of the research through manufacture, (8) streamline plant-wide
communications from individual systems through the plant via plant-wide
networks, and (9) improve global competitiveness by lowering plant
operating costs.
(Source: Industrial Computing, December 1, 1990, page 30)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
GEORGE ANDERSON@AYO LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO
RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO
JIM BALLANCE@EWO BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO
BILL BARGAS@TMO JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO
JIM BEALL@AQO TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO
GARY BENTON@TMO LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO
CHAD BIGONY@WRO BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO
GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO
LERAH BORDANO@FOO JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO
IAN BOURNE@OLO BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO
CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO
RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO
RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP
RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA
WANDA CALHOUN@AOO LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO
BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO
ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO
GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO
DAN COHEN@WRO BOB COHEN@IVO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO
HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO
JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO
BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO
DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO
ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO G DAVIS@DVO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO
RON DEFUSCO@OFO RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO
CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO
JIM DEZUTTER@UPO TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO
LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO
EDWARD DRUST@PHO RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO
TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO
GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO
JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET
GARY EVANS@SEO JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO
WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO
CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO KEN FLOYD@RCO
TOM FLYNN@SYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO
RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO
AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR
ROLF GAERTNER@MGO JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO
JOE GANNON@MKO BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO
CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO
JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO
MICHAEL GRAM@MRO LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO
TOM HAAS@BWA MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO TOM HAMILTON@CWO
ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO
ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
BOB JOHNSON@ORO DAVE JOHNSON@FZO CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO
RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO
BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO
DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO
MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO
NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA
BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO
CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ
MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO MIKE LISCHKE@SEO
CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO
CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF
LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO
DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO
DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO STEVE MARINO@MRO
MARGARET MARINO@SEO MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO
HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO
SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO
BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO
BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO
ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO TOM MILLER@SEO
RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO
MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO
SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET
ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO BILL MORROW@WRO CLAY MORSE@PHO
MICHAEL MORSE@STO MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO
GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO
DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO
W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO
BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO
JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW
HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO
BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO
DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB
TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO
RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD
ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO
RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO
ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO
SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO
ALLISON RICHARDSON@ PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO
KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO
MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO
ROBERT ROWE@IVO ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI
PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO
LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO
MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO
ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO
JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO
RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO
PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO
GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA BILL SLEZAK@DCO PEYTON SMITH@SEO
TROY SMITH@ACI KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO
NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO
LARRY STAHL@LAO JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO
HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA
STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO
MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO
JAMES TRACY@STO ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO
MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC
WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO
JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB
PAUL WANNINGER@SEO NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO
BOB WATTS@FOO DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@
RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO
STEVE WITTENBERG@LA DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO
DAVE WORKMAN@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO
CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO
GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO
MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.114 | Aerospace Industry Weekly News Higlights, week of M | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Jun 10 1991 10:30 | 869 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 04-Jun-1991 04:17pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Higlights, week of May 27, 1991
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 04-Jun-1991 1000
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of May 27, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 27, 1991
GENERAL:
AEROSPACE, DEFENSE JOBS DECLINE RAPIDLY IN CALIFORNIA
ASEA AB SAYS ALL CONDITIONS FOR COMPANY SPLIT HAVE BEEN MET
CUTBACKS AT HANSCOM
DATAMAT AWARDED ESA DEAL CONTRACT FOR DATABASE SOFTWARE
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE JOINS U.S., FRENCH, ITALIAN FIRMS
FRANCE'S AEROSPATIALE ATTACKS U.S. ARMS SUBSIDIES
GE BEGINS TALKS WITH UNIONS REPRESENTING 65,000 WORKERS
GENERAL DYNAMICS' CHIEF MAKES TRIP DESPITE PICKETS
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO SELL MICHIGAN FACILITY
GROWING NEED FOR MILITARY COMPUTERS DURING TIGHT BUDGETS
HOUSE APPROVES $291 BILLION DEFENSE BUDGET (NORTHROP)
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RETIREES GROUP SAYS HEARING SET ON SUIT
LOGICA GETS SPACECRAFT SOFTWARE CONTRACT FOR ESA
LORAL INCOME RISES 17 PERCENT
PAN AM'S 1990 LOSS ALMOST DOUBLED 1989'S
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING GIVES 'SIGNIFICANT ROLE' TO JAPAN FIRMS ON 777
CZECHOSLOVAKIA RECEIVES BO 105 HELICOPTER
DOUGLAS TO BUILD NEW, SMALL TWINJET WITH CHINA
EARLY PROBE OF LAUDA AIR CRASH SUGGESTS ENGINE FAILURE (UT)
FRANCE RECEIVES FIRST OF FOUR AWACS PLANES
JAPAN INTERESTED IN YF-22
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS UNIT MULLS JET TO COMPETE WITH BOEING 757
REDESIGN OF C-17 TAIL STRUCTURE
TURKISH AIR FORCE ORDERS 52 CASA/IPTN TRANSPORTS
AVIONICS:
BRITISH AEROSPACE WINS TRAINER AWARD
DDC-I TO PROVIDE LONGBOW ADA SYSTEM
FRENCH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AWARDS RAFALE TRACKING CONTRACT
MCDONNELL TO PROVIDE NEW HEAD-UP SYSTEMS
MITSUBISHI FS-X RADAR MODELS COMPLETED
SIKORSKY, COLLINS AGREE ON AVIONICS PACKAGE
TRW COMBAT RECEIVER PASSES FLIGHT TESTS
TRW UNIT, OTHERS GET $28 MILLION PACT FOR AIRPORT PROJECTS
MISSILES:
ARROW MISSILE CONTRACT TO BE SIGNED
BOARD REJECTS AMRAAM
BOEING-LOCKHEED SUBMIT JOINT BID TO DEVELOP MISSILE FOR NAVY
CAUSE OF TITAN BOOSTER BLOW-UP DISCOVERED
DAB POSTPONES AMRAAM FULL-RATE PENDING TESTS
RAYTHEON IN PACT TO OFFER PATRIOT DEFENSE SYSTEM TO UK (BA)
SATELLITES:
AIR FORCE SEEKS SATELLITE CONTRACTOR FOR MILSTAR FACELIFT
COMSAT USES INCLINED ORBIT FOR VIDEO BROADCASTS
ERS-1 LAUNCH DELAYED
TELESAT FACING LOSS OF ANIK E2 SATELLITE
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COLUMBIA LAUNCH SET FOR JUNE 1
FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION OF MCDONNELL DOUGLAS' SKY OWL SYSTEM
JAPAN CLAIMS U.S. CREDIBILITY MAY BE LOST IF HOUSE KILLS STATION
MARTIN MARIETTA AND TRW WIN BRILLIANT PEBBLES CONTRACTS
NASA SOON RUNS OUT OF SPACE STATION MONEY
SECOND ASTRONOMY SHUTTLE FLIGHT FOR ASTRO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AEROSPACE, DEFENSE JOBS DECLINE RAPIDLY IN CALIFORNIA
The cuts in the defense budgets will have a grave effect on the
California economy as 60,000 aerospace and defense jobs may be lost
over the next five years. Defense and aerospace contractors provide
more than 1.2 million jobs in California, and more than 20 percent of
the manufacturing jobs in the Los Angeles Area.
ASEA AB SAYS ALL CONDITIONS FOR COMPANY SPLIT HAVE BEEN MET
ASEA AB said its previously announced division will go as planned, following
the Swedish parliament's passing of a bill on tax relief for issue of shares
under certain circumstances. The legislation becomes effective July 1, 1991.
The division of Asea's current operations into two separate units will be
implemented through distribution of all shares in the wholly owned
subsidiary Incentive AB, previously called Nybroviken AB, to Asea
shareholders. Following the split, Asea AB will encompass mainly its 50
percent shareholding in Swiss-Swedish power engineering group Asea Brown
Boveri. Incentive AB will include Asea's other industrial operations, the
power group SEV, as well as its extensive share holdings in Electrolux and
Esab. Shareholders listed in Asea's shareregister on the record date, July
12, will receive shares in Incentive AB. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 29,
1991)
CUTBACKS AT HANSCOM
USAF's Electronic Systems Division (ESD) at Hanscom AFB, MA, which
procures and upgrades major command, control, communications and
intelligence systems for the U.S. Air Force, is reducing its workforce
by about 10 percent over the next three years. The figures are based on
budget mandates and the Defense Management Review process. The 10% cut
is in conjunction with reductions throughout the Air Force Systems
Command. ESD officials feel these goals can be met without having to
lay off employees. Several of the systems procured by ESD are AWACS
and Joint-STARS.
DATAMAT AWARDED ESA CONTRACT FOR DATABASE SOFTWARE
Datamat, Rome, has received a European Space Agency award for delivery
of the software Fulcrum Ful/Text, which will serve as the data base
management system for all ESA space programs. The agreement provides
for the use of Ful/Text by ESA contractors and subcontractors for ESA-
related projects. It also provides the use of Ful/Text on many types
of computer systems, including MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh and
UNIX. Ful/Text is developed by Fulcrum Technologies Inc. of Ottawa, an
information retrieval software company owned by Datamat.
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE JOINS U.S., FRENCH, ITALIAN FIRMS
Deutsche Aerospace agreed to join forces with Aerospatiale and Alcatel,
both of France, Alenia of Italy, and Space Systems/Loral of the U.S.,
to form an alliance in the worldwide struggle for space contracts. No
contract has been officially signed but the German company is prepared
to act together with the three European companies and with Space
Systems/Loral to coordinate bids on satellite contracts and to share
manufacturing chores.
FRANCE'S AEROSPATIALE ATTACKS U.S. ARMS SUBSIDIES
AEROSPATIALE SA has lashed out at the U.S. for trying to gain influence over
countries by offering them military equipment at little or no cost.
Aerospatiale, using figures culled from recent U.S. Congressional hearings,
reckons that U.S. gifts of arms to foreign countries will total 5.153
billion francs in the current financial year, or 36 percent of total U.S.
arms sales overseas. It said export subsidies under the U.S.
administration's Foreign Military Financing program involve about 50
countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
An Aerospatiale representative said the move was designed to draw attention
to U.S. export subsidies at a time when the U.S. is threatening to file a
new unfair trading practices complaint against the partners in Europe's
Airbus Industrie comm~cial aircraft consortium for unfair government
subsidies. "It isn't right that the U.S. should attack Europe without first
cleaning up its own act," the Aerospatiale official said.
The U.S. maintains that Airbus Industrie's partners, including Aerospatiale,
British Aerospace, Deutsche Aerospace and CASA of Spain, have received a
total of $27 billion from the governments to help finance Airbus to develop
its commercial jet programs. Aerospatiale chairman reportedly told the
French press that the aid amounted to only $10 billion and consisted only of
repayable loans. According to Aerospatiale, the U.S. export subsidies in
financial 1991 consist of $4.7 billion of grants and only 453 million francs
of credits at subsidized interest rates of about 5 percent. (Source: Dow
Jones News, May 27, 1991)
GE BEGINS TALKS WITH UNIONS REPRESENTING 65,000 WORKERS
GENERAL ELECTRIC has begun negotiations for new three-year contracts with
unions that represent 65,000 of its employees in the U.S. The current three-
year contracts with the International Union of Electronic, Electrical,
Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers and the United Electrical Workers of
America expire at midnight on June 30. The two unions represent about 44,000
GE employees. The rest of the 65,000 workers belong to 10 other unions. A GE
representative said the average hourly wage of a GE employee covered by
current contracts is about $13.25. He representative said the contracts
negotiated with the unions historically have affected all of GE's 235,000
U.S. employees since negotiated benefits automatically have been extended to
the others. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 30, 1991)
GENERAL DYNAMICS' CHIEF MAKES TRIP DESPITE PICKETS
William Anders, GENERAL DYNAMICS chairman, who indicated he'd skip a company
management group banquet in San Diego after workers threatened to disrupt
his visit, showed up after all. Anders made a "last-minute" decision to fly
out. The union's members demonstrated at the dinner site, although picketers
apparently never saw him enter the hotel. A General Dynamics re_esentative
said Anders made a short speech and answered questions. (Source: Dow Jones
News, May 30, 1991)
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO SELL MICHIGAN FACILITY
GENERAL DYNAMICS plans to sell its Central Office Complex located in
Sterling Heights, Michigan. The company said the sale is "an effort to
bolster our cash reserves and improve shareholder value. ... This is not a
restructuring of the division." The company didn't estimate the value of the
facility. The Central Office Complex houses about 2,200 employees in 330,000
square feet of office space and 120,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
(Source: Dow Jones News, May 29, 1991)
GROWING NEED FOR MILITARY COMPUTERS DURING TIGHT BUDGETS
The market for military computer systems is growing in the wake of
Operation Desert Storm, which proved the irreplaceable value of both
computerized weapons and support systems. The U.S. Army recently made
a major contract decision. The Navy and Air Force will soon make their
own important contract decisions. With these contract awards, the
major suppliers of military computers will be largely determined into
the next century. Analysis suspect that the $43 billion defense
electronics industry will continue growing for the next 10 years
regardless of decline in military spending.
HOUSE APPROVES $291 BILLION DEFENSE BUDGET (NORTHROP)
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $291 billion defense budget
that makes wholesale cuts in President Bush's request for the B-2 stealth
bomber and the Strategic Defense Initiative. The bill also gives military
women and dependents overseas access to abortions in military hospitals if
they are willing to pay the costs. Bush has threatened to veto the bill
because it does not meet his strategic weapons request and does not cut
reserve forces as much as he wanted. Proponents of the military blueprint
for the fiscal year beginning October 1 said it reflects the end of the Cold
War and the lessons learned from the Persian Gulf War. The $291 billion
defense authorization bill also would increase pressure on U.S. allies to
boost defense spending, and for the first time it would allow female pilots
to engage in combat. The House action sets the stage for a battle in the
Senate, which is expected to take up its version of the bill later this
summer. If Congress gets its way, and the U.S. government does not purchase
additional planes in fiscal 1992 and fails to authorize spending to buy
parts for B-2s that would be built in later years, the prime contractor,
NORTHROP CORP., will be forced to start laying off workers and canceling
agreements with subcontractors. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 22, 1991)
HUGHES AIRCRAFT RETIREES GROUP SAYS HEARING SET ON SUIT
Attorneys for HUGHES AIRCRAFT's Salaried Retirees Action Committee said a
hearing will be held in Los Angeles Federal District Court on June 3 to
determine the disposition of the suit filed against the Hughes Aircraft's
non-bargaining pension plan administrator. The suit, which seeks to compel
Hughes to provide the names and addresses of its salaried retirees, was
brought by the Hughes Salaried Retirees Action Committee, an independent
group of Hughes retirees based in Tucson, Arizona, and Los Angeles. The
Hughes Salaried Retirees Action Committee said needs the list to communicate
with retirees and to seek their support of its claim that the over $1
billion surplus in their pension plan should be used to benefit retirees.
The committee contends that Hughes is using the surplus for its own benefit,
increasing benefits for selected retirees, and refusing to increase benefits
for all retirees. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 22, 1991)
LOGICA GETS SPACECRAFT SOFTWARE CONTRACT FOR ESA
Logica Aerospace and Defense Ltd., London, has received a five-year
contract from the European Space Agency to design and develop software
for spacecraft control and simulation. The contract is valued at 5
million British pounds ($8.5 million) and will be managed by ESA's
computer department at the European Space Operations Centre in
Darmstadt, Germany. The Logica-led consortium includes Logica General
Systems of Italy and GMV of Spain as subcontractors.
LORAL INCOME RISES 17 PERCENT
Loral Corp.'s net income for the fiscal year ending March 31 rose to
$90 million, a 17 percent increase from the $77.5 million recorded
during the previous year. Earnings per share were $3.55 compared with
$3.08 a year earlier. Net income during the fourth quarter reached
$30.7 million compared with $25.1 million for the final quarter of
1990. Loral notes that the increases reflect the company's purchase of
Ford Aerospace, now called Loral Aerospace Holdings Inc., and the sale
of 49 percent of Space Systems/Loral last Oct. 1.
PAN AM'S 1990 LOSS ALMOST DOUBLED 1989'S
Pan Am Corp. had a net loss of $662.9 million in 1990 which nearly
doubled that incurred in the year after a terrorist's bomb destroyed a
Pan American World Airways Boeing 747 over Scotland. The Persian Gulf
war and weak economies in the U.S. and Europe did more damage to the
New York-based airline company's financial performance in 1990 than
traveler reaction to the Dec. 21. 1988 bombing over Lockerbie,
Scotland, did to 1989's earnings.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING GIVES 'SIGNIFICANT ROLE' TO JAPAN FIRMS ON 777
BOEING Commercial Airplane Group signed a final agreement with three
Japanese companies calling for them to build major portions of the new
Boeing 777 wide-bodied twinjet, including about 20 percent of the airframe.
The companies are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and
Fuji Heavy Industries, represented by the Japan Aircraft Development Corp.
Boeing said they will participate as program partners in the design,
manufacture and testing of portions of the 777 airframe structure. As
program partners, the three Japanese companies will be responsible for
about 20 percent of the 777 airframe, including the majority of the fuselage
panels and doors, the wing center section, the wing-to-body fairing and the
wing in-spar ribs. This represents an increased work share of the 777,
compared with the Boeing 767 work package at 15 percent. Japanese airlines
are expected to be major customers for the 777, as they are for other Boeing
products. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 21, 1991)
CZECHOSLOVAKIA RECEIVES BO 105 HELICOPTER
Czechoslovakia has received its first German helicopter since the
breakdown of the Eastern Bloc, a BO 105 from Messerschmitt-Boelkow-
Blohm. The helicopter will be used by the Interior Ministry for
general police missions, emergency medical services and VIP
transportation. The second and final delivery will take place some
time this summer.
DOUGLAS TO BUILD NEW, SMALL TWINJET WITH CHINA
Douglas Aircraft Co. will build a DC-9 replacement aircraft in the
People's Republic of China, which will be linked to its proposed
Trunkliner program but operated as a separate project. Douglas, which
is competing with the Boeing 737-300 for the Trunkliner, has been
selected to enter a more intense phase of negotiations with China for
the program. Douglas is proposing a version of its MD-90 series called
the MD-90-30T.
EARLY PROBE OF LAUDA AIR CRASH SUGGESTS ENGINE FAILURE (UT)
The preliminary investigation into the crash of a Lauda Air jetliner
indicates engine failure may have been responsible for the disaster that
claimed 223 lives, an international aviation expert close to the probe said.
But several aviation experts stressed that the findings still were
preliminary and no firm conclusions could yet be drawn. The BOEING 767 had
two jet engines, and the expert did not say which may have imploded. PRATT &
WHITNEY, the engine manufacturer, said the reports were completely
unfounded. The plane was equipped with two of the company's PW4060 jet
engines. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 30, 1991)
FRANCE RECEIVES FIRST OF FOUR AWACS PLANES
France just received the first of four AWACS aircraft at Avord Air
Force Base, located southeast of Paris. The planes will be used for
its national airborne early warning mission. These Boeing E-3F planes
will be delivered in two-month intervals. The United Kingdom has
ordered seven AWACS, and when the deliveries of both the U.K. and
France are completed, in early 1992, the worldwide AWACS fleet will
total 68.
JAPAN INTERESTED IN YF-22
Japan's Defense Agency is evaluating the Lockheed YF-22 for possible
applications for its Air Self-Defense Force. Japan is also beginning
its own technology study of combat aircraft for deployment in the 2010-
2020 period. The technology study, funded at $7.3 million for 1991,
will be performed by the agency's Technical Research and Development
Institute. It will include a computer wide tunnel program, a
maneuverability study and new material evaluation programs.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS UNIT MULLS JET TO COMPETE WITH BOEING 757
An official of MCDONNELL DOUGLAS' Douglas Aircraft Co. unit said the company
is considering a new short- to medium-range, medium-body jetliner that would
compete head-to-head with BOEING 757. Douglas is calling its new plane the
MD-XX for now. Derek G. MacWilkinson, manager of Douglas' study program for
the plane, said the new jetliner would have two engines, two aisles and seat
six or seven across with capacity for at least 192 passenger. It would be
wider than Douglas' existing single-aisle, narrow-body MD-80, but narrower
than its twin-aisle MD-11. MacWilkinson said one version being studied could
be launched as early as 1993, using current technology. A more advanced
version, with 30 percent greater fuel efficiency than the 757, would be
targeted for 1996. MacWilkinson said the ultimate decision may hinge on
demand for the MD-90, an MD-80 derivative now under development. (Source:
Dow Jones News, May 23, 1991)
REDESIGN OF C-17 TAIL STRUCTURE
The C-17 aircraft's T-tail will have to be redesigned because engineers
didn't include the drag weight in the original design. This caused
failure to meet load limit specs during recent testing. A temporary
fix already identified will ensure that the airplane can still make its
first flight as scheduled next month. The first four C-17s currently
in various stages of construction will be fitted with extra sheet metal
adding about two pounds to the T-tail's horizontal structure and 65
pounds to the vertical structure, after loads testing uncovered weak
spots in both surfaces.
TURKISH AIR FORCE ORDERS 52 CASA/IPTN TRANSPORTS
The Turkish Air Force has ordered 52 CASA/IPTN CN235 transports under a
$550-600 million contract that includes final assembly and some parts
production work for the country's Turkish Aerospace Industries. Most
of the twin-engine CN235s will be configured for passenger/cargo duties,
although some of the later delivered aircraft could be equipped for
surveillance missions.
AVIONICS:
BRITISH AEROSPACE WINS TRAINER AWARD
British Aerospace Simulation Ltd. of Farnborough, the United Kingdom,
was awarded a contract to provide a Tactical Air Defense Weapons
Trainer to an undisclosed Far East customer. The value of the contract
will not be disclosed until delivery in early 1992. The Tactical Air
Defense Weapons Trainer will supply comprehensive tactical air defense
training for radar, missile and air defense gun crews.
DDC-I TO PROVIDE LONGBOW ADA SYSTEM
Martin Marietta Electronic and Missiles Group, Orlando, FL, has
selected DDC-I Inc., Phoenix, AZ to provide key components for the
control of Ada software in the U.S. Army's Longbow radar-missile
system. The Longbow system includes a 5-foot millimeter-wave radar
that is mounted on top of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and a
fire-and-forget version of the Hellfire antiarmor missile. DDC-I
claims that Longbow will rely on its DACS-80860 tool set that includes
an Ada compiler, symbolic debugger, downloader, and program library
utility.
FRENCH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AWARDS RAFALE TRACKING CONTRACT
Thomson-CSF and Societe Anonyme de Telecommunications (SAT) were
awarded a 700 million French francs ($119.7 million) contract to
develop the infrared scan and tracking system (IRST) for the Rafale
fighter being developed by Dassault Aviation. The contract will be
divided equally between the two companies. The Rafale's IRST system is
an electro-optical device that will detect, identify and track targets
by their visual or their heat signatures. It will use only passive
optical and thermal-imaging sensors which, unlike radar, do not radiate
any energy, and thus cannot be detected.
MCDONNELL TO PROVIDE NEW HEAD-UP SYSTEMS
McDonnell Douglas Electronics Systems Co., McLean, VA, will design and
develop an improved head-up display subsystem for the F-15 A/D aircraft
under a $3 million contract. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Co. awarded
this as a subcontract to work being done for the U.S. Air Force's
Warner Robbins Air Logistics Center. The new display will provide F-15
pilots with navigation, attack/targeting and primary flight control and
weapons management. When finished, the system will be offered as an
option for aircraft modification and upgrades for F-15 aircraft worldwide.
Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri.
MITSUBISHI FS-X RADAR MODELS COMPLETED
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has completed and delivered four engineering
models of an advanced radar for the FS-X close air support aircraft to
the Japanese Defense Agency's Technical Research and Development
Institute, where testing will soon take place. One will go through a
year of flight tests on a specially fitted Kawasaki C-1 transport. The
other three will be used for functional ground tests, reliability tests
and electronic-counter countermeasures tests.
SIKORSKY, COLLINS AGREE ON AVIONICS PACKAGE
Sikorsky Aircraft and Rockwell International's Collins Avionics and
Communications Division have agreed to establish a Core Integrated
Avionics Package for the modern lift chopper. This package will ease
the pilots workload by integrating into a single package critical
flight, navigation, communication, mission and aircraft survivability
functions. Sikorsky will serve as the prime contractor while Collins
will be the subcontractor. The team plans to have the avionic suite on
all Black Hawk choppers by early 1993.
TRW COMBAT RECEIVER PASSES FLIGHT TESTS
TRW Inc.'s Military Electronics & Avionics Division has successfully
test flown a lightweight electronic combat receiver at the U.S. Naval
Weapons Center at China Lake, California. The Special Threat Analysis
and Recognition system is designed to provide aircraft and unmanned
aerial vehicles the ability to detect, locate, classify and track
target radars with great precision. During the flight test, the system
located the target, gave the relative location of the target to the
operator and reported target characteristics. TRW wants to install the
system of F-15 and F-16 aircraft test-range pods for additional flight
tests at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
TRW UNIT, OTHERS GET $28 MILLION PACT FOR AIRPORT PROJECTS
TRW Command Support Division and others were awarded a $28 million contract
by the City of Chicago. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is
providing 75 percent of funding for the project, which involves design,
construction and installation of a physical security system and a
communications and dispatch center for O'Hare and Midway airports. TRW said
the security system will control access to airport operational areas, and
the communications facility will be an integrated, fully automated command
center for airport security, police, fire, medical emergency services and
airport operations. (Source: Dow Jones News, May 24, 1991)
MISSILES:
ARROW MISSILE CONTRACT TO BE SIGNED
In June, U.S. and Israeli officials are expected to sign a contract for
the next phase of the Arrow tactical ballistic missile defense system
experiments. The program will last approximately four years, and is
intended to provide the Israelis the ability to deploy a system with an
initial operating capability in the mid-90s. The follow-on program
currently being negotiated is called the Arrow Continuation Experiments
(ACES). This program involves an agreement with IAI to produce an
improved, 25% smaller missile and surveillance sensors, fire control
systems and battle management command control systems. Israel will
determine whether to proceed with full-scale development in 1995.
BOARD REJECTS AMRAAM
The U.S. Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) recently rejected Air Force
efforts to move the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM)
into full-rate production. The board said that the dogfighting missile
should undergo more operational testing. The DAB rejection of full-
rate production marks a temporary victory for the Pentagon's testing
community, which has been locked in a protracted dispute with the Air
Force over AMRAAM performance goals.
BOEING-LOCKHEED SUBMIT JOINT BID TO DEVELOP MISSILE FOR NAVY
A Boeing and LOCKHEED team has submitted a proposal for full-scale
development of the Advanced Interdiction Weapon System to the U.S. Navy. The
proposal includes options for low-rate initial production and for
demonstration and validation of preplanned product improvements. Boeing will
be the prime contractor, with Lockheed as the major subcontractor providing
the warhead subsystem and the seeker for the missile. The U.S. Navy plans a
procurement of 16,000 baseline and P3I missiles over the life of the
program. It is expected to choose a contractor team later this year.
(Source: Dow Jones News, May 23, 1991)
CAUSE OF TITAN BOOSTER DISCOVERED
The April 1 failure of a new solid-rocket motor for the Titan 4 booster
was partly caused by a negative pressure zone created inside the
booster, which pulled solid fuel out of place. The motor burst into
flames during the test fire at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. Officials
previously thought pressure built up within the motor because of a flaw
in its interior design. That pressure then deformed the fuel, clogging
the rocket's exit nozzle and thus causing greater pressure which led to
the burst. The deformation mishap will likely delay availability of
new Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade boosters by about a year to 1994.
DAB POSTPONES AMRAAM FULL-RATE PENDING TESTS
The Pentagon's Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) once again failed to
approve full-rate production of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air
Missile (AMRAAM), approving continued low-rate production pending
results of additional testing. The DAB released funding for low-rate
production Lots 4, 5 and 6, which total 2,526 missiles. It released
$376.9 million for Lot 4 and $725.3 million for Lot 5, but didn't post
a price for the 891 missiles in Lot 6. Pentagon officials admit that
AMRAAM program is effective but will require testing of additional
missiles that have undergone operationally representative captive carry
time.
RAYTHEON IN PACT TO OFFER PATRIOT DEFENSE SYSTEM TO UK (BA)
RAYTHEON's Missile Systems Division has signed an agreement with BRITISH
AEROSPACE to offer the Patriot air defense system to the UK Ministry of
Defense. Raytheon said it and British Aerospace Dynamics will respond to the
ministry's forthcoming requirement for a medium-range surface-to-air missile
system to replace the Bloodhound, which will be retired from service.
Raytheon said the companies plan to offer a comprehensive air defense system
in which Patriot will be inter-operable with Rapier 2000. Raytheon said it
will be the prime contractor, with British Aerospace Dynamics playing a
major program role coordinating industry throughout the UK on behalf of the
program. (Source: Ow Jones News, May 21, 1991)
SATELLITES:
AIR FORCE SEEKS SATELLITE CONTRACTOR FOR MILSTAR FACELIFT
The Air Force is looking for a 10 year contractor to redesign portions
of the satellites in its Military Strategic and Tactical Relay
(Milstar) communications satellite constellation, taking into
consideration changes triggered by recent congressional actions on the
program. Last year, Congress forced the U.S. Defense Department to cut
the number of satellites in the constellation from 10 to six and to
increase the system's usefulness to tactical commanders. The
contractor would add a medium-capacity communications link, modify the
design of the existing low-rate link and modify the communications
links among satellites in orbit. In addition, modifications will be
made to the satellites' ground control facilities, support equipment
and the supply of items needed for production of more satellites.
COMSAT USES INCLINED ORBIT FOR VIDEO BROADCASTS
Communications Satellite Corp.'s (Comsat) systems division, Washington,
DC, will use the inclined orbit technique for satellite entertainment
services provided by the Comsat Video Enterprises division. The
inclined orbit technique, patented by Comsat in 1988, will allow the
SBS-3 communications satellite to save fuel and add one year to its
life. The use of an inclined orbit, also known as the Comsat maneuver,
will save the video division an estimated $40 million within the next
five years.
ERS-1 LAUNCH DELAYED
Arianespace's ERS-1 environmental satellite may be launched in July
after engineers perform a slight redesign of the Ariane 4 vehicle's
third-stage engine. Engine manufacturer Societe Europeenne de
Propulsion (SEP) of Suresnes, France, will try to correct a problem
that causes a brief loss of pressure in a liquid hydrogen feed line
when the engine is ignited. The pressure loss has been noticed on
several previous Ariane launches, but has become more pronounced since
an October 1990 flight. The quick pressure drop could prevent the
hydrogen feed pump from functioning. The third-stage motor is fed by
liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
TELESAT FACING LOSS OF ANIK E2 SATELLITE
Telesat Canada, Ottawa, is preparing to declare its Anik E2 satellite a
complete loss, which would be followed by the declaration of an
insurance claim for 240 million Canadian dollars ($208 million) on the
spacecraft. After a flawless launch on April 4, the communications
satellite failed to deploy its two antennas. One was successfully
deployed three days later but that other has yet to be freed. Telesat
has tried almost everything to fix the antenna. They've spun it on
various axes, accelerated and decelerated it, and heated and cooled it.
The final option is to take the risk of damaging the satellite in
further attempts to free the C-band antenna. For example, a faster
spin may deploy the antenna or bend and possibly break it.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COLUMBIA LAUNCH SET FOR JUNE 1
Old fuel sensors and dummy plugs will replace the potentially dangerous
cracked sensors which were discovered on the space shuttle Columbia a
few days before its scheduled launch. The new launch date is set for
June 1. Five shuttles have been launched since the sensors were first
identified as a potential problem last September, during the
investigation into the hydrogen fuel leaks that plagued the shuttle
fleet last summer. The pencil-sized sensors monitor the temperature of
the shuttle's supercold liquid hydrogen fuel before it flows into the
high-pressure engine turbopumps. A broken piece could wedge in the
pumps and cause a serious engine failure or even a catastrophic
explosion.
FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION OF MCDONNELL DOUGLAS' SKY OWL SYSTEM
McDonnell Douglas reported that their Sky Owl unmanned aerial vehicle
system, that it teamed with Developmental Sciences Corp. to develop,
completed its first flight demonstration at a test range near El
Mirage, CA. The Sky Owl system is competing with a system from Israel
Aircraft Industries and TRW, for the Short Range UAV mission. The
demonstration was the first of a series to validate capabilities of the
air vehicles, sensor payloads, data links, mission planning, control
stations and the launch, and recovery and maintenance equipment before
testing and evaluation by the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca, AZ.
JAPAN CLAIMS U.S. CREDIBILITY MAY BE LOST IF HOUSE KILLS STATION
Japan has spent about $300 million on a pressurized laboratory module
for the proposed U.S. Space Station and claims that if Congress decides
to kill the Station, U.S. credibility in international space efforts
will be lost. The Japanese Foreign Minister urged the U.S. to follow
the terms of its 1988 agreement with Japan, Canada and the European
Space Agency to fund the Station.
MARTIN MARIETTA AND TRW WIN BRILLIANT PEBBLES CONTRACTS
Martin Marietta and TRW were chosen for Strategic Initiative
Organization contracts worth nearly $660 million, under which they will
move into the pre-full scale development phase of the Brilliant Pebbles
missile defense program. The companies that lost the contract were BGM
Corp. (a joint venture of Ball Corp., General Dynamics and Motorola),
Boeing Co., Raytheon Co., and Rockwell International. Martin
Marietta's Defense and Space Communications unit, Denver, CO received
$318.2 million, and TRW Inc.'s Space and Technology Group, Redondo
Beach, CA received $340.5 million. Both contracts are for a 50-month
pre-FSD effort that began on May 24.
NASA SOON RUNS OUT OF SPACE STATION MONEY
Unless Congress steps forward and extends funding, NASA will soon run
out of money for its space station program. However, the space agency
has no plans to cut its spending rate or to study alternative designs
for the outpost. NASA is currently spending $150 million per month on
the space station program. The space agency has operated on a month-
by-month basis for space station funding since January, when it
completed a new design of the outpost mandated by Congress last
October. If the program was canceled, it would cost NASA between $250
million and $500 million to settle its contracts with industry. An
estimated 100,000 private sector jobs are associated with the space
station.
SECOND ASTRONOMY SHUTTLE FLIGHT FOR ASTRO
NASA recently announced plans to fly a second space shuttle mission
dedicated to astrophysics. The mission will fly about two years. This
decision reverses a decision by space agency science officials last
year to store three astronomy telescopes for an indefinite period. The
telescopes flew aboard space shuttle Columbia in December 1990. The
telescopes are known collectively as Astro. Two of the three Astro
telescopes were built by organizations based in Maryland. Johns Hopkins
University built the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope for Astro. The other
Astro instruments to be reflown are the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope,
built by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, and
the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photopolarieter Experiment, built by the
University of Wisconsin-Madison.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
GEORGE ANDERSON@AYO LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO
RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO
JIM BALLANCE@EWO BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO
BILL BARGAS@TMO JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO
JIM BEALL@AQO TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO
GARY BENTON@TMO LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO
CHAD BIGONY@WRO BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO
GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO AUBREY BONE@MAO BOB BONNER@IVO CAROL BONNER@IVO
LERAH BORDANO@FOO JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO
IAN BOURNE@OLO BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO
CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO
RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO
RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP
RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA
WANDA CALHOUN@AOO LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO
BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO
ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO
GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO
BOB COHEN@IVO DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO
HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO
JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO
BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO
DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO
ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO G DAVIS@DVO GARY DAVIS@FOO JACK DAVIS@BMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO
RON DEFUSCO@OFO RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO
CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO
JIM DEZUTTER@UPO TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO
LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO
EDWARD DRUST@PHO RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO
TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO
GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO
JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET
GARY EVANS@SEO JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO
WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO
CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO KEN FLOYD@RCO
TOM FLYNN@SYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO
RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO
AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
ROLF GAERTNER@MFR JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO
JOE GANNON@MKO BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO
CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO
JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO
MICHAEL GRAM@MRO LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO
TOM HAAS@BWA MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO
KEN HAMILTON@VFO TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO
ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
BOB JOHNSON@ORO CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO DAVE JOHNSON@FZO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO
RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO
BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO
DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO
MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO
NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA
BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO
CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO
MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO
BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST
TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO
RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO
WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO
ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO
RICHARD MARCUS@LAO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARGARET MARINO@SEO MARILYN MARSH@WRO
DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO
CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO
CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO
JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO
PAUL MILLER@EDO TOM MILLER@SEO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO
JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO
RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO
GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO
BILL MORROW@WRO CLAY MORSE@PHO MICHAEL MORSE@STO MIKE MULKA@ORO
BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO
NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO
ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO
STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO
CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO
MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO
PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO
CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO
RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO
ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW
STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO
JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO
PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO
JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@ PHIL RIDDICK@HVO
ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO
PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO
ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@IVO ROBERT ROWE@PSO
DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO
ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO
HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA
BILL SLEZAK@DCO PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI KEVIN SMITH@LIO
PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO
MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO JIM STANFILL@SEO
PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L
LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO BOB TASSONE@SEO
JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO
DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO ED TREMBLAY@SEO
TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO
LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO DALE VAUGHAN@LAO
MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO
MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO NEIL WARDEN@OLO
JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO DAVE WATTS@SEO
DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO
ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA DON WOLFE@WRO
HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO
TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO
MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO
ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.115 | Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jun 11 1991 19:54 | 1018 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 11-Jun-1991 02:40am CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of June 3, 1991
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 10-Jun-1991 2017
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 3, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 3, 1991
GENERAL:
CONTROL SCIENCES OFFERS DIGITAL RESOLVER METER
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE REORGANIZES SPACE GROUP
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO SELL FINANCIAL DIVISION
MOTOROLA'S NEW DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR
ORBITAL SCIENCES LAUNCHES SECOND STOCK SALE
PENTAGON MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FUNDING TO DECLINE
RAYTHEON COMPLETES PAVE PAWS PROJECT AT CAPE COD, MA
U.S. WANTS BILATERAL TALKS WITH EC ON AIRBUS SUBSIDIES
HILLS: COMPARISON OF AIRBUS, U.S. SUBSIDIES UNFOUNDED
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE AWARDS ALTERNATE FIGHTER ENGINE
BOEING, FAA CONFIRM LAUDA AIR ENGINE WAS IN REVERSE
BOEING IN PACTS WITH THREE U.S. FIRMS FOR BOEING 777 WORK
C-17 CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS
CITATION SALES RISING
GAO NOTES DELAY IN REPAIR PROGRAM FOR AGING AIRLINERS (BOEING,MD)
GENERAL DYNAMICS, MCDONNELL DOUGLAS FILE SUIT OVER A-12
HOUSE FUNDS F-14 AS BACKUP TO AX, F/A-18
NAVY'S WARPLANE SUPPLIERS COMPLAIN ABOUT MIXED SIGNALS
TRANSPORT FOR 650 PASSENGERS
AVIONICS:
CHARLES STARK WON $46.7 MILLION AVIONICS CONTRACT
EUROPEAN FIRMS TO TEAM ON RADAR
LOGICA WINS ESA CONTRACT
NEW AVIONIC CONCEPTS ON BOEING 777
RACAL CHOOSES GEC AVIONICS FOR C2 FRIGATE SUPPORT
SEMCOR INC SELECTED FOR EA-6, A-6 UPGRADES
TACIT RAINBOW TESTS
MISSILES:
AIR FORCE AWARDS AMRAAM PRODUCTION
BEECH AIRCRAFT TO BUILD NAVY TARGET MISSILES
CANADIAN ADATS TESTS SUCCESSFULLY
FINAL TESTING OF H-2 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER
LTV DELIVERS FIRST FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION ATACMS
PENTAGON UNVEILS $15 BILLION STEALTH MISSILE PROGRAM (NORTHROP)
THREE OR FOUR NEW CONTRACTS FOR E2I PROGRAM
SATELLITES:
AURORA 2 LAUNCHED
EUROPEAN MILITARY SATELLITE PROMOTED
SATELLITE OLYMPUS BEYOND REPAIR
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COLUMBIA LAUNCHED AFTER WEATHER DELAY
PEGASUS PREPARES FOR SECOND FLIGHT
SPACE STATION RESTRUCTURING REDUCES SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
SPACE STATION WORK TO CONTINUE DURING FUNDING DEBATE
UPGRADED SHUTTLE COMPUTER SYSTEM
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER APPLICATIONS:
NASA INSTALLS CONVEX SUPERCOMPUTER FOR REALTIME FLIGHT SIMULATION
ENCORE FILES PROTEST OVER NASA CONTRACT THAT WENT TO IBM
POWER MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
INITIATING CIM: MANUFACTURING VERSUS PILOT-PLANT OPERATIONS
SMALL MANUFACTURERS' HEALTH WON'T LAST WITHOUT CIM
DON'T IGNORE THE CUTTING EDGE IN CIM
WORKSTATIONS (EURO CAD/CAM) (SIEMENS,MD,HP,SILICON GRAPHICS)
BREAKING BARRIERS TO EDI
GE SPREADS EDI GOSPEL
THE MARVELS OF 'VIRTUAL REALITY'
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GENERAL:
CONTROL SCIENCES OFFERS DIGITAL RESOLVER METER
Control Sciences Inc., Chatsworth, CA introduced a new hand-held,
battery-operated device used to measure the position of radar antennas,
gun mounts and wing flaps. This Digital Resolver Meter may be used by
the military during field tests or later systems evaluations to ensure
moving parts, such as wing flaps, are in the correct position. This
device is similar to a transducer, a resolver that converts rotary
movement into electrical signals so it can be measured.
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE REORGANIZES SPACE GROUP
Deutsche Aerospace AG, Munich, has reorganized its Space Group to
position the German space industry to work with other European national
space communities as Europe's space infrastructure expands. The Space
Group, formed from units of Dornier, MBB and MBB/ERNO, will be
subdivided into three divisions: satellites and utility systems, space
transportation and propulsion systems, and orbital infrastructure.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO SELL FINANCIAL DIVISION
St. Louis based McDonnell Douglas is planning to sell its highly
profitable financial services unit in order to raise cash and sharpen
its market focus. Officials say that they are considering the sale of
any properties that are not directly related to the core aerospace
business.
MOTOROLA'S NEW DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR
Motorola Inc.'s Semiconductor Products Sector, Phoenix, AZ, will soon
offer a military version of its 96002 digital signal processor, a
device capable of handling 16.7 million instructions per second. The
processor may be used for a variety of strategic and tactical military
applications including radar signal processing, image processing or
video compression. Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector is the
largest semiconductor supplier in North America.
ORBITAL SCIENCES LAUNCHES SECOND STOCK SALE
For the second time, Orbital Sciences Corp. tapped the equity markets
by offering about 3.2 million shares, that will net the company around
$26.8 million for research and development projects and working capital
needs. Since last year, Orbital has raised more than $43 million from
investors in the over-the-counter market. The bulk of the shares just
offered were held by Hercules Corp., which decided to sell off its
stake as part of a larger program to divest itself of minority business
interests and to focus on its core speciality chemicals business.
Hercules received gross proceeds of about $27 million for its shares.
PENTAGON MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FUNDING TO DECLINE
The U.S. Defense Department's $9 billion annual spending on
computerized management information systems, used to track payroll,
personnel, supplies and procurement, will decline by 3 percent a year
for the next five years, according to the third annual Electronics
Industry Association's (EIA) five-year report. The report also says
that spending by the government for non-DoD information technology will
rise by 3 percent annually.
RAYTHEON COMPLETES PAVE PAWS PROJECT AT CAPE COD, MA
Raytheon's Equipment Division, Lexington, MA, completed a $71 million
modernization project at the Pave Paws phased array early warning radar
installation at Cape Cod AFS, MA, three months early. Raytheon
provided the design, development, fabrication, installation and testing
of the four Pave Paws systems located at Cape Cod, Beale AFB, CA,
Robins AFB, GA, and Eldorado AFS, TX. An upgrade similar to the one
completed at Cape Cod is now underway at Beale. The Pave Paws system
provides early warning of a sea-launched ballistic missile attack on
the continental U.S. and furnishes data to the North American Aerospace
Defense Command and the Strategic Air Command, and also tracks space
objects orbiting the Earth.
U.S. WANTS BILATERAL TALKS WITH EC ON AIRBUS SUBSIDIES
The U.S. has notified the world's main trade watchdog that it wants
bilateral talks with the European Community on complaints that subsidies to
the European Airbus consortium are illegal. The move marks the first step in
a process that could lead to a General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
adjudication to settle the four-year dispute between Washington, DC, and
Brussels. The U.S. administration claims European production subsidies to
the four companies in the Airbus consortium violate GATT's fair trade rules.
It says such state supports total nearly $20 billion and give Airbus an
unfair advantage over American rivals BOEING and MCDONNELL DOUGLAS. A GATT
official said the U.S. informed the Geneva-based forum last week that it
planned bilateral consultations with the EC. The talks are to take place
within 60 days and may then go to a GATT conciliation committee. The Airbus
consortium includes AEROSPATIALE, BRITISH AEROSPACE, Construcciones
Aeronauticas of Spain and Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm of Germany. (Source:
Dow Jones News, June 6, 1991)
HILLS: COMPARISON OF AIRBUS, U.S. SUBSIDIES UNFOUNDED
The members of the Airbus Industrie consortium have no grounds to draw
comparisons between European support for Airbus and U.S. payments to U.S.
airplane makers, U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills said. Hills said
remarks that BOEING receives subsidies from the U.S. reflect confusion among
Europeans about the government's relationship with the airline maker. "There
are no subsidies going to Boeing from the government," she said, adding that
the money that does go to Boeing represents payments for goods.
Aerospatiale, a member of the consortium, was reported this week to have
belittled the U.S. complaint, and the head of the French company, Henri
Martre, suggested that a counterclaim be filed against the U.S. for its
payments to U.S. plane manufacturers if the U.S. files a complaint.
(Source: Dow Jones News, June 7, 1991)
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE AWARDS ALTERNATE FIGHTER ENGINE
General Electric and Pratt & Whitney received a combined $660 million
worth of Air Force contracts for Alternate Fighter Engine production.
General Electric received $285.9 million for additional fiscal year 1991
production of F110-129 engines for F-16 aircraft and $44.6 million in
long-lead funding for the fiscal 1992 buy. The Air Force didn't specify
the number of engines covered by the contracts. Pratt parent United
Technologies received $317.1 million for 88 fiscal 1991 F100-229s for
F-15s and F-16s and $19.2 million for long-lead on 24 engines in the
fiscal 1992 buy. Both contracts were awarded by the Aeronautical Systems
Division of Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
BOEING, FAA CONFIRM LAUDA AIR ENGINE WAS IN REVERSE
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the thrust reverser on
the No. 1 engine of the Lauda Air jetliner that crashed last month near
Bangkok was found in the fully deployed position. In a message sent
yesterday to its 767 customers, BOEING also confirmed that "both halves of
the left engine thrust reverser were found in the reverse thrust position
while the right engine thrust reverser was found in the forward position."
But, in a notice to the air authorities of countries having operators of
Boeing 767 airplanes with UNITED TECHNOLOGIES' Pratt & Whitney 4000 engines,
the FAA said it "has no evidence of a design fault with the airplane that
would require mandatory action" at this time.
(Source: Dow Jones News, June 7, 1991)
BOEING IN PACTS WITH THREE U.S. FIRMS FOR BOEING 777 WORK
BOEING's commercial airplane group said three firms were awarded contracts
with a total value of more than $1 billion for systems and structures of the
Boeing 777. Under an 11-year agreement, ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL's North
American Aircraft Tulsa facility will provide aluminum wing leading edge
slats. Rockwell's Collins Air Transport division will furnish the autopilot
flight director system in a 15-year contract with an estimated value of $140
million. GRUMMAN will supply inboard flaps made of carbon-fiber composites
in work worth about $400 million. In addition, Grumman has a $120 million
contract to produce spoilers made of the same composite material. ALLIED
SIGNAL Aerospace received contracts valued at about $24 million over 15
years. Allied's AiResearch Los Angeles division will supply the ram air
turbine. Allied's Garrett Auxiliary Power division is designing and building
the auxiliary power unit, while its Garrett Fluid Systems division will
produce the air driven unit system.
(Source: Dow Jones News, June 3, 1991)
C-17 CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS
The U.S. Air Force's C-17 program office has sent a letter to Douglas
Aircraft Co. regarding 75 items that must be resolved if the aircraft
is to meet contract specifications. The list ranges from visibility of
several cockpit displays to pins in the main landing gear that did not
enable the gear to meet ultimate load strength requirements. More than
half of the items have been resolved or are covered by engineering
plans. Douglas claims that none of these items will affect aircraft
cost, safety or performance.
CITATION SALES RISING
Cessna Aircraft Co., Wichita, KS, is receiving large numbers of orders
for its Citation series of business jets. They have recently received
what they claim is the largest single business jet order in history,
worth more than $150 million for a fleet of Citation 7 business jets.
Also, the company has received double digit orders for its Mach 0.9
Citation 10 jet, currently under initial development. The accomplish
these orders, Cessna plans to boost production rates for the Citation 2
by 25% in 1992, and is increasing production of the Citation 7 by 40%
next year.
GAO NOTES DELAY IN REPAIR PROGRAM FOR AGING AIRLINERS (BOEING,MD)
A shortage of jet parts and mechanics, as well as airlines' financial woes,
may impede industry efforts to meet a 1994 deadline for the repair of the
U.S.'s oldest jets, the General Accounting Office warned. As a safety move,
the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration last year ordered extensive repairs
of about 1,400 aging airliners, to be completed by mid-1994. Failure to meet
the deadline could result in a plane's being grounded. But as of April,
according to the GAO, the congressional investigative agency, only 28
aircraft had been completely repaired and 705 partially repaired, suggesting
that the 1994 deadline won't be met. The GAO report found that four major
carriers have done little, partly because of financial problems. The report
didn't identify the airlines. In addition, a shortage of replacement parts
is forcing some carriers to postpone the repair work. Currently, BOEING and
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS are rationing parts for aircraft that need them the most.
(Source: Dow Jones News, June 7, 1991)
GENERAL DYNAMICS, MCDONNELL DOUGLAS FILE SUIT OVER A-12
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS and GENERAL DYNAMICS, as expected, jointly filed a
complaint June 7 in the U.S. Claims Court in Washington, DC, disputing the
U.S. government's termination of the A-12 program for default. If upheld,
the complaint would result in conversion of the default termination to a
termination for convenience of the government, thereby eliminating the
government's claim of $1.352 billion against the companies. Under the
complaint, the companies will also pursue their rights to recover prime
contractor and subcontractor costs on the program, as well as anticipated
termination expenses. (Source: Dow Jones News, June 7, 1991)
HOUSE FUNDS F-14 AS BACKUP TO AX, F/A-18
The House of Representatives approved funding for an improved version
of the F-14D, which will provide as a safety if the Navy's plans to
develop a new AX attack aircraft and an improved F/A-18 prove too
costly or technically risky. Grumman officials claim they can develop
F-14 Quickstrike for $170 million compared to the $3.5 billion the Navy
will spend on an F/A-18 upgrade. The Quickstrike program is envisioned
as a low-cost strategy to significantly improve the attack capabilities
of the Navy's fleet of F-14D air superiority fighters, in the wake of
the decision to cancel the stealthy A-12 aircraft program. Initial
funding is set at $50 million in the 1992 budget, and an additional
$989 million is being provided to remanufacture 19 F-14A Plus aircraft
to the more capable D model.
NAVY'S WARPLANE SUPPLIERS COMPLAIN ABOUT MIXED SIGNALS
The companies that build U.S. Navy warplanes are adrift in stormy seas, and
it's unclear just which ones will be tossed the few remaining life
preservers. As the Navy tries to grapple with sharp budget cuts and its new
role in the post-Cold War world, its suppliers face the daunting task of
planning their own uncertain futures. The maelstrom has become only more
fierce after several embarrassing program cancellations. For the moment,
navy brass have expressed a desire to purchase scores of MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
F/A-18 Hornet fighters. But GRUMMAN executives note that it was only last
December when Navy Secretary Lawrence Garrett said "the time is right to
reinstitute new manufacture" of the company's F-14 Tomcat. Defense
contractors complain that such mixed signals have been all too common while
NavAir -- the service's aviation branch -- struggles to define its agenda.
Defense contractors describe a bureaucratic labyrinth in which contracting
officers and technical experts are often at odds, with relatively weak
government program managers forced to referee. Industry officials say the
U.S. Air Force was reasonably flexible when the companies designing the
next-generation Advanced Tactical Fighter explained that certain
requirements were simply beyond their grasp. Navy managers refused to budge
on their own version of the ATF -- "even when we told them they were
violating the laws of physics," says one company executive.
At times, NavAir's decisions have been disastrous. Last year, the Navy
grounded LOCKHEED's P-7 maritime patrol plane after the company botched the
initial engineering. Now, faced with a tighter budget, the service is
holding discussions with Lockheed to explore purchasing more of its P-3
planes, a 1958 design.
The most devastating cancellation, though, was that of the A-12 Avenger, a
stealthy "flying wing" bomber being developed by McDonnell Douglas and
GENERAL DYNAMICS. The plane was supposed to be the backbone of the navy's
air armada into the next century. But cost overruns and schedule delays
caused Defense Secretary Dick Cheney to shoot it down. The Navy hopes to
replace the A-12 with an aircraft known simply as the A-X. Senior Navy
officials still are trying to figure out whether the new plane should be
just a bomber or a combination bomber and air-to-air dog fighter.
Meantime, different companies are thinking of teaming up on the program, as
new alliances and rivalries are sure to be forged. "Everybody in the
industry is talking to everybody else right now," says Peter Oram, president
of Grumman's aircraft division. (Source: Dow Jones News, June 4, 1991)
TRANSPORT FOR 650 PASSENGERS
United Airlines and Boeing are exploring the possibilities of an all-
new, wide-body transport to carry as many as 650 passengers. United
calls the proposed aircraft N650. The long-range, four-engine aircraft
would not be a derivative of the 747. United feels the combination of
traffic growth and slot-constrained airports has increased the need for
high-capacity, long-range transports. It is planning on introducing
the new transport in 1997.
AVIONICS:
CHARLES STARK WON $46.7 MILLION AVIONICS CONTRACT
Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, won a three-year, $46.7
million contract to provide avionics systems engineering and analysis
support to NASA. Work areas in the contract, which includes two, one-
year options that would bring its total value to $77.8 million, are
Space Shuttle avionics, Space Station systems, and research and
development on systems for advanced manned and unmanned spacecraft.
EUROPEAN FIRMS TO TEAM ON RADAR
Because of increasing development costs, France's Thomson-CSF and
Britain's GEC-Marconi will team together to develop airborne radars for
the next generation of combat aircraft. The companies formed a Paris-
based joint venture company, known as GEC-Thomson Airborne Radars, to
develop and market active array antennas for installation in future
combat aircraft and retrofit. Officials feel that this is Europe's
only hope of remaining competitive in the next century's fighter radar
market. The two companies are Europe's leading manufacturers of
airborne radars, with annual sales of about $350 million each in this
field.
LOGICA WINS ESA CONTRACT
The European Space Agency chose Britain's Logica to design and develop
software for spacecraft control and simulation. Logica Aerospace and
Defence, Ltd., will lead the team responsible for this five year, $8
million contract. Logica General Systems of Italy and GMV of Spain are
the subcontractors. The team will design and develop software for
control and operation of the Infrared Space Observatory, scheduled for
launch in 1993. This software supports the basic telemetry-handling
and all housekeeping tasks common to spacecraft control and operations.
NEW AVIONICS CONCEPTS ON BOEING 777
Major avionic innovations will appear on the Boeing 777. Several of
these innovations include: Color liquid crystal display (LCD)
flatpanel technology for the primary cockpit instruments, replacing CRT
displays. Single integrated inertial/air data reference, using six
laser gyros mounted in a "skewed axis" configuration, will provide
fault-tolerant reliability previously requiring three separate inertial
systems. First civil avionics use of fiber-optic gyros (FOG).
Airplane Information Management System (AIMS), which includes flight
management, airplane condition monitoring, central maintenance and
digital data link communications management. New-generation integrated
avionics packaging format for AIMS, which will replace the traditional
"black boxes" dedicated to a single function. Electronic Library
System (ELS), an on-board data storage system to provide the flight
crew with convenient access to information previously available from
Jeppeson charts and aircraft flight manuals.
RACAL CHOOSES GEC AVIONICS FOR C2 FRIGATE SUPPORT
GEC Avionics Ltd. of Medway, the United Kingdom, was awarded a 860,000
pound ($1.5 million) contract by Racal Radar Defense Systems Ltd., to
design and develop a power supply and battery support unit for the
command and control system of the British Royal Navy Type 23 frigate.
The contract includes orders of more than 300 units.
SEMCOR INC SELECTED FOR EA-6, A-6 UPGRADES
Semcor Inc. of Mount Laurel, NJ, was chosen by the Navy to provide
engineering and technical support for Navy A-6 and EA-6 upgrade
programs under a $6.7 million contract. Under the contract, Semcor
will assist the center in systems engineering, logistics and
acquisition management of the A-6E System Weapon Improvement Program,
the A-6E Night Vision Imaging System cockpit lighting modification, the
EA-6 Vehicle Enancement Program and the EA-6 Avionics Improvement
Program.
TACIT RAINBOW TESTS
The U.S. Air Force finished flight tests of Northrop Tacit Rainbow
loitering antiradar weapon. Two tests were just successfully conducted
to verify software changes. One test proved Tacit Rainbow's ability to
distinguish between direct and multi-path radar returns reflected from
other surfaces, while the other demonstrated the missile's ability to
distinguish between two closely located targets. Although the program
has been canceled, Air Force officials believe the Texas Instruments
seeker and the Williams engine may have other uses.
MISSILES:
AIR FORCE AWARDS AMRAAM PRODUCTION
The Air Force awarded Hughes and Raytheon a combined $400 million for
AMRAAM Lot IV missile production. Hughes Aircraft Co. Tucson, AZ,
received $229.6 million for long-lead on 450 AMRAAMs in Lot IV, while
Raytheon Co., Lowell, MA, received $160.1 million for long-lead on 450
missiles in the same lot. The Aeronautical Systems Div.'s Directorate
of AMRAAM Contracting, Eglin AFB, FL, awarded both contracts.
BEECH AIRCRAFT TO BUILD NAVY TARGET MISSILES
Beech Aircraft Corp., Wichita, KS, will build 105 AQM-37C supersonic
target missiles for the U.S. Navy under a $13.7 million contract. The
missiles will support training exercises for various air-to-air and
surface-to-air weapon systems. Beech will begin delivering the target
missiles in late 1992 and complete deliveries in 1993. The AQM-37C is
an air-launched, rocket-powered vehicle that reaches speeds of up to
2,700 miles per hour and is equipped with a multiband radar. The
target missile can simulate a variety of missile threats.
CANADIAN ADATS TESTS SUCCESSFULLY
The Canadian Army's version of the U.S. Army's Air Defense Antitank
System (ADATS) hit three out of four aerial targets during a series of
tests conducted at the Canadian Forces Base, Suffield, Alberta.
Oerlikon Aerospace, Inc. makes the weapon. Oerlikon officials blamed
the one failure on human error. The U.S. Army's ADATS is built by
Martin Marietta Electronics and Missiles Group, Orlando, FL, and has
had reliability problems that have delayed U.S. fielding of the weapon
by two years.
FINAL TESTING OF H-2 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER
The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) successfully
test fired the solid rocket booster for its new H-2 rocket. The
booster is valued at 15.4 billion Japanese yen ($112 million). During
the test the booster was fired for about 95 seconds from the
Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. It was the fourth test in
the development of the new booster, which will be used in powering the
H-2 rocket, a 260-ton, next-generation launch vehicle. Nissan Motor
Co. is designing and building the rocket and is expecting to conduct
its maiden launch in 1993.
LTV DELIVERS FIRST FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION ATACMS
Five months ahead of schedule, LTV Aerospace and Defense has delivered
the first full-scale production of Army Tactical Missile System
(ATACMS) missile to the Army. The Army ordered 318 of the missiles
under a $132 million contract awarded in November 1990. LTV had
delivered 257 ATACMS missiles to the Army before the program entered
full-scale production. The ATACMS is about 13 feet long and 2 feet in
diameter. Its warhead contains 950 M-74 high-explosive bomblets.
PENTAGON UNVEILS $15 BILLION STEALTH MISSILE PROGRAM (NORTHROP)
Pentagon representative Pete Williams disclosed the existence of a $15
billion program to develop and purchase more than 8,600 radar-evading
missiles intended to be carried by U.S. bombers and fighters. The prime
contractor for the program, which hadn't been publicly disclosed previously,
is NORTHROP CORP. Williams said the missile, called the Tri-Service Standoff
Attack Missile, is intended to have a range of about 100 miles, and would
not carry a nuclear warhead. He said the missile also is designed to be
fired from the U.S. Army's ground-based rocket launchers. In response to the
surprise announcement, Rep. Les Aspin, D-Wis., chairman of the House Armed
Services Committee, and Rep. Bill Dickinson, R-Ala., the panel's senior
Republican member, issued a joint statement urging the department to review
other so-called "black" programs "to determine if more information can be
made public about them." The announcement is expected to help Northrop,
which is waging an uphill battle to keep alive the B-2 Stealth bomber. The
Pentagon also announced that BOEING was chosen as the second source for the
missiles, but didn't say how much of the business it would get. The new
missile is unusual partly because it is intended to be used by all three
services. (Source: Dow Jones News, June 6, 1991)
THREE OR FOUR NEW CONTRACTS FOR E2I PROGRAM
Several contractors will be selected this summer for the first phase of
the Endo-Exoatmospheric Interceptor (E2I) program, with two downselect
winners competing in a flyoff in 1994. E2I is a ground-based missile
designed to destroy ICBM and SLBM warheads in the high atmosphere, and
to discriminate reentry vehicle targets from decoys by measuring the
rate that the objects heat up as they enter the atmosphere. A follow-
on to the High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor (HEDI), the E21
program aims to shave weight from HEDI's design by replacing its 35-
pound warhead with hit-to-kill capability. Officials believe a 40-
kilogram weight goal is achievable.
SATELLITES:
AURORA 2 LAUNCHED
Aurora 2 communications satellite was recently launched at Cape
Canaveral and will provide telephone, television, maritime, radio and
emergency services for Alaska's Alascom long-distance carrier, plus
radio and data services for GE Americom. The launch was described as
flawless despite a thirty minute delay to replace a pad camera. The
spacecraft replaces the nine year old Aurora 1. Aurora 2 will begin
carrying traffic from its geosynchronous position at 139 W. Long. in
mid-July.
EUROPEAN MILITARY SATELLITE PROMOTED
Britain and France will soon begin a joint effort to win the support of
other European countries in developing a common military satellite
network for telecommunications. Dubbed European Military Satellite
Communications (Eumilsatcom), the proposed network would be an eventual
replacement to existing military communications satellite programs,
like the British Skynet 4 and its successor and the French Syracuse 2,
and could enter service as early as 2002.
SATELLITE OLYMPUS BEYOND REPAIR
The $800 million Olympus experimental communications satellite may be
beyond repair, after a May 29 failure of its attitude control system.
The European Space Agency owns the satellite, and announced that an
independent board of inquiry would be established to asses the problem
and propose possible corrective measures. Olympus was designed to
function until late 1994. The satellite tests direct-broadcast
television transmissions and specialized business-communications
techniques.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COLUMBIA LAUNCHED AFTER WEATHER DELAY
NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia was recently launched on a nine-day life
sciences mission after an 84-minute delay while midlevel clouds over
Kennedy Space Center cleared sufficiently to meet launch criteria.
Last minute problems on the twice delayed flight include an anomaly
with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), difficulty locking the crew
hatch and a four-inch area of insulation on the external tank that
debonded. Experiments on the effects of weightlessness on living
organisms, such as rats, jellyfish and the astronauts, will be
conducted.
PEGASUS PREPARES FOR SECOND FLIGHT
The payload for the second flight of the air-launched Pegasus booster
consists of seven small communications satellites called Microsats.
The date of the launch from Edwards Air Force Base, CA, is expected in
mid-July. The Microsats will demonstrate the use of lightsats for
tactical commanders. The Microsats were built for the U.S. Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) by Defense Systems Inc.,
McLean, for approximately $7 million. The Pegasus will place the 50-
pound satellites into a near-polar orbit inclined 81 degrees to the
equator, spaced evenly along the orbit so any location in central
Europe will have continuous coverage.
SPACE STATION RESTRUCTURING REDUCES SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
The restructuring of the space station cut the planned computing
capacity of its data management system by about 75 percent. Officials
say that the simplified version will be easier to build and test while
still providing adequate processing power. The restructuring activity
completed in January, due to budget reductions, together with efforts
last summer to reduce the weight and electrical power requirements of
the space station, reduced the number of on-board data processors from
22 to seven. The restructuring also eliminated individual computers
for each major system. The new plan calls for the creation of separate
fiber optic communications links for the network that monitors support
systems and the one that controls scientific payloads.
SPACE STATION WORK TO CONTINUE DURING FUNDING DEBATE
Committees of Congress have agreed to allow space station work to
continue this summer until the House decides whether to kill the
program. NASA officials said that none of the congressional committees
that oversee NASA find fault with the space agency's recent redesign of
the orbital base. The key to understanding the motive for the
potential cancellation of the station may be found in the hard choices
and trade-offs of the federal budget process.
UPGRADED SHUTTLE COMPUTER SYSTEM
Emergency abort software will be installed in new upgraded flight
computers on the shuttle Atlantis, in time for the July launch. The
computers have twice the memory and three times the number-crunching
speed of the machines they are replacing. In the past, routines
required for emergency landing in Spain or Africa were stored on
magnetic tape for use as needed, but required several seconds to load,
a critical amount of time in an emergency situation. The IBM computers
contain the equivalent of one million bytes of random access, or user
available memory, which prepares the spacecraft for an overseas abort
from the moment of liftoff.
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER APPLICATIONS:
NASA INSTALLS CONVEX SUPERCOMPUTER FOR REALTIME FLIGHT SIMULATION
NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, has installed a Convex
realtime system to support flight simulation research programs using the
LaRC realtime simulation facility. "To simulate the increased complexity and
higher performance of modern aircraft, a flight simulation computing system
with very high scalar performance was required," said Jeff Cleveland,
project engineer. "Unfortunately, at the present time, most computers in the
flight simulation industry are becoming obsolete. In addition to technical
factors, Convex was selected because of its willingness to work with us in
developing realtime products to meet our needs," he noted. LaRC programs
cover a broad range of advanced aerospace research ranging from next
generation fighter and transport aircraft to new space vehicles. Current
applications include the development of new control laws for NASA's High
Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV). The primary software which supports these
simulations is the realtime operating system developed by Convex in response
to the requirements of the LaRC realtime user community. At the center, the
Convex realtime system connects to the Central Scientific Computing Complex
via a LAN. The LaRC simulation system supports approximately 50 researchers
and their staff. (Source: PR Newswire Via First! June 4, 1991)
ENCORE FILES PROTEST OVER NASA CONTRACT THAT WENT TO IBM
Encore Computer has filed with the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration a formal protest of NASA's decision to select IBM for NASA's
Operation Automatic Data Processing computer requirements contract. Encore
said the decision to protest resulted from information received by Encore
from NASA officials at a debriefing. Encore said it believes it has solid
grounds for this protest, but it didn't disclose what those grounds are. The
contract, valued at $460 million over eight years, was announced on May 16.
(Source: Dow Jones News, June 4, 1991)
POWER MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
Power-management systems measure power by gathering data from circuit
breakers, switch gear, switchboards, motor control centers and other
equipment. The data, after being sent to a centrally located computer, are
analyzed and manipulated to provide real-time and historical monitoring that
can result in lowered energy costs.
o Access, an energy-monitoring system from SIEMENS Energy & Automation,
tracks such things as average amps, kilowatt demand, breaker operating
status, time-stamped tripping history and out-of-limit alarm conditions,
along with their time of occurrence. The system also provides early
warnings of alarm conditions and maintains event logs.
o The Genius PowerTrac Power Management Program from GE Fanuc Automation,
analyzes data gathered on currents and voltages to provide graphics,
alarms, present and historical trend charts and tables, control set
points and reports. A programmable controller lets the user implement
power-control strategies.
o An impressive saving in energy costs can result from minimizing the demand
charges imposed by utilities for maintaining the maximum power capacity a
plant may need. Even though the plant might actually use that capacity
only a few minutes every hour for a few months each year, the company pays
the same demand charge, which can amount to 50 percent of the utility
bill, during both peak and off-peak seasons. A program that monitors power
consumption may enable a company to opt for complex utility billing
structures that result in substantial savings.
(Source: Manufacturing Systems, May 1, 1991, page 26)
INITIATING CIM: MANUFACTURING VERSUS PILOT-PLANT OPERATIONS
CIM plans were developed for a Warner-Lambert plant that manufactures over-
the-counter products and for a proposed Warner-Lambert pilot plant.
o The manufacturing plant used manual paper systems to track materials and
labor and to collect data, and had an established MRP system running on a
remote IBM mainframe computer. Any new system had to interface with the
MRP system, which generated bills of material (BOM), item master lists,
inventory and work orders.
o A DEC computer and DECnet Ethernet were installed to provide computer and
networking facilities in the plant to connect the manufacturing processes
to the business system.
o In the chemical-dispensing operation, the area chosen for the first plant
CIM application, workers get instructions from computer terminals. Weight
data are electronically collected from the scales. All dispensed weights
are compared electronically to the BOM requirements. Bar code technology
verifies that correct lots and part numbers are used. Upon completion of a
successful weighing, the weighing terminal prints bar coded weigh tickets
with all necessary information.
o In the pilot plant, a unified information system will incorporate the
equipment on the floor, supervisory computers and business systems within
the facility.
o The pilot plant will have two networks. One network connects PLCs; the
other network (DECnet Ethernet) connects workstations, a DEC minicomputer,
and electronic gateways for communication with remote sites. The PLC
network and the Ethernet communicate through an integrator having a CPU
and a PLC that share a common bus. The CPU is a node on the Ethernet
network; the PLC is a node on the data highway.
(Source: Pharmaceutical Technology, May 1, 1991, page 36)
SMALL MANUFACTURERS' HEALTH WON'T LAST WITHOUT CIM
By rough estimates, small U.S. manufacturers exceed 360,000 in number and
make up 90 percent of all businesses in America. These small manufacturers,
which now must compete on the basis of world-class quality, price, just-in-
time delivery and rapid response to changing market needs and new automated
technologies, are trailing in the implementation of automated technologies.
This lag will cause small manufacturers to lose business to large firms and
to competition from outside the U.S.
o Small manufacturers lack funding and resources for implementing advanced
technology, are not well-versed in flexible CIM technology, and don't
know exactly where to go for the right products and services.
o Small manufacturers must be constantly looking at what technologies they
can implement and understanding what benefits those technologies will
bring. Small manufacturers don't need sophisticated answers; they need a
practical way of getting current technology and processes on the factory
floor.
o Even though full-blown flexible-manufacturing systems may be too expensive
and perhaps not suitable for the small manufacturer, good, affordable
technology is available on personal computers and workstations.
(Source: Managing Automation, April 01, 1991, page 19)
DON'T IGNORE THE CUTTING EDGE IN CIM
The "cutting edge" in some computer-integrated manufacturing applications is
the actual cutting edge of cutting tools.
o Advances in cutting tool materials and designs ensure edge security and
the predictability and reliability of cutting, making it possible to go
to automation, higher cutting speeds and increased metal removal rates.
o Today's higher strength-to-weight component materials are difficult to
machine, and expensive in both material and production costs. Thus a
shutdown caused by tool failure or lack of chip control is extremely
costly in terms of lost production and possible damage to the workpiece,
fixture and/or machine tool.
o Cutting tools come in a variety of edge shapes, or geometries. Edge
geometry tries to minimize cutting forces, maximize head strength, reduce
heat and friction and improve chip control. Chip control is critical
because the hot, razor sharp chips and stringers can wind around the
workpiece or the machine, causing breakage, machine shutdown, inferior
quality and other problems.
o In a CIM environment, the cutting tool itself must be versatile. When
the tools can cut a number of different materials, then tool selection
is easier, setups are faster,and a smaller tool inventory is required,
thus reducing tool costs and increasing operational accuracy.
(Source: Managing Automation, April 1, 1991, page 29)
WORKSTATIONS (EURO CAD/CAM) (SIEMENS,MD,HP,SILICON GRAPHICS)
In Europe, CAD/CAM suppliers facing hard times are scrambling to find
pockets of opportunity.
o SIEMENS has only a 1.2 percent share of the world CAD/CAM market, but is
No. 1 in German-speaking markets. Siemens collaborates with MCDONNELL
DOUGLAS subsidiary Shape Data, and uses its Parasolid software as a core
system for building the solid-modeling features of Sigraph, Siemens'
CAD/CAM software.
o Control Data has formed joint venture with VW AG to make Control Data's
ICEM CAD/CAM product suite more appealing to the small businesses making
automotive components for the very healthy German auto industry.
o HEWLETT-PACKARD, because of its early and substantial investment in RISC
and with its acquisition of Apollo Computer, now has about 30 percent of
the world's technical-workstation market, and is third in Europe.
o SUN MICROSYSTEMS SPARC platforms are being incorporated into real-time
industrial process management and plant control systems, following Sun's
strategic technology and business arrangement with Foxboro Co. New
Foxboro application interfaces will give process engineers direct access
to plant production data via a plant-floor SPARC workstation.
o SILICON GRAPHICS is producing a $30,000 rack-mount version of its Personal
IRIS engineering workstation, making that workstation available to
industrial markets in a form that suits their operating environment.
(Source: Managing Automation, April 1, 1991, page 45)
BREAKING BARRIERS TO EDI
Information systems managers working for importers and exporters face a host
of barriers when setting up international EDI applications. Their common
lament is that true international EDI remains difficult, if not impossible
to achieve. For one thing, vendors are selling piecemeal EDI solutions that
solve only part of an importer's problem. And the global EDI community has
not yet adopted a common computer syntax for formatting and sending EDI
documents worldwide. However, standards are beginning to evolve, and these
barriers are slowly crumbling. (Source: Datamation, April 1, 1991, page 64)
GE SPREADS EDI GOSPEL
The VAN providers so far have played a dominant role in ensuring the
reliable delivery of EDI messages. The computer-to-computer trading between
partners is a virtual Tower of Babel of incompatible cross-industry
standards that have only recently been simplified under the ANSI X.12
standards and, in turn, by translation and communications software emanating
from the value-added networks. With some 15,000 large organizations now
using EDI, the large corporate market has been penetrated. What's left is to
get these large companies' smaller trading partners to buy into EDI for well
below the several thousand dollars they've been paying to date. And VANs are
also looking to increase the menu of services they're offering, including
some relatively gourmet plans. GENERAL ELECTRIC Information Services, by far
the premier provider of EDI services, is working with these big companies to
recruit the many small firms needed to make EDI practical. (Source:
Datamation, April 15, 1991, page 55)
THE MARVELS OF 'VIRTUAL REALITY'
Virtual reality is created by a display and control technology that can
surround its user with an artificial environment mimicking real life. The
user interacts with objects and settings as he would in the real world. No
passive viewing of computer graphics here, the way you do on most of today's
screens. While some advanced design programs let you manipulate objects on a
screen, virtual reality turns you into a full participant in a three-
dimensional setting that envelops you completely ... Virtual reality brims
with commercial possibilities. BOEING takes it seriously enough to have had
more than 100 of its engineers and executives fly inside a virtual airplane.
Later this year CATERPILLAR will start testing virtual reality models of its
earthmovers to improve performance and driver visibility. Virtual reality
shows promise as a tool for industrial development, design and testing that
goes far beyond now-familiar CAD and manufacturing programs. (Source:
Fortune, June 3, 1991, page 138)
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BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO
BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO
JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO
MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO
ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO
DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO
TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO
DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO
KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO
DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO
BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO
RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA
PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO
TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO
STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO
RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO
JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO
BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO
FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO
JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO
STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@
MATT FLIPPEN@NYO KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO TOM FLYNN@SYO
JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO
OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO
ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO
BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO
HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO
LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA
MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO
ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
DAVE JOHNSON@FZO CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO
ARTHUR JONES@TUO RUSS JONES@NIO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO
BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO
DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO
MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO
NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA
BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO
CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO
JIM LAWSON@MMO ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO
ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO
JEROME LIEVRE@PAO BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO
LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO
LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA
JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO
CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO
BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARGARET MARINO@SEO
MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO
SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO
JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO
EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO
JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO
BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO TOM MILLER@SEO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA
BETTY MILLS@SEO JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO
DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO
DON MONTOYA@DVO GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO
BOB MORGAN@PDO BILL MORROW@WRO CLAY MORSE@PHO MICHAEL MORSE@STO
MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO
ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO
BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO
TERRY OHLRICH@CWO STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO
BOB PACE@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO
MATT PARTLOW@SEO MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO
LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO
JACK PERRY@WRO CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO
JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR
IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO
DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO
JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO
TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO
BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY
URSEL RHEA@IVO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@
PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO
RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO
SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO
KEVIN SALMON@SLO ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV
CHUCK SARGENT@DVO HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO
RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO
DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO
BOB SEIFERT@MKO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO
GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO
DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO
CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA BILL SLEZAK@DCO PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.116 | Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jun 18 1991 13:46 | 758 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 17-Jun-1991 11:36pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of June 10, 1991
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 17-Jun-1991 1718
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 10, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 10, 1991
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE TO REDUCE COMPUTER REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
ALENIA CUTS WORKFORCE BY 10 PERCENT
ALLIANT SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES NEW MINI SUPERCOMPUTER
BOEING, PILOT SETTLE LAWSUIT OVER 1988 ALOHA AIR ACCIDENT
CHIP PRODUCERS FOCUS LESS ON MILITARY
DYNCORT ACQUIRES AEROTHERM CORP
EC OPENS PROBE OF ALENIA, AEROSPATIALE BUY OF BOEING DEHAVILLAND
GTE MOVES INTO GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS FIELD
SECOND-QUARTER RESULTS FOR GENCORP
TITAN'S FIRST QUARTER REVENUES RISE
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIRBUS PARTNERS TO REPAY $900 MILLION TO GOVERNMENTS IN 1991
AIRBUS LOWERS OUTLOOK FOR 1991 ORDERS TO 145 JETS FROM 154
APACHE SALE TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ARMY SELECTS MCDONNELL FOR TAIL ROTOR ACTUATOR
CASE FOR B-2 BOMBER IN CONVENTIONAL WAR ROLE
HOUSE PANEL CHAIRMAN BACKS B-2 BOMBER OVER COSTLY A-X
COMMERCIAL JET MAKERS SEE SLIDE IN NEW ORDERS
NAVY LEANS TOWARD V-22
EXPERIMENTAL MILITARY PLANE CRASHES; TWO PILOTS SURVIVE
TURKEY WANTS TO CONTINUE F-16 PROGRAM
U.S. ANNOUNCES CONTRACT FOR FIVE-NATION F-16 UPGRADE
AVIONICS:
HORIZON TO PRODUCE FLIGHT MISSION SYSTEM FOR AUSTRALIAN AF
LOCKHEED WINS U.S. ARMY P-STAR CONTRACT
PPG DEVELOPING GLARE-ELIMINATING TRANSPARENCY FOR AIRCRAFT
TRW INTRODUCES NEW WAVE RADAR SYSTEM
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES TO CHANGE MMRS CONTRACT WITH ISRAEL
MISSILES:
AF SEEKING CONTRACTOR FOR INTEGRATING TITAN IV PAYLOADS
U.S. AIR FORCE REVEALS COST OF ADVANCED CRUISE MISSILE
ARMY SEEKS FUNDING TO UPGRADE TOW MISSILE
FOURTH STAGE ADDED TO PEGASUS BOOSTER FOR JULY LAUNCH
JOUST 1 LAUNCH POSTPONED BY STRAY VOLTAGE
PATRIOT UPGRADE READY FOR TEST FIRING
SATELLITES:
COMPETITION ARISES AGAINST IRIDIUM
DORNIER TO BUILD FOUR CLUSTER SATELLITES
EUTELSAT 2 DELAYED
HUGHES, HUBBARD JOIN FORCES
MAGNAVOX DEVELOPS SMALLEST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE SATELLITE TERMINAL
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FOUR BRILLIANT EYES CONTRACTS AWARDED
FUNDING RESTORED FOR SPACE STATION
MARS EXPLORATION WOULD REQUIRE WIDE RANGE OF TECHNOLOGIES
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GENERAL:
AIR FORCE TO REDUCE COMPUTER REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The U.S. Air Force will use a reduced 20-page request for proposals to
buy up to 300,000 office computers for several hundred million dollars.
This reduction is part of a new procurement strategy that will force
significant changes on vendors. Instead of preparing detailed offers
that meet many technical government requirements, vendors will simply
be asked to make one offer at a fixed price for the supply of a package
of computer systems they think is best for the government. Due to the
major change in procurement strategy, contractors will have to change
their bidding practices. The new strategy will be first used on the
Air Force's Desktop IV computer contract, valued at several hundred
million dollars.
ALENIA CUTS WORK FORCE BY 10 PERCENT
Rome based Alenia will temporarily lay off 10 percent of its workforce.
Three thousand employees will be asked to reduce their hours of work or
refrain from work entirely and be paid about 75 percent of their normal
salary under a redundancy fund or temporary layoff system. The purpose
of the redundancy fund measure is to ease social tensions in time of
economic crisis and to maintain a skilled workforce.
ALLIANT SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES NEW MINI SUPERCOMPUTER
Alliant Computer Systems, Littleton, MA, announced the introduction of
the first supercomputer for military applications deployable in a
small, rackmounted package. The SRM/1 is a full-function supercomputer
using an advanced processing architecture known as RISC (reduced
instruction set computer). The supercomputer is less than 16 inches in
height, therefore can be deployed on ships, aircraft, ground vehicles
or in remote facilities such as satellite-receiving stations.
BOEING, PILOT SETTLE LAWSUIT OVER 1988 ALOHA AIR ACCIDENT
BOEING CO. and the pilot of an Aloha Airlines jet that lost part of its
fuselage in flight have reached a settlement of the pilot's lawsuit. Details
of the settlement weren't revealed. The pilot, Robert Schornstheimer,
charged Boeing with negligence, product liability and breach of contract,
saying he suffered flashbacks, stress and other emotional problems because
of the accident. The Boeing 737, Flight 243, was flying at 24,000 feet on a
flight from Hilo to Honolulu on April 28, 1988, when part of the fuselage
blew off. Schornstheimer and co-pilot Mimi Tompkins were able to land the
jet at Kahului Airport 15 minutes after the incident. A flight attendant
died in the accident and about 60 other people were injured. (Source: Dow
Jones News, June 11, 1991)
CHIP PRODUCERS FOCUS LESS ON MILITARY
As military sales decline, many U.S. chip manufactures are focusing
less attention on sales to the armed forces and more on the rising
market for telecommunications and computer-related products. In the
1960's the military was the primary market for semiconductors, and
recently the commercial market has taken the lead. In 1985, the armed
services claimed 15 percent of the U.S. market for semiconductors.
This dropped to 11 percent in 1990 and is expected to fall to 8 percent
by 1995. The military market is estimated to grow 2 to 3 percent a
year while the commercial market is expected to jump 13 percent to 15
percent annually. Currently, the military market brings the U.S.
semiconductor industry about $2 billion in annual sales.
DYNCORP ACQUIRES AEROTHERM CORP
DynCorp, Reston, VA, recently acquired Aerotherm Corp., Mountain View,
CA, in a deal whose terms were not disclosed. The acquisition involves
an estimated $18 million in additional revenues, an additional $23
million in order backlog and 140 more employees. Aerotherm, previously
a subsidiary of Acurex Corp., provides research, testing, evaluation,
and materials design and development to the Pentagon and NASA. It
specializes in aerothermochemistry and is developing strategic and
tactical countermeasures systems for use in ballistic missiles and
satellites, and targets for testing and calibrating systems used by the
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization.
EC OPENS PROBE OF ALENIA, AEROSPATIALE BUY OF BOEING DEHAVILLAND
The European Community Commission said it would open a full probe of the
proposed joint acquisition by AEROSPATIALE and ALENIA-AERITALIA for the
Canandian de Havilland aircraft division of BOEING. In a statement, the
Commission said the linkup would give de Havilland and GIE ATR, a jointly
owned Aerospatiale-Alenia aircraft venture, a "high combined market share"
in regional commuter turboprop planes. The three companies struck a
definitive deal in April. The commission, which can block the planned
transaction, said it is concerned that the purchase would give the Franco-
Italian consortium an unfair advantage in the European market for commuter
aircraft. Aerospatiale and Alenia already cooperate in making commuter
planes in their Avions de Transport Regional venture. The acquisition is
also being investigated by authorities in Canada, where de Havilland is
based. The two state-owned companies haven't disclosed the purchase price
for de Havilland, although it has been estimated at $200 million or less.
(Source: Dow Jones News, June 12, 1991)
GTE MOVES INTO GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS FIELD
GTE Spacenet Corp.'s presence in the global satellite communications
market will continue to grow rapidly since its merger with Contel ASC
is complete, although its domestic workforce will be cut by 10 percent
this year. The $6.2 billion deal has moved GTE Spacenet, McLean, VA,
into a position to challenge Hughes Communications Inc., El Segundo,
CA, as the leader for providing satellite communications in the United
States. GTE Spacenet owns nine satellites that are operating in
geostationary orbits with a total of about 90 C-band and 85 Ku-band
transponders.
SECOND-QUARTER RESULTS FOR GENCORP
Second quarter ended May 31, 1991 1990
Sales $500,000,000 $458,000,000
Net income $13,000,000 $28,000,000
The latest quarter includes a gain of $1 million on sale of radio station
KFRC-AM. The 1990 quarter includes gains of $18 million on sale of broadcast
properties. GenCorp said the 1991 second quarter sales increase was
primarily due to sales from AeroJet accompanied by a slight increase in
sales at GenCorp Polymer Products.
GenCorp said its outlook for the rest of 1991 remains uncertain primarily
because of the continuing recession in the automotive industry and because
it is not clear when the general economy will recover. (Source: Dow Jones
News, June 13, 1991)
TITAN'S FIRST QUARTER REVENUES RISE
Titan Corp., San Diego, reported revenues for the first quarter ending
March 31, up 40 percent to $35.8 million, from $25.6 million in the
same quarter of 1990. Pretax earnings rose 85 percent to $1.5 million
and net income increased from $551,000 to $695,000. Executives say
growth stemmed from the 1990 purchase of Titan Linkabit.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIRBUS PARTNERS TO REPAY $900 MILLION TO GOVERNMENTS IN 1991
The four partners of Airbus Industrie consortium will repay a total of $900
million to their governments this year, up from $500 million in 1990.
Airbus's said that the repayments are in line with the obligation of the
partners, AEROSPATIALE, Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH, BRITISH AEROSPACE
and Construcciones Aeronauticas SA, to repay advances by their governments
that got the Airbus program going in the 1970s. (Source: Dow Jones News,
June 11, 1991)
AIRBUS LOWERS OUTLOOK FOR 1991 ORDERS TO 145 JETS FROM 154
Airbus Industrie has cut its projections for new orders this year slightly,
according to the consortium's chief executive Jean Pierson. Airbus now
expects new orders for about 145 of its commercial jets this year, compared
with the 154 it had been projecting prior to the Persian Gulf war. Since the
beginning of this year, Airbus has booked 25 firm orders, compared with 89
for its U.S. rival BOEING. The new 1991 target figure is still sharply down
from the 404 firm orders worth $27 billion booked by the consortium in 1990,
and it reflects the shaky financial condition of the world's airlines.
Commercial aircraft industry executives say the slowdown was foreseeable and
welcome since it will eat into the industry's backlog and reduce delivery
times. Pierson pointed out that even if Airbus received no new orders, it
still has five years of work ahead of it. Pierson described as "speculation"
a French newspaper report that Federal Express was planning to order 25 of
the European consortium's A300-600R wide-bodied jets, observing that no
business arrangements are final until a contract has been signed. Revenue at
Airbus is likely to reach $7.4 billion this year. Airbus reported its first-
ever operating profit in 1990. (Source: Dow Jones News, June 13, 1991)
APACHE SALE TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The Pentagon wants to sell the United Arab Emirates 20 Apache attack
helicopters plus space engines, Hellfire missiles and other equipment
for $682 million. The package includes the 20 aircraft, built by
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co., Mesa, AZ, plus 620 Hellfires, four
spare Hellfire launchers, four spare General Electric T700-701 engines,
two spare Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision
Sensor Systems, spare and repair parts, tools, test sets, Hydra-70
rockets, chaff, integrated helmet and display sight system,
publications, forward area refueling equipment and tech rep services,
plus logistics support.
ARMY SELECTS MCDONNELL FOR TAIL ROTOR ACTUATOR
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co., Mesa, AZ, was chosen by the Army
Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, Fort Eustis, VA, to design
concepts for an Integrated Pump Actuator Program under a 32-month, $2.5
million contract. The program is designed to better control the tail
rotor pitch of military helicopters that must rely on quick and
strenuous maneuvers to avoid enemy ground and air-to-air gunfire. The
project should result in improvements in weight, cost and combat
survivability.
CASE FOR B-2 BOMBER IN CONVENTIONAL WAR ROLE
The House Armed Services Chairman advocates the use of the B-2 stealth
bomber in a conventional war role, although limiting the production
number to 15. These 15 aircraft have already been funded. The B-2
baseline program only includes one precision-guided weapon, the
stealthy Tri-Service Standoff Attack Missile (TSSAM), which was
recently declassified. It has a 100-mile range and costs almost $2
million a copy. But for the B-2 to be cost-effective it must be able
to employ the less expensive PGMs.
HOUSE PANEL CHAIRMAN BACKS B-2 BOMBER OVER COSTLY A-X
The chairman of the U.S. House Defense Appropriations subcommittee is
pressing the military to consider using the B-2 bomber as an alternative to
the costly new A-X stealth aircraft sought by the U.S. Navy. The option
would rely on adapting the B-2, which was initially developed by the U.S.
Air Force as a nuclear bomber, to a more conventional role. The B-2, which
has a long range and sophisticated stealth capability, would then be used to
fly ahead of carrier-based navy aircraft. A total of 50 B-2's could be built
as a base force. Though this is significantly more than the 15 bombers the
House has been willing to support so far, adapting the B-2 may prove cheaper
than plunging into the development of a new, highly sophisticated next-
generation plane with the same stealth characteristics. The navy still would
need a new aircraft to replace its existing A-6 bombers, but with the
adapted B-2, the new planes could be less sophisticated -- and thus cheaper
to build. (Source: Dow Jones News, June 10, 1991)
COMMERCIAL JET MAKERS SEE SLIDE IN NEW ORDERS
The financial difficulties facing airlines should cause new orders for
commercial aircraft to slow markedly in the next few years, allowing
aircraft manufacturers to eat up its huge order backlog, aviation industry
officials said. They said the order slowdown is likely even if airline
passenger traffic recovers later this year from the slump caused by the
Persian Gulf war and economic recession. Stuart Iddles, head of sales for
Europe's Airbus Industrie consortium, predicted a "dramatic" drop in new
orders over the next two or three years for Airbus Industrie and its two
American rivals, BOEING and MCDONNELL DOUGLAS. Richard Albrecht, Boeing
executive vice president, agreed 1991 looks "anemic." Latest estimates by
Boeing point to new orders for 8,850 new aircraft worth $617 billion to be
delivered to airlines over the next 15 years, or about 360 fewer aircraft
and $13 billion less than Boeing projected last year. Airbus said it expects
orders for 12,300 aircraft worth $680 billion over the 20 years.
AEROSPATIALE, said the long-term trend over the next 20 years is for traffic
growth of about 5 percent. (Source: Dow Jones News, June 11, 1991)
NAVY LEANS TOWARD V-22
U.S. Navy comptrollers recently released $200 million in funding
earmarked by Congress in the Desert Storm supplemental budget for
continued research and development of the tilt-rotor V-22 aircraft.
The Naval Air Systems Command will then parcel the funding out to Bell
Helicopter/Textron, Fort Worth, Texas, and Boeing Helicopter,
Philadelphia.
EXPERIMENTAL MILITARY PLANE CRASHES; TWO PILOTS SURVIVE
An experimental V-22 Osprey military airplane crashed June 11. The craft,
which can hover like a helicopter, is the subject of a financing fight
between the U.S. Pentagon and Congress. Two pilots aboard the plane walked
away from the crash. One crew-member was being treated for minor injuries.
The craft is built jointly by Bell Textron Helicopters and BOEING
Helicopters. The Osprey costs $22 million to $26 million each, depending
upon production and other costs. Lawmakers restored funds for the Osprey
that the Pentagon dropped during the past two years, including $238 million
on research and development and $165 million for production in 1990. The
$295 billion Defense appropriations bill that cleared the House June 6
includes $990 million for further Osprey development and purchase of three
of the craft. (Source: Dow Jones News, June 12, 1991)
TURKEY WANTS TO CONTINUE F-16 PROGRAM
Turkey and the United States are determined to continue production of
F-16 fighter aircraft in Turkey with a second batch of 160 planes.
Turkish officials say the F-16s are the top item in Turkey's defense
industry agenda. General Dynamics and Turkish Aerospace Industries
joined together is 1984 on a program to produce 152 F-16s by 1994.
They have currently produced about 70 planes. The project will be
financed through a fund to be supported by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the
United Arab Emirates under U.S. coordination.
U.S. ANNOUNCES CONTRACT FOR FIVE-NATION F-16 UPGRADE
A five-nation, $2 billion program to upgrade frontline fighter planes
will soon begin with the release of a U.S. government contract to
General Dynamics Corp., Fort Worth, TX, the producer of the F-16
Falcon. With the contract release, a three-year engineering and
manufacturing development effort begins that will translate into an
estimated $1.6 billion production program for the United States and F-
16 partner nations Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.
AVIONICS:
HORIZON TO PRODUCE FLIGHT MISSION SYSTEM FOR AUSTRALIAN AF
Horizon Technology Inc., San Diego, CA was chosen by the Royal
Australian Air Force to develop a mission planning system under a $1.1
million contract. The system will include a ruggedly packaged personal
computer which enables pilots to quickly plan their flight routes and
weapon loading using computer software developed by Horizon. It will
be used for the F/RF-111C aircraft. The system is based on reusable
mission planning software.
LOCKHEED WINS U.S. ARMY P-STAR CONTRACT
Lockheed Sanders has an initial, $1.2 million U.S. Army contract to
deliver four Portable Search and Target Acquisition Radar (P-STAR) sets
for first article testing. The company expects to produce about 60
units for Army Special Forces and light divisions to provide a portable
air defense umbrella. The 300 lb. unit comes in four pieces that can
be carried or parachuted into the field. P-STAR can detect low-flying
aircraft against a highly cluttered background and distinguish between
helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
PPG DEVELOPING GLARE-ELIMINATING TRANSPARENCY FOR AIRCRAFT
PPG Industries is developing an electrochromic transparency that will
let pilots reduce glare and solar heat in aircraft by up to 70% by
flipping a switch. This transparency, called "transparent battery,"
has two layers of electrically conductive glass, a tungsten oxide film
and additional layers of clear glass. Earlier versions of the
transparency contained a fine-line copper grid electrode, which has
been eliminated. The absence of a copper grid enhances optical
qualities.
TRW INTRODUCES NEW WAVE RADAR SYSTEM
TRW's Electronics and Technology Div. has designed and manufactured a
millimeter-wave radar system that resides on a single semiconductor
chip. The device is an FM-CW radar transceiver operating at 40 GHz.
Officials say it is the first single-chip radar and the largest
multifunction millimeter wave chip fabricated to date. The chip
measures 4.35 x 7 mm. and is fabricated using TRW's 0.25-micron indium
gallium arsenide HEMT technology. The device could serve as parts of
compact sensors for smart weapons.
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES TO CHANGE MMRS CONTRACT WITH ISRAEL
United Technologies' Norden Systems and Israel agreed to change the
terms of a contract under which Norden is developing a Multi-Mode Radar
System for Israeli F-4 aircraft. The change of contract will cost UTC
$148 million in the second quarter. UTC said the MMRS features many of
the same technologies that Norden used in the Joint STARS radar for the
U.S. Air Force.
MISSILES:
AF SEEKING CONTRACTOR FOR INTEGRATING TITAN IV PAYLOADS
Air Force Space Systems Division is seeking a contractor to integrate
various Pentagon and NASA satellites with the Titan IV booster for
approximately 34 launches. Deadline for responding is July 3 in order
to compete for a cost-plus-award-fee contract which runs from April 1,
1992 through September 30, 1997. Tasks will include the following:
Systems engineering and analyses, management liaison, systems support,
hardware design, support hardware development, operational test
planning and support, and mission studies.
U.S. AIR FORCE REVEALS COST OF ADVANCED CRUISE MISSILE
Newly declassified Air Force information revealed that the AGM-129A
stealthy Advanced Cruise Missile has a program cost of $6.4 billion and
a flyaway unit cost of $3.8 million in current dollars. Full scale
development began in 1983 and will conclude in about 1995. The flyaway
cost of $3.8 million makes the ACM about three times as costly as the
non-stealthy Navy Tomahawk cruise missile, which costs about $1.3
million each flyaway in current dollars.
ARMY SEEKS FUNDING TO UPGRADE TOW MISSILE
The U.S. Army is struggling to receive funding to improve the
capabilities of its widely deployed Tube-launched, Optically tracked,
Wire-guided (TOW) antiarmor missile system. The TOW Sight Improvement
Program, organized to upgrade the tank-killing missile with a second-
generation target acquisition system, lacks sufficient procurement
funding in the 1990s. Army officials, although supportive of the
program, are questioning whether the service should commit scarce
weapon-buying funds to the project.
FOURTH STAGE ADDED TO PEGASUS BOOSTER FOR JULY LAUNCH
The second air-launched Pegasus booster will feature a liquid fueled,
fourth stage for its July launch, which will increase its payload
capacity of 300 pounds to 365 pounds. With the ability of the new
stage to fire several times it will place payloads into orbit with
greater precision. The extra time required to develop the fourth stage
as well as unexpected delays in constructing the rocket's payload will
set the launch about a year behind schedule. The fourth stage aboard
the second Pegasus will burn liquid hydrazine, which can be stopped and
reignited in space.
JOUST 1 LAUNCH POSTPONED BY STRAY VOLTAGE
Stray voltage in the flight termination circuit caused an additional
five day delay of the Joust-1 commercial suborbital rocket launch. The
flight of commercial experiments aboard an Orbital Science Corp.
Prospector rocket was originally delayed for technical reasons, weather
and to avoid conflicting with the launch of the Shuttle Columbia.
PATRIOT UPGRADE READY FOR TEST FIRING
Next month, the Army will test-fire four prototypes of an upgraded
version of Raytheon's Patriot air defense missile. The upgrade
includes a new multi-mode seeker, an improved ground radar, and
capability for remote launching, which will increase Patriot's
footprint by about 30%, to 20 kilometers. The tests, to be conducted
at White Sands, NM, will pit the Patriot against targets with lower
radar cross sections and higher terminal velocities. The multi-mode
seeker is supposed to improve the Patriot's performance against
tactical ballistic missiles, advanced aircraft using countermeasures,
and cruise missiles.
SATELLITES:
COMPETITION ARISES AGAINST IRIDIUM
The Federal Communications Commission is currently receiving new
satellite proposals and critical opinions in an attempt to discredit
Motorola's Iridium program. Iridium is a worldwide satellite-based
cellular communications system, consisting of seven low Earth orbital
planes each with 11 small satellites. The satellite license requests
and statements reflect heated debate among U.S. satellite builders and
operators over the future of U.S. mobile communications services. The
present concern is what size and configuration of spacecraft will use
the limited frequency most efficiently and at lower cost to provide
voice transmission service for mobile users. Alternate design options
that have been filed with the FCC include, constellations consisting of
48 small satellites, three large geostationary satellites or 12 medium-
sized spacecraft.
DORNIER TO BUILD FOUR CLUSTER SATELLITES
Dornier GmbH of Friedrichshafen, Germany, won a 360 Deutsche marks
($210 million) contract from the European Space Agency for the
construction and integration of four Cluster satellites, which will
explore the magnetosphere of the Earth. Launch is scheduled for autumn
1995 aboard Europe's future Ariane 5 booster. The satellites will take
three-dimensional measurements to explore the magnetosphere's
interaction with the solar wind and influences on the Earth's climate.
The spacecraft will fly in elliptical orbits ranging between 19,000 and
134,000 milometers in altitude.
EUTELSAT 2 DELAYED
General Dynamics' Atlas 2 vehicle is scheduled to launch a Eutelsat 2
telecommunications satellite on August 24 from Cape Canaveral, FL. The
satellite is owned by the 28-nation Eutelsat organization of Paris.
The original August 8 launch was shifted after the April 18 failure of
the centaur upper stage of an Atlas 1 booster carrying a Japanese
communications satellite. A final report on the failure is expected in
June.
HUGHES, HUBBARD JOIN FORCES
Hughes Communications Inc. and Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc., have teamed
together in a direct broadcast satellite venture that will begin
operations i 1994. An earlier direct broadcast satellite (DBS)
consortium, the Sky Cable project that included Hughes and three other
companies, collapsed because of partner disagreements. Hughes
Communications, Los Angeles, has signed Hubbard's subsidiary United
States Satellite Broadcasting (USSB) Inc. as an anchor tenant for its
high-powered DBS satellite. They intend on having a system consisting
of two satellites carrying a total of 32 Ku-band transponders. Both
satellites have been under construction since the end of last year.
MAGNAVOX DEVELOPS SMALLEST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE SATELLITE TERMINAL
Magnavox has developed the world's lightest, smallest and least
expensive satellite terminal. The terminal, called Magnaphone, weighs
47 lbs., including the umbrella-style antenna that collapses and
detaches to become two small packages for traveling. Traveling size is
2.3 cu. feet, compared with 4 cu. feet for its smallest competitor.
Prices range from $34,880 to $48,880. The new terminal can provide
telephone, data, fax and telex communications from remote sites around
the world. It takes little skill and only 3 minutes to deploy and
point the antenna. Previous, larger models are widely used by the
United Nations peacekeeping forces and diplomats.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FOUR BRILLIANT EYES CONTRACTS AWARDED
Four defense contractors received contract awards for initial designs
of Brilliant Eyes surveillance satellites. Martin Marietta Defense and
Communications Co., Littleton, CO, received a $5.2 million contract.
Rockwell International Strategic Defense Center, Seal Beach, CA, won a
$5.2 million contract. TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA and Lockheed
Missiles and Space Co., Sunnyvale, CA were both awarded a $5.3 million
contract. The contracts run 12 months. Brilliant Eyes will be made up
of a constellation of 50 or more relatively small and inexpensive
surveillance satellites, and is part of the U.S. strategic defense
system.
FUNDING RESTORED FOR SPACE STATION
The House of Representatives voted to restore funding for NASA's space
station, marking a major political victory for supporters of human
space flight. However, with the station funding, NASA programs will be
frozen at 1991 levels. The House's debate over the space station was a
six-hour battle, consisting of impatient congressmen waiting to deliver
short speeches for or against the station. Members voted 240 to 173
for an amendment that provides $1.9 billion for the program, just $100
million short of the president's 1992 request and the same level as
this year's funding.
MARS EXPLORATION WOULD REQUIRE WIDE RANGE OF TECHNOLOGIES
A Mars exploration program would require advances in dozens of existing
technologies but would not require significant breakthroughs into new
technical approaches, according to the Synthesis Group that wrote a
report supporting President Bush's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI).
Baselines for the group's four SEI architectures, which all involve
operations on both the moon and Mars, call for technologies used in
earlier manned and unmanned space efforts or in advanced states of
development. While the group went into some detail about the necessary
work for mission-supporting technologies, it generally left wide
latitude to system designers.
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BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO
RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
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TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO BOB BONNER@IVO CAROL BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
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ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
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STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
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JIM LAWSON@MMO ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO
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GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO
DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO
CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT PEYTON SMITH@SEO
TROY SMITH@ACI KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO
NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO
LARRY STAHL@LAO JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO
HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA
STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO
MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO
JAMES TRACY@STO ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO
MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC
WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO
JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB
PAUL WANNINGER@SEO NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO
BOB WATTS@FOO DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@
RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO
STEVE WITTENBERG@LA DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO
DAVE WORKMAN@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO
CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO
GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO
MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.117 | Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jun 18 1991 18:45 | 175 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 18-Jun-1991 00:01am CET
From: IMSIS
TUCKFIELD.MELVYN AT A1 at SASSON at DCO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry Weekly News Highlights, week of June 10, 1991
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIR FORCE TO REDUCE COMPUTER REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The U.S. Air Force will use a reduced 20-page request for proposals to
buy up to 300,000 office computers for several hundred million dollars.
This reduction is part of a new procurement strategy that will force
significant changes on vendors. Instead of preparing detailed offers
that meet many technical government requirements, vendors will simply
be asked to make one offer at a fixed price for the supply of a package
of computer systems they think is best for the government. Due to the
major change in procurement strategy, contractors will have to change
their bidding practices. The new strategy will be first used on the
Air Force's Desktop IV computer contract, valued at several hundred
million dollars.
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO BOB BONNER@IVO CAROL BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO
BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO
JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO
MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO
ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO
DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO
TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO
DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO
KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO
DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO
BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO
RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA
PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO
TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO
STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO
RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO
JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO
BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO
FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO
JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO
STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@
MATT FLIPPEN@NYO KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO TOM FLYNN@SYO
JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO
OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO
ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO
BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO
HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO
LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA
MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO TOM HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
MITCH JAFFE@LAO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO
ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO DAVE JOHNSON@FZO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO
RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO
BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO
DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO
MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO
NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA
BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO
CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO
JIM LAWSON@MMO ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO
ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO
JEROME LIEVRE@PAO BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO
LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO
LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA LEO MADRID@PBF
JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO
CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO
BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARGARET MARINO@SEO
MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO
SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO
JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO
EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO
JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO
BARRY MILBERG@NJO TOM MILLER@SEO PAUL MILLER@EDO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA
BETTY MILLS@SEO JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO
DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO
DON MONTOYA@DVO BILL MOORE@MET GARY MOORE@TSO ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO
BOB MORGAN@PDO BILL MORROW@WRO MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO
MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO
ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO
BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO
TERRY OHLRICH@CWO STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO
BOB PACE@LAO JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PAROLA@SDO
MATT PARTLOW@SEO MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO
LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO
JACK PERRY@WRO CHARLES PETITHORY@P DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO BOB PETITTI@SEO
JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR
IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO
DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO
JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO
TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO
BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY
URSEL RHEA@IVO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@
PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO
RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO
SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO
KEVIN SALMON@SLO ULF SANDIN@SOO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV JEFF SANDS@OGO
CHUCK SARGENT@DVO HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO
RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO
DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO
BOB SEIFERT@MKO STAN SHAREK@TMO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO
GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO
DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO
CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO PEYTON SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO
NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO STACY SPENCE@SEO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO
LARRY STAHL@LAO JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO
HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA
STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO
MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO
JAMES TRACY@STO ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO
MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC
WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO
JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB
PAUL WANNINGER@SEO NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO
DAVE WATTS@SEO BOB WATTS@FOO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@
RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO
STEVE WITTENBERG@LA DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO
DAVE WORKMAN@FZO TOM WRIGHT@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO DON WYNNE@JMO
CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO
GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO
MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.118 | Aerospace News, Week of 06/17. | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jul 17 1991 10:57 | 683 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 29-Jun-1991 07:57am CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace News, Week of 06/17.
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 29-Jun-1991 0051
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 17, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 17, 1991
GENERAL:
ELECTRONICS COMPANIES TEAM TOGETHER TO COUNTER RISING COSTS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS PREDICTS SUCCESS OF COMMERCIAL VENTURES
MITSUBISHI SEEKS COMPUTER SCIENTISTS
NASA FACILITY CHANGES NAME
RGB AWARDED AF DISPLAYS CONTRACT
SANDIA DEVELOPS COMPUTER THAT TRACKS THOUSANDS OF WARHEADS AT ONCE
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
B-2 DEVELOPMENT COSTS RISE 65 PERCENT IN 8 YEARS
C-17'S UPCOMING TEST FLIGHT
F-117 PAYLOAD COULD EXCEED 5,000 POUNDS
GULFSTREAM, ROLLS-ROYCE DEVELOPING HUSHKITS TO EXTEND JET LIFE
LATERAL CONTROL PROBLEMS FIGURED IN V-22 CRASH
POLISH MD-80 PURCHASE
SECOND FLIGHT TEST OF MBB'S BO 108 HELICOPTER
U.S. ARMY BUYS BEECHCRAFTS
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE TO UPGRADE JSTARS ELECTRONIC COMBAT SYSTEM
COMPANIES SEE OTHER APPLICATIONS FOR ATF RADAR
FOKKER TCAS COCKPIT ADAPTATION
THOMSON LEADS RAFALE AVIONICS DEVELOPMENT
TI, VIRGINIA TO PERFORM COPTER NAVIGATION SYSTEM STUDY
TITAN CORP. AWARDED IT&T RADAR CONTRACT
TRW PRODUCES SINGLE-CHIP RADAR
MISSILES:
ALENIA SEEKS PATRIOT INVOLVEMENT
ARIANE LAUNCH RESCHEDULED FOR JULY 16
HOUSE COMMITTEE URGES KILLING NAVY AAAM
JOUST-1 FAILURE
LEAP BEGINS FLIGHT TESTS
NORTHROP DEVELOPS SECRET $2.4 BILLION BAT ANTI-ARMOR SUBMUNITION
POLITICAL PROBLEMS WITH SRMU PROGRAM
SUCCESSFUL UAV FLIGHT TEST FOR DOUGLAS
U.S. TO CONTROL ARROW MISSILE TECHNOLOGIES WITHIN ISRAEL
SATELLITES:
AIR FORCE INCREASES AWARD ON MILSTAR TERMINALS
BA SAYS AIR FORCE INCREASES AWARD ON MILSTAR TERMINALS
HUGHES TO BUILD COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE FOR THAILAND
JAPAN TO LIFT SIGNAL BAN ON SEVERAL SATELLITES
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COLUMBIA LANDS SAFELY DESPITE LOOSE SEAL
ENGINEERS RESTORE ULYSSES FUNCTIONS AFTER X-BAND LOSS
SPACE STATION SURVIVAL DEBATE HAUNTS FUTURE CIVIL SPACE PROJECTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
ELECTRONIC COMPANIES TEAM TOGETHER TO COUNTER RISING COSTS
Electronic companies are forming alliances in increasing numbers for
development and sometimes for research, to fight rising costs and
accelerate products to market. Cooperative arrangements in development
are further along than ones in research because the cost savings
potential is greater. Motorola Inc. joined with Titan Corp. in a
strategic alliance which will develop a new satellite communications
��>Mt�ear�m'i�ndaMlxi|n�@n�eHa�rlx�h`lfO��0%�0
@����
�f{�K�{qK��{�qq�C)�+
i{kKs+��C){kk�sK
�K{s����+s;�C� hQ{1k{�{�la with the digital signal processing expertise of the Titan
Corp.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS PREDICTS SUCCESS OF COMMERCIAL VENTURES
For years, McDonnell Douglas has been shifting quickly toward more
commercial work. McDonnell Douglas officials estimate that within four
years commercial sales will constitute half of their company's total
sales, up from 37 percent of sales today. Sales of commercial jets are
soaring, with commercial backlog now surpassing the backlog of defense
orders. Although McDonnell Douglas has failed in past attempts to
reduce its reliance on defense, company officials say they have learned
from their attempts to diversity.
MITSUBISHI SEEKS COMPUTER SCIENTISTS
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. of Japan wants to recruit come of the best
computer scientists in America to work in a laboratory it is
establishing for fundamental research in computer technology at
Cambridge, MA. The lab will be located near MIT and will employ 50
researchers within three to five years. Japanese and American
researchers will team together under the leadership of an American
director to develop a new conceptual computer system, including
software, to perform new functions in intelligent processing and
learning.
NASA FACILITY CHANGES NAME
NASA's Scientific and Technical Information Facility near Baltimore is
changing its name to the Center for AeroSpace Information. The
renaming was prompted by changes in the strategic goals and objectives
of the agency-wide scientific and technical information program. The
new name is also intended to better reflect the program's emphasis on
collection, processing and dissemination of aerospace information.
RGB AWARDED AF DISPLAYS CONTRACT
RGB Spectrum is supplying the U.S. Air Force with 100 computer displays
capable of showing video images and computer graphics, under a $1
million contract. The contract is part of the Computer Integrated
Repair program, an effort to give electronics technicians at Warner
Robins Air Force Base, GA, instantaneous access to overhaul
instructions, detailed system drawings and recorded maintenance
instructions through their computers.
SANDIA DEVELOPS COMPUTER THAT TRACKS THOUSANDS OF WARHEADS AT ONCE
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories claim they will aid the
Strategic Defense Initiative by using massively parallel computers
which can track thousands of ballistic warheads at once. The most
advanced achievement so far tested is the calculation of flight paths
for about 10,000 objects, in real time, urging raw sensor data during
simulated strategic engagements. Command and control has always been a
weak point with SDI, and this project could help resolve the program's
major set back.
COMMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
B-2 DEVELOPMENT COSTS RISE 65 PERCENT IN 8 YEARS
Over an eight year period the cost of developing the B-2 bomber has
risen 65 percent, and additional cost increases are expected. These
additional cost increases will come about because of improved
conventional weapons and target detection sensors as well as
modifications to the bomber's classified electronics systems. Research
and development of the Air Force's B-2 bomber has already cost $21.9
billion, an $8.6 billion increase over the $13.3 billion the service
intended to pay when the project begun in 1981. The Air Force
estimates a $63.7 billion price tag for developing and producing 75
copies of the first version of the B-2, called the Baseline B-2 or the
B-2A. When the Air Force initially started the program they put a $66
billion price tag in current dollars for 132 bombers.
C-17'S UPCOMING TEST FLIGHT
The C-17 strategic transport aircraft has completed about 50 percent of
its engine system testing and will fly in about 30 to 45 days. With
the approach of the test flight, the program is expected to exceed
projected costs by about $300 million. McDonnell Douglas is the maker
of the C-17.
F-117 PAYLOAD COULD EXCEED 5,000 POUNDS
The F-117A stealth aircraft could carry more than the 5,000 pounds of
payload for which it was designed, but since heavier payloads are also
usually larger it would be a challenge, according to Lockheed
executives. The stealth-enhancing grids that are fixed over the F-
117A's inlets don't interfere with engine airflow, and the airframe is
only about 5% composite materials. During the Persian Gulf war the F-
117A carried two 2,000 pound laser-guided bombs.
GULFSTREAM, ROLLS-ROYCE DEVELOPING HUSHKITS TO EXTEND JET LIFE
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and Rolls-Royce are developing a "Quiet
Spey" hushkit program for Gulfstream 2 and 3 business jets, designed to
extend their service life beyond the year 2000. Under terms of the
agreement, Gulfstream and Rolls-Royce will define the ejector system's
characteristics, perform ejector/airframe integration and certify the
unit for Gulfstream 2, 2B and 3 aircraft.
LATERAL CONTROL PROBLEMS FIGURED IN V-22 CRASH
Lateral control problems figured in the crash of the fifth Bell/Boeing
V-22 Osprey tiltrotor during its recent maiden flight. Lift off was
normal but during initial hover testing at about 15 feet, using the
primary flight control system, the crew experienced lateral control
difficulties and decided to land. With the first landing attempt the
left engine's infrared suppressor struck the ground. During the second
attempt, lateral control difficulties increased and the aircraft began
to roll to the left, and finally landed in a semi-inverted position.
POLISH MD-80 PURCHASE
LOT Polish Airlines has signed a letter of intent to buy nine MD-80
transports from Douglas Aircraft Co. The six MD-83s and three MD-87s
are scheduled to be delivered to the national airline of Poland from
the first quarter of 1992 through 1993. The order is valued at $350
million.
SECOND FLIGHT TEST OF MBB'S BO 108 HELICOPTER
The first flight test of Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm's prototype BO 108
twin-engine light helicopter, earlier this month, lasted 25 minutes.
The pilot flew several hundred feet above the field doing forward,
sideways and backward maneuvers. Top forward speed reached 100 kt.
MBB said the second prototype has the same flight characteristics as
the first one, which signifies no technical problems. The No. 2
airframe was stretched by 6 in. and usable interior cockpit space
widened by 4 in. Maximum takeoff weight is 2,500 kg. (5,500 lb.).
U.S. ARMY BUYS BEECHCRAFTS
U.S. Army's Aviation Systems Command has bought three RC-12K aircraft
from Beech Aircraft Corp. for delivery beginning in July 1993.
According to the Army, an order for six more will be submitted later
this year. The RC-12K is a militarized version of the commercial B200C
Super King Air, designed for electronics special missions. It is
equipped with a large cargo door and high flotation landing gear for
operation from unimproved airstrips.
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE TO UPGRADE JSTARS ELECTRONIC COMBAT SYSTEM
The U.S. Air Force will delay installation of an electronic combat
system on the E-8 Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System
(JSTARS) aircraft, preferring to improve the aircrew's ability to flee
from enemies or call for help. The aircraft may eventually be equipped
with devices to defeat or divert enemy threats, such as heat-seeking or
radar-homing missiles. The defensive system may evolve from other
efforts under way to protect large aircraft, such as transports. The
final defensive system is called the Self Defense Suits. The Defense
Department has asked Congress for $311 million for development of
JSTARS in 1992, including $30 million for the Self Defense Suits.
COMPANIES SEE OTHER APPLICATIONS FOR ATF RADAR
Texas Instruments and Westinghouse, developers of the Advanced Tactical
Fighter radar, are expanding their teaming agreement to pursue business
opportunities through a broader application of the radar. TI and
Westinghouse have had nearly two years of successful tests of the ATF
radar in a flying test bed. Specific applications of the radar have
not yet been released.
FOKKER TCAS COCKPIT ADAPTATION
Fokker Aircraft has mixed human factors engineering with the
computational capabilities of the electronic flight instrumentation
system on board its Model 100 transport, to create new integrated
controls for a traffic collision avoidance system. The Fokker TCAS
directs pilots to fly to the pitch cue during a resolution advisory
(RA) alert rather than to the vertical speed indicator (VSI), the
standard approach. RAs are the highest order of TCAS alert, signaling
a dangerous rate of closure with another aircraft. They are shown in
red on the primary flight display and are accompanied by aura warnings
to climb, descend or monitor vertical speed. Deliveries of the Fokker
pitch cue system will begin next month with the first of 75 Model 100s
for American Airlines, although software will not be ready until
autumn.
TI, VIRGINIA TO PERFORM COPTER NAVIGATION SYSTEM STUDY
Texas Instruments, Inc., Dallas, and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA,
will perform a year-long study focusing on the U.S. Army's Advanced
Helicopter Pilotage program. The contract was awarded by the Army
Communications Electronic Command's Center for Night Vision and
Electro-Optics Air Systems Division, Fort Belvoir, VA, for an
undisclosed amount. The purpose of the helicopter navigation study is
to develop an advanced sensor and display system to visually link the
pilot to his surroundings. Texas Instruments' Visualization and
Simulation Laboratory will perform the study as a subcontractor to
Virginia Tech.
THOMSON LEADS RAFALE AVIONICS DEVELOPMENT
Thomson-CSF is leading the design and manufacture of the avionics for
France's new Rafale combat aircraft. Project leader Thomson-CSF has a
two-thirds share of the Rafale's RBE2 radar, a joint venture with
Dassault Electronique. Delivery of the first radar is scheduled for
late 1991, and initial airborne trials are slated for 1992 on the
Dassault Falcon 20 and Mirage 2000. Production radars are scheduled
for delivery in 1996, with the Rafale's service debut in 1996. The
RBE2's two-dimensional electronically scanned antenna improves beam
agility by a factor of up to 100%.
TITAN CORP. AWARDED IT&T RADAR CONTRACT
The Titan Corp. Electronics Division, San Diego, has been awarded a
$8.6 million contract by New York based International Telephone and
Telegraph's (IT&T) Federal Services Division, for short-range,
unattended radars of the North Warning System (NWS). The North Warning
System, which is jointly funded by Canada and the United States, is
designed to track cruise missiles and low-flying aircraft approaching
North America. The contract, which is initially funded at $6 million,
could be worth the full $8.6 million if options are exercised.
TRW PRODUCES SINGLE-CHIP RADAR
TRW Inc.'s Electronics & Technology Division, Redondo Beach, CA, has
designed and produced a millimeter-wave radar on a single chip. The
device is a frequency-modulated, continuous-wave radar transceiver
operating at 40 gigahertz, or billion of cycle a second. FM continuous
wave refers to emitting signals without interruption, rather than in
pulses. A transceiver is a radio transmitter and receiver combined in
one unit. The single-chip radar was designed as a possible successor
to radars based on hybrid microcircuits currently used in such smart
weapons as antitank weapons.
MISSILES:
ALENIA SEEKS PATRIOT INVOLVEMENT
The Italian defense firm Alenia, wants to increase its role in
coproduction of the Patriot air defense missile to include a logistics
center in southern France. Alenia officials say the company has been
negotiating with Raytheon Co., Lexington, MA, who produces the Patriot
missile. A similar logistic center likely will be established in
Germany.
ARIANE LAUNCH RESCHEDULED FOR JULY 16
Launch of Ariane flight 44 with the European Space Agency's ERS-1
environmental monitoring satellite has been rescheduled for July 16
from the Ariane launch facility near Kourou, French Guiana. Originally
scheduled for May 3, the launch was postponed to allow time for
modifications to the third-stage hydrogen fuel system, which had
registered a pressure loss shortly after ignition on earlier flights.
In addition to ERS-1, flight 44 will carry four small private or
academic satellites. Among them will be Orbcomm-X, Orbital Sciences
Corp.'s prototype message and position platform.
HOUSE COMMITTEE URGES KILLING NAVY AAAM
The Navy Advanced Air-to-Air Missile program has been called
unnecessary by the House Appropriations Committee. They feel it should
be scrapped in favor of the AMRAAM, for a savings of $10 billion. The
committee recognized that the AAAM might offer improved capabilities
for some shorter-range tactical but consider this marginal since the AF
has no requirement for it. AAAM was initiated at the height of the
defense buildup and prior to the diminution of the Soviet threat. It
was then only necessary to replace the Phoenix missile.
JOUST-1 FAILURE
Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Prospector sounding rocket failed yesterday on
the first Joust-1 commercial microgravity flight and the company's
stock lost 75 cents to close at $18. A Coast Guard vessel and an OSC
aircraft launched a search for debris and the payload, which landed
about two nautical miles down range after attaining an altitude of
about one mile. Engineers are reviewing comprehensive telemetry data
to try to pinpoint the cause of the failure. Videotape of the launch
seemed to show unidentified objects falling away from the tail of the
Prospector shortly before it turned off course.
LEAP BEGINS FLIGHT TESTS
The first lightweight exoatmospheric projectile (LEAP) has begun its
flight test phase, a key milestone aimed at demonstrating the
feasibility of deploying near-term kinetic kill missile defense
systems. Under a Strategic Defense Initiative Organization technology
development program, the first of three U.S. Army/Hughes LEAP vehicles
is being tested in a National Hover Test Facility at the Phillips
Laboratory's operating location, Edwards AFB, CA. The flight test will
involve LEAP hovering and tracking an infrared source about 100 meters
away.
NORTHROP DEVELOPS SECRET $2.2 BILLION BAT ANTI-ARMOR SUBMUNITION
The Army awarded Northrop a $344 million contract to develop the BAT, a
brilliant secret anti-armor submunition which will equip Army versions
of the recently-declassified Tri-Service Standoff Attack Missile
(TSSAM). The weapon is being declassified as a sign of the $2.2
billion program's maturity and because its host vehicle, the TSSAM, has
been brought out of special access. Northrop's Electrtonic Systems
Division, Hawthorne, CA, is the system prime and Raytheon Corp.,
Manchester, N.H., is a major subcontractor. The Army declined to give
the planned number of BATs to be bought, or their unit cost, but did
say that $250 million has been spent on the program thus far.
Production is expected to begin in the mid to late 90's.
POLITICAL PROBLEMS WITH SRMU PROGRAM
The U.S. Air Force's program to develop a new solid-rocket motor for
its workhorse Titan 4 booster is running into political problems, with
a key congressional committee threatening to terminate the program.
The House Appropriations Committee has charged that the Solid Rocket
Motor Upgrade (SRMU) program has been beset by inadequate program
management by the SRMU contractor, Hercules Aerospace, Magna, UT. The
committee also blasted the Air Force and Martin Marietta Astronautics
Group, Denver, prime contractor for the Titan 4. The committee is
seriously considering terminating the program.
SUCCESSFUL UAV FLIGHT TEST FOR MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co., St. Louis, leader of one of two
teams competing to produce the U.S. military's short-range unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV), has successfully flown its candidate for the $1.3
billion drone program. The two flights of the Sky Owl, built by a team
of McDonnell Douglas and Developmental Sciences Corp., Ontario, CA,
lasted about 20 minutes and the air vehicles demonstrated basic
performance capabilities. The first flight attempt of the Sky Owl UAV,
two months ago, ended in failure when the engine shut down right after
takeoff.
U.S. TO CONTROL ARROW MISSILE TECHNOLOGIES WITHIN ISRAEL
The United States and Israel agreed that the U.S. will assume control
over the way new technology developed for the U.S.-Israeli Arrow
missile program is transferred within Is2`eL& � P���<�F-�&��� �А� �> /���`S& ha �� � � ���� �{{
exclusively for the missile cannot be transferred to other Israeli
projects without U.S. approval. U.S. negotiators were particularly
sensitive to potential proliferation of missile technology. The
agreement also covers the funding arrangement, under which the U.S.
will pay for 72 percent of the estimated $270 million cost of the
second phase of Arrow development.
SATELLITES:
AIR FORCE INCREASES AWARD ON MILSTAR TERMINALS
The U.S. Air Force Command's Electronic Systems Division at Hanscom Air
Force Base, MA has awarded a $93 million increase on a contract for
Military Strategic and Tactical Relay satellite system (MILSTAR)
terminals to Rockwell International Corp.'s Command and Control Systems
Division. Work will be performed at the Command and Control Systems
Division in Richardson, TX, and at Rockwell Collins Avionics and
Communications Division facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
BA SAYS GROUND CREW CAUSED OLYMPUS FAILURE
British Aerospace Space Systems of Stevenage, England, Olympus' prime
contractor blamed the failure on operators at the European Space
Agency's ground station in Fucino, Italy. The facility is operated by
the 13-nation ESA, which owns Olympus, and Telespazio of Rome. British
Aerospace officials said that operators in Fucino overrode safety
devices, ignored numerous alarm warnings from the satellite and used
unapproved procedures that effectively stripped the $800 million
Olympus of its ability to recover itself.
HUGHES TO BUILD COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE FOR THAILAND
Hughes Aircraft Co., has made an agreement with Shinawatra Computer Co.
Ltd. of Bangkok to provide two communications satellites for Thailand's
first domestic satellite system. The contract is expected to have a
value of about $100 million.
JAPAN TO LIFT SIGNAL ON SEVERAL SATELLITES
Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications next year will allow
broadcasters to transmit from two satellites previously barred from
carrying television signals. The satellites, owned by Japan Satellite
communications Corp. and Space Communications Corp., both of Tokyo,
will dedicate three transponders each to direct-to-user television
transmissions. Two more channels will broadcast over a satellite to be
designated sometime later in the decade. Broadcast users of the eight
channels have yet to be selected. Regulations governing their use will
not be drafted until July.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COLUMBIA LANDS SAFELY DESPITE LOOSE SEAL
Astronauts aboard the Shuttle Columbia closed its cargo bay doors,
without a hitch, and successfully landed at Edwards AFB, CA. Failure
to close the doors could have resulted in potentially catastrophic heat
damage during landing. Four of the seven astronauts were immediately
transferred into a converted "people move" after landing, where
physicians performed a series of medical tests designed to measure the
effects of weightlessness on the human body. The scientific payload
also included 29 laboratory rats and almost 2,500 jellyfish orbited to
determine how microgravity affected their development.
ENGINEERS RESTORE ULYSSES FUNCTIONS AFTER X-BAND LOSS
Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers restored eight of the nine
instruments aboard the Ulysses solar probe to operation after a loss of
X-bank communications which shut them down. Operators had no
explanation for the loss of communications, which lasted two hours
before being restored with emergency commands. When communications
were cut, the European-built satellite went into a safing mode and shut
down the instruments. The spacecraft is still en route to Jupiter for
a gravity assist into a polar solar orbit.
SPACE STATION SURVIVAL DEBATE HAUNTS FUTURE CIVIL SPACE PROJECTS
The recent congressional debate over whether to cancel the
international space station may discourage foreign cooperation in civil
space programs for years to come. In addition to igniting a collective
scare in Europe, Japan and Canada, which together have invested $1.6
billion, it reopened wounds that had healed. Ten years ago, the U.S.
withdrew from the International Solar Polar mission, the precursor to
ESA's Ulysses spacecraft.
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO
BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO
JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO
MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO
ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO
DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO
TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO
DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO
KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO
DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO
BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO
RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA
PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO
TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO
STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO
RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO
JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO
BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO
FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO
JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO
STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@
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ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO
BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO
HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO
LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA
MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO
PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA DAVE JOHNSON@FZO
CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO
ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO
PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO
DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO
STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY
KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO
MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO
PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO
MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO
BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST
TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO
RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO
WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO
ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO
RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARILYN MARSH@WRO
DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO
CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO
CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO
JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO
TOM MILLER@SEO PAUL MILLER@EDO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO
JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO
RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO
GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO
BILL MORROW@WRO MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO
BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO
NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO
ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO
STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO
CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO
MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO
PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO
CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO
RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO
ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW
STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO
JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO
PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO
JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@ PHIL RIDDICK@HVO
ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO
PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO
ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@PSO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO
ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO
HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA
BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.119 | Aerospace News, Week of 6/24 | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jul 17 1991 11:16 | 681 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 04-Jul-1991 09:34am CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace News, Week of 6/24
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 03-Jul-1991 2212
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of June 24, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 24, 1991
GENERAL:
BELL HELICOPTER PRESIDENT CHOSEN
DOE OPENS NEW SPACE OFFICE
EER BUYS GLOBESAT
GENERAL DYNAMICS CHOSE TI FOR FSD OF F-16 MODULAR COMPUTERS
MCDONNELL INTRODUCES NEW ERASABLE MEMORY CHIP
NASA AWARDS DATA, ENGINEERING CONTRACTS TO TWO COMPANIES
SPACECRAFT COMMAND LANGUAGE
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ARMY REJECTS V-22
ARMY RESTRICTS APACHE TRAINING BECAUSE OF ENGINE PROBLEMS
B-2 FLIGHT CUT SHORT
BEECH AIRCRAFT WINS U.S. ARMY CONTRACT FOR 3 RC-12K EW PLANES
FAMILY OF UAVs IN UPDATED ARMY AVIATION PLAN
HORIZON AIR ORDERS 35 DORNIER AIRCRAFT
LEGATO INTRODUCED AT PARIS AIR SHOW
UPGRADED CF-5 PERFORMS FIRST FLIGHT TEST
AVIONICS:
F-22 RADAR TEAM EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP
FERRANTI SUPPLIES AIR DEFENSE SIMULATOR TO THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
RAYTHEON COMPLETED MODERNIZATION OF EARLY WARNING RADAR INSTALLATIONS
MISSILES:
AIR FORCE PURCHASES ADDITIONAL AMRAAMs
DOD SEEKS STRATEGY TO DESTROY MISSILE LAUNCHERS
MARTIN & ESC SUCCESSFULLY FIRE TWO TOW MISSILES
MCDONNELL TO PRODUCE HARPOONS FOR DANISH NAVY
SECOND ARROW TEST PHASE
TURKEY IS FIRST TO PROCURE AMRAAMs
SATELLITES:
AUDIO SATELLITE RECEIVES LICENSE
GE WINS AWARD FOR SATELLITE INTEGRATION
INTELSAT 7 DELIVERY DATES CHANGE
JAPAN OPENS SATELLITE COMPETITION
THAILAND CHOSE HUGHES TO PROVIDE SATELLITE
TRW SATELLITE APPROVED FOR SHUTTLE LAUNCH
U.S. ARMY, NAVY PLAN TO FIELD NEW SMALL SATELLITES
SPACE SYSTEMS:
AIR FORCE CHOOSES COMPANY TO OPERATE GROUND STATION
ENDEAVOUR FLIED TO RESCUE INTELSAT SATELLITE
GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY UPDATE
SDIO AWARDS FOUR COMPANIES FOR BRILLIANT EYES WORK
SPAR WINS $26 MILLION GE CONTRACT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BELL HELICOPTER PRESIDENT CHOSEN
Webb R. Joiner has been named president of Bell Helicopter Textron,
succeeding Leonard M. Horner, who will serve as chairman of the Texas-
based helicopter company until his retirement in 1992. Joiner has been
with Bell since 1960 and has served as executive vice president since
1986.
DOE OPENS NEW SPACE OFFICE
The Department of Energy is creating an office of space to coordinate
the activities of DOE's 18 national laboratories in connection with
President Bush's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) and the space-based
portion of the interagency global change research program. The office
is scheduled to begin operating October 1 and will eventually grow to a
headquarters staff of 20 to 30. The duties of the office include
policy, planning, budget coordination for space activities within the
department, also technical coordination and oversight of existing or
future programs that the department may undertake as part of the global
change program.
EER BUYS GLOBESAT
EER Systems Corp. of Vienna, VA, has purchased Globesat Inc., Logan,
Utah, which specializes in manufacturing small satellites. Globesat
also participates in the remote-sensing industry that gives EER the
means to return to that business. Globesat is best known for the
design and manufacture of small satellites weighing no more than 200
pounds. The company employs about 15 people and has average annual
sales of approximately $250,000. EER's primary interest in Globesat is
an imaging technology that Globesat is developing.
GENERAL DYNAMICS CHOSE TI FOR FSD OF F-16 MODULAR COMPUTERS
Texas Instruments Defense Systems & Electronics Group was chosen by
General Dynamics for full scale development of the F-16 modular mission
computer which will support aircraft growth capabilities such as
forward-looking infrared and digital terrain following radar. The
computer, which contains 22 digital module slots, will perform the
functions now done by three computers onboard the F-16. The contract
for full scale development is valued at an estimated $47 million. The
agreement is expected to include delivery of 31 modular computers to GD
for final integration and testing.
MCDONNELL INTRODUCES NEW ERASABLE MEMORY CHIP
McDonnell Douglas Electronic Systems Co. has demonstrated a
nonvolatile, erasable memory chip that stores data in a ceramic thin
film on a fallium arsenide substrate. The memory device is called
FERRAM, for Ferroelectric random access memory. The chip is immune to
data upset from charged particles such as cosmic rays, and is
considered promising for use in space. The first chip has only 400
bits of storage capacity, but McDonnell officials say the technology
should be capable of megabit capacity by 1995. The work was sponsored
by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for use in space
systems, but may have commercial applications also.
NASA AWARDS DATA, ENGINEERING CONTRACTS TO TWO COMPANIES
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has awarded contracts to Federal
Data Systems Corp. and Fairchild Space with a total value of $94.5
million for data storage and delivery and engineering support. Federal
Data Systems, Bethesda, MD, will supply a mass data storage and
delivery system that will provide significantly new capabilities over
its seven-year life. Initially, the system will provide at least 240
gigabytes of on-line direct access storage, with at least seven
terabytes of mass storage. During the second phase the on-line storage
would be boosted to a maximum of 3,600 gigabytes, with mass storage
raised to as much as 225 terabytes. Total value of the contract, which
will support research programs, is $42.5 million.
SPACECRAFT COMMAND LANGUAGE
Interface & Control Systems, Melbourne, FL, developed a software system
called Spacecraft Command Language, for the Naval Research Laboratory.
The system is being marketed to the private satellite industry for the
first time. The software supports telemetry handling and satellite
control and housekeeping tasks. It is portable and is used on board
spacecraft and in test equipment and ground stations.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ARMY REJECTS V-22
The U.S. Army recently said it has no plans to develop or purchase the
V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, or an aircraft like it, in the future.
The Army released a statement claiming it does not need and could not
use the V-22 in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
ARMY RESTRICTS APACHE TRAINING BECAUSE OF ENGINE PROBLEMS
The U.S. Army has restricted training of the AH-64 Apache attack
helicopter pilots because of recurring problems in the General Electric
T-700-701C helicopter engine. The engine is plagued by a glitch that
causes fuel to flow in surges rather than smoothly. The power surges
place a burden on the aircraft transmission. Although the Army says
that the anomalies of rotor droop and torque unpredictability do not
create hazardous flight, military officials say the problem distracts
pilots by forcing them to pay more attention to the fuel flow during
flight. Eventually, the problem could degrade the engine.
B-2 FLIGHT CUT SHORT
The first flight of the third USAF/Northrop B-2 was terminated during
flight testing by a landing gear anomaly during retraction and
extension tests. The gear problem was discovered about an hour into
the recent flight from Northrop's Palmdale final assembly plant to
Edwards AFB, forcing the test crew to dump excess fuel and make a
precautionary landing on Edward's Rogers Dry Lake. Although cockpit
indications showed all three gear were down and locked after extension,
the pilots chose to terminate the flight earlier than originally
planned.
BEECH AIRCRAFT WINS U.S. ARMY CONTRACT FOR 3 RC-12K EW PLANES
Beech Aircraft Corp., Wichita, KS, a subsidiary of Raytheon Co., was
awarded a U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command contract for three RC-12K
electronic warfare aircraft. The RC-12K is a military version of the
Beechcraft Super King Air B200C corporate jet aircraft modified with
the most modern electronic flight instrumentation system and an
aircraft survivability equipment suite. Delivery of the first aircraft
is scheduled for July 1993. The contract, with options for six
additional aircraft, is valued at $30.9 million.
FAMILY OF UAVs IN UPDATED ARMY AVIATION PLAN
The U.S. Army wants to develop a family of unmanned aircraft that would
perform alongside manned combat helicopters in wars by 2020, according
to a recently released 1991 update to the Army Aviation Modernization
Plan. The service wants to emphasize advanced technologies that would
be critical to the design and development of a fleet of pilotless
aircraft capable of performing attack, reconnaissance and transport
missions. Plans are to deploy four different drones that would
complement the future helicopter fleet near 2020. The UAV family would
complement the pilot with an unmanned system, therefore reducing the
vulnerability of the soldier in the field. The UAV fleet requires
funding now for research into artificial intelligence, computer
processing, propulsion, materials, robotics and neural networks.
HORIZON AIR ORDERS 35 DORNIER AIRCRAFT
Horizon Air, Seattle, has placed a $260 million order for 35 Dornier
328 twin-engine commuter aircraft to replace its 33 Fairchild Metro 3s.
Horizon is a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group. The company will receive
the aircraft in a 30-seat configuration but plans to remove an optional
coat rack to add another seat as demand increases. Horizon Air, the
seventh-largest U.S. commuter airline, carried 1.8 million passengers
last year. It has options on an additional 25 aircraft. First flight
of the 328 is set for September, with initial customer delivery in
1993.
LEGATO INTRODUCED AT PARIS AIR SHOW
Two U.S. companies introduced a new general aviation aircraft design,
known as the Legato, at the Paris air show last week. Airight, Inc.,
and Automated Aircraft Tooling, both of Wichita, KS, teamed to design
the concept aircraft, which would feature an advanced aluminum alloy
airframe, four seats and a 200-hp. Teledyne Continental engine designed
to burn avgas or auto fuel. If the Legato is developed and certified,
the two companies plan to sell the design outright to a foreign
manufacturer.
UPGRADED CF-5 PERFORMS FIRST FLIGHT TEST
A Canadian CF-5 with upgraded avionics successfully completed its first
flight test paving the way for modernization of 45 other CF-5
aircraft. The 50-minute test flight of the two-seat aircraft will be
followed in July by the flight of a single-seat aircraft. Completion
of the test clears the way for the remaining production of the upgraded
avionics which is scheduled for completion in 1995 and is valued at
approximately $70 million (Canadian dollars). The aircraft will be
used to improve training of CF-18 pilots by familiarizing them with the
use of head up displays. The modernization plan will also enhance the
CF-5's navigation and weapons delivery and increase the safety and
maintainability of the aircraft. Bristol Aerospace Ltd., Manitoba,
Canada, engineered and integrated the new avionics suite.
AVIONICS:
F-22 RADAR TEAM EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP
Texas Instruments and Westinghouse Electric Corp. want to expand their
partnership on the radar for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 advanced
tactical fighter (ATF) to other derivative radar opportunities. The
two companies hope to apply the X-bank active electronically scanned
array (AESA) antennas and radar systems of the ATF's advanced radar to
air target applications. Texas Instruments officials say the team has
been testing the ATF solid-state X-bank arrays successfully in a flying
testbed for almost two years and is confident the technology also can
be extended to other air, ground and shipboard applications.
FERRANTI SUPPLIES AIR DEFENSE SIMULATOR TO THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
Ferranti International's Airspace Simulation Group, Cwmbran, South
Wales, the United Kingdom, has received a contract from the British
Defence Ministry to supply an air defense simulator to the Royal Air
Force. Under the contract terms, Ferranti will design and assemble the
simulation network that comprises 36 work-stations equipped with color
radar monitors, displays and keyboard controls. The system will be
operational in eight weeks.
RAYTHEON COMPLETED MODERNIZATION OF EARLY WARNING RADAR INSTALLATIONS
Raytheon's Equipment Division has finished modernization work on USAF
Pave Paws Phased-array, early warning radar installations at Cape Cod
AFS, MA, and Beale AFB, CA. The $71.5 million project has replaced
computers, peripherals, signal processors, display consoles and
software that were procured as the original equipment in 1976. The two
older sites will now have an identical equipment configuration to that
in the two newer Pave Paws radar sites at Robins AFB, GA, and Eldorado
AFS, TX. The computers are expected to reduce operating costs which
steadily increased as the old computers became difficult to maintain.
Pave Paws provides early warning of sea-launched ballistic missile
attacks on the continental U.S.
MISSILES:
AIR FORCE PURCHASES ADDITIONAL AMRAAMs
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Raytheon Co., Lexington, MA, a $160
million contract for additional Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air
Missiles (AMRAAM), designed to guide themselves toward enemy aircraft.
Up to 24,000 of the missiles will be deployed on U.S. Navy and Air
Force aircraft, such as F-15s and F-16s. The contract was awarded by
the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base, OH.
DOD SEEKS STRATEGY TO DESTROY MISSILE LAUNCHERS
The U.S. Department of Defense is developing a strategy to destroy
missile launchers in less than five minutes after they launch a
missile. In the Gulf war the Iraqis were able to move their Scud
system launchers within five minutes after launching a missile. Under
its theater missile defense program, the Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization is coordinating efforts by the U.S. Army, Air Force and
Navy to establish a doctrine for coordinated suppression of enemy
missile launchers.
MARTIN & ESC SUCCESSFULLY FIRE TWO TOW MISSILES
Martin Marietta Electronics Systems, Orlando, FL, and Electronics and
Space Corp. (ESC), St Louis, have together successfully fired two Tube-
launched Optically tracked Wire-guided (TOW) antitank missiles less
than two seconds apart at two separate targets. The testing was
conducted at the Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL. The two
TOW missiles hit direct targets. ESC provided the missile hardware,
multiple launch guidance system and flight algorithms. Martin Marietta
supplied target-tracking software and other test devices. This test
concludes a three-year independent research effort.
MCDONNELL TO PRODUCE HARPOONS FOR DANISH NAVY
McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co., St. Louis, was awarded a
contract by the Royal Danish Navy for the delivery of the Harpoon
coastal defense anti-ship missile system. Under the contract terms,
McDonnell Douglas will deliver the first Harpoon unit in January 1994,
which will replace two Danish frigates that are being decommissioned.
The coastal defense version of Harpoon combines a mobile, land-based
launching system with the existing Harpoon antiship missile to provide
cost-effective defense of large coastal areas from surface ships.
SECOND ARROW TEST PHASE
The second phase of Arrow antiballistic missile tests will include 11
flights and take 45 months. The experimental missile still has one or
two tests left in its $280-million initial proof-of-concept phase. The
U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative Organization has provided 80% of the
initial funding. The second phase, which will begin late this year,
will cost $270 million of which the U.S. will fund 70%. Early tests in
the second phase are expected to include interception of a simulated
chemical warhead to see if the missile can destroy it. Some Israeli
officials contend that many of the Scud warheads were knocked off
course but not destroyed by the Patriots during the Persian Gulf war.
Arrow is expected to need Mach 9 speed in order to reach incoming
ballistic missiles before they, or their debris, threaten large
population areas or military assets.
TURKEY IS FIRST TO PROCURE AMRAAMs
The U.S. government's signed letter of agreement with Turkey for the
sale of about 100 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)
marks the first international procurement of the front-line, radar-
guided system. This agreement will be included in the sixth production
lot of the AMRAAM for delivery in 1994. U.S. Air Force officials
predict that this deal may spark interest from allied nations for the
only autonomously guided air-to-air, multiple-launch missile available
on the market. U.S. government sources project foreign military sales
of AMRAAM to exceed 9,000 missiles over the next eight to 10 years.
SATELLITES:
AUDIO SATELLITE RECEIVES LICENSE
The Federal Communications Commission recently awarded the first U.S.
license to deploy a satellite that will provide digital audio
broadcasting. WorldSpace Corp. of Washington was chosen to construct,
launch and operate the small satellite on an experimental basis.
WorldSpace is the parent company of Afrispace Inc., which plans to use
the small satellite to relay radio broadcasts to small, inexpensive
receivers throughout Africa and parts of Near Asia. The spacecraft is
scheduled to launch on a Chinese rocket in 1993.
GE WINS AWARD FOR SATELLITE INTEGRATION
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, CA, has awarded
$8.4 million to GE Astro Space of East Windsor, N.J., for integrating
Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) spacecraft with launch
vehicles that will carry the satellites into space. GE is building a
new generation of DSCS spacecraft, which provide super-high frequency
communications for the U.S. Defense Department and other U.S.
government agencies. The $8.4 million award is for GE to integrate the
fifth through eighth satellites with their Atlas boosters and the
Integrated Apogee Boost Subsystem, a rocket motor designed to place the
spacecraft in its final orbit. The total value of GE's DSCS contract
is $694.1 million.
INTELSAT 7 DELIVERY DATES CHANGE
The top management council of the International Telecommunications
Satellite Organization (Intelsat) of Washington voted to extend the
contract deadlines for delivery of its Intelsat 7 series of spacecraft.
The board of governors voted to change the delivery schedule of the
second Intelsat 7 spacecraft to five months after delivery of the first
spacecraft. Each of the three remaining satellites will be delivered
at 3 1/2 months intervals. Delivery of the first Intelsat 7, built by
Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, CA, is about four months behind
schedule. It is expected to be delivered in November 1992.
JAPAN OPENS SATELLITE COMPETITION
Nippon Telephone and Telegraph Corp. of Tokyo recently opened what is
expected to be a fierce competition to build two domestic Japanese
communications satellites, called N-STAR. The winner will deliver the
spacecraft to orbit and select launch services. Bids are due to
Japan's massive telecommunications provider by September 5. Launches
of the spacecraft are planned for April 30, 1995, and October 31, 1995.
They will operate in space for 10 years.
THAILAND CHOSE HUGHES TO PROVIDE SATELLITE
Thailand selected Hughes to build its first domestic communications
satellite system. The first of two HS 376 satellites is to be
delivered in 1993, and both will be equipped with 10 8-w. C-band
transponders and two 50-w. Ku-band transponders. The system will cost
about $100 million.
TRW SATELLITE APPROVED FOR SHUTTLE LAUNCH
TRW's Tracking Data and Relay Satellite (TDRS) has been approved for
launch aboard the Shuttle Atlantis in late July. There was concern
that TDRS's gimbal deploy motor might not have enough torque margin to
deploy the satellite's space-to-ground link antenna. The antenna is
the main link between the satellite and its ground station at White
Sands, N.M. After inspecting the satellite, officials are convinced
that the deploy motor has sufficient torque margin for the task. The
satellite was then installed in Atlantis and rolled out to the launch
pad.
U.S. ARMY, NAVY PLAN TO FIELD NEW SMALL SATELLITES
Both the U.S. Navy and Army plan to field small satellites later this
decade to provide extra communications in tactical military situations
as divers as a submarine beneath the Arctic ice and a land battle in a
remote site. The Navy plans to field a constellation of six UHF
satellites in orbits that cross over the north and south poles, and the
Army is developing a small extremely high frequency (EHF)
communications satellite that could be orbited quickly during a war.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
AIR FORCE CHOOSES COMPANY TO OPERATE GROUND STATION
The U.S. Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, CO, has
awarded a $40 million contract to Planning Research Corp., of McLean,
VA, to operate and maintain a ground station for the Navstar Global
Positioning System at Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean
Territory. Navstar consists of a constellation of satellites that
continually broadcast highly accurate navigational information. The
Diego Garcia facility will monitor the satellites broadcasts and check
their accuracy.
ENDEAVOUR FLIES TO RESCUE INTELSAT SATELLITE
The new space shuttle, Endeavour, will be used to rescue a commercial
communications satellite, which has been stranded in a useless orbit
since March 1990, by the failure of its commercial rocket booster.
Tests are currently being conducted at NASA's Johnson Space Center, in
preparation for the first flight of the space shuttle. The rescue will
include a complex orbital rendezvous between the shuttle and the
stranded satellite, and a challenging spacewalk. Once that mission is
completed, the seven-person crew will stay two additional days working
in space to show that astronauts can help assemble large pieces of
NASA's planned international space station.
GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY UPDATE
NASA's $557 million Gamma Ray Observatory is currently recording gamma
ray data at a higher rate and in greater detail than any previous
spacecraft. The burst and transient source experiment instrument on
the 35,000 lb. Goddard Space Flight Center spacecraft has been
recording about five gamma ray bursts per week, which is about three
times the previous highest rate observed. The rate equates to about
250 bursts per year, compared with French/Soviet data from earlier
Soviet Venera Venus orbiter data of about 80 per year. Analysis of the
French/Soviet data shows most of the gamma rays detected originate
within the Milky Way galaxy, a theory GRO data will be used to verify.
SDIO AWARDS FOUR COMPANIES FOR SDIO WORK
The Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) has awarded four
companies contracts totaling $21 million to develop the designs for its
Brilliant Eyes satellites. The companies awarded contracts, worth
approximately $5.2 million each, include: Lockheed Corp., Sunnyvale,
CA; Martin Marietta Corp., Bethesda, Md; Rockwell International, El
Segundo, CA; and TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA. Brilliant Eyes will be
used to track missiles as they leave the atmosphere under SDIO's
current program to defend against a limited strike or accidental launch
of missiles toward the United States or its allies.
SPAR WINS $26 MILLION GE CONTRACT
Spar Aerospace Ltd. has been awarded a $26.1 million contract by GE
Astro Space, East Windsor, N.J. to provide the High Gain Antenna System
for NASA's Earth Observation System (EOS). The contract will be signed
in September and includes the development and delivery of the antenna
by 1996. TRW Space and Technology Group, Redondo Beach, CA, also
competed for the GE sub-contract. EOS is scheduled to be launched by
1998. The platform will be equipped with eleven sensors to monitor
various conditions of the Earth's surface and atmosphere. The data
collected will be transmitted by Spar's space-to-space antenna from the
platform to NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO
BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO
JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO
MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO
ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO
DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO
TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO
DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO
KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO
DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO
BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO
RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA
PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO
TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO
STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO
RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO
JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO
BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO
FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO
JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO
STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@
MATT FLIPPEN@NYO KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO TOM FLYNN@SYO
JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO
OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO
ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO
BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO
HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO
LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA
MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO
PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA DAVE JOHNSON@FZO
CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO
ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO
PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO
DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO
STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY
KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO
MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO
PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO
MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO
BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST
TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO
RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO
WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO
ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO
RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARILYN MARSH@WRO
DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO
CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO
CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO
JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO
TOM MILLER@SEO PAUL MILLER@EDO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO
JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO
RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO
GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO
BILL MORROW@WRO MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO
BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO
NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO
ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO
STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO
CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO
MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO
PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO
CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO
RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO
ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW
STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO
JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO
PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO
JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@ PHIL RIDDICK@HVO
ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO
PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO
ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@PSO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO
ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO
HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA
BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.120 | Aerospace News, Week of 7/1/91 | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jul 17 1991 11:49 | 545 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 09-Jul-1991 05:05pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace News, Week of 7/1/91
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 09-Jul-1991 1053
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 01, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 1, 1991
GENERAL:
ALLIED-SIGNAL STOCK RISES AFTER BOSSIDY IS NAMED CEO
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT REJECTS BID FOR DE HAVILLAND DIVISION
LUCAS FINALIZES TRACOR ACQUISITION
SUNDSTRAND LAYOFFS
SYSCON AWARDED $154 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING HELICOPTERS RECEIVES $208.9 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
DAB POSTPONED ATF CONTRACT
F-16 FLIGHT TESTS DOMINATE EDWARDS ACTIVITY
FRENCH TESTING E-2C PLANES
MD TESTS FIRST PRODUCTION HELICOPTER WITHOUT TAIL ROTOR
SWISS CHOOSE MCDONNELL F/A-18 OVER DASSAULT MIRAGE
AVIONICS:
AUSTRALIA SELECTS MARCONI FOR OTH RADAR SYSTEMS
GEC HEADS EFA WORK
GRUMMAN, LOCKHEED TO MARKET EARLY WARNING PLANES
TLD SYSTEMS TO SUPPLY COPTER SOFTWARE COMPILER
U.S. JAMMER CONTINUES PRODUCTION
MISSILES:
AYDIN TO PROVIDE PRODUCTS FOR U.S. NAVY'S SLAM
HUGHES AND RAYTHEON TO PRODUCE MISSILES
ORBITAL CLAIMS AFT SKIRT CAUSED JOUST FAILURE
RAYTHEON, DASA JOIN TO PURSUE INTERNATIONAL MISSILE PROJECTS
SCOUT LAUNCHES AF SATELLITE IN POLAR ORBIT
SOVIETS TO EXPORT MISSILE INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM
SATELLITES:
SOVIET GORIZONT COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LAUNCHED
TELESAT SIGNS WITH ARIANESPACE
SPACE SSYSTEMS:
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER UNUSUALLY LUMINOUS OBJECT IN UNIVERSE
ENGINEERS SAY SPACE STATION COST TOO HIGH
SDI's LEAP 2 MAKES ITS FIRST FLIGHT
U.S.-SOVIET SUMMIT TO DISCUSS JOINT MANNED MISSIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
ALLIED-SIGNAL STOCK RISES AFTER BOSSIDY IS NAMED CEO
Allied-Signal stock rose $4 to $33.37 following a recent announcement
that Lawrence A. Bossidy will take over as chief executive officer. He
pledged to boost the company's profits. Bossidy will also become
chairman at the end of the year. Allied-Signal's three main
businesses-aerospace, automotive and chemical, were damaged by the
recession, with the company earning growing just 2.2% annually over the
last five years. Bossidy predicts that all three businesses will
survive.
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT REJECTS BID FOR DE HAVILLAND DIVISION
The Canadian government has turned down a joint bid by Aerospatiale of
France and Alenia of Italy to acquire Boeing's de Havilland of Canada
commuter aircraft division. Canadian officials said they were not
satisfied that the proposal was to be of net benefit to Canada, a
requirement for approval of the proposed acquisition. The aerospace
sector is a critical contributor to the Canadian economy, and they want
to find an arrangement that will enable de Havilland to become more
internationally competitive in a globalized industry. The Canadian
government also wants to insure that any request for government funding
and other forms of aid are consistent with Canadian practice.
LUCAS FINALIZES TRACOR ACQUISITION
Lucas Aerospace finalized its acquisition of bankrupt Tracor Aviation
for $27 million. Some analysts predict that this is the first of many
deals as the Gulf War memories fade away. Lucas said that its backing
of Tracor has already helped restore the market's confidence in the
long-struggling aviation maintenance and electronics operation. Boeing
recently placed a $5 million contract for 747 jetliner parts and
assemblies with the unit, now called Lucas Aviation Services Inc.
SUNDSTRAND LAYOFFS
Sundstrand Corp. recently laid off 400 workers, including 240 at its
corporate headquarters and aerospace operations in Rockford, IL. Since
the beginning of the year, Sundstrand has laid off a total of 700
employees. The company had 1990 sales of $1.6 billion, 66% of which
involved the design and manufacturing of proprietary, technology-based
components and subsystems for aerospace.
SYSCON AWARDED $154 MILLION NAVY CONTRACT
Syscon Corp., Milwaukee, WS, received a five-year, $154 million Navy
contract to provide testing and evaluation of AEGIS combat systems
tactical computer programs. The contract was the largest ever awarded
by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, VA. Syscon is teamed
with Atlantic Research Corp., Vitro Corp., Technology Services Corp.,
Keystone Computers, Simms Industries, K&K Software Engineering and
Integration Engineering Inc.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING HELICOPTERS RECEIVES $208.9 MILLION ARMY CONTRACT
Boeing Helicopters, Philadelphia, PA, recently received a $208.9
million Army contract for 11 Low Rate Initial Production MH-47E special
operations helicopters, which are to be delivered by April 1993. Army
Aviation Systems Command, St. Louis, MO, let the contract. Work will
be performed in Ridley Park, PA.
DAB POSTPONED ATF CONTRACT
The Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) has postponed the Air Force's F-22
Advanced Tactical Fighter for at least 30 days, delaying the
engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. The prime
contractor, Lockheed, and the engine contractor, Pratt & Whitney,
collectively value the contract at $12 billion. The Pentagon says that
there are no problems with the program thus far, but don't want any
questions lingering as Milestone II is passed. The DAB wants to
approve changes made to the program by the Air Force over the course of
the demonstration/validation phase.
F-16 FLIGHT TESTS DOMINATE EDWARDS ACTIVITY
The F-16 Combined Test Force (CTF) is the most active unit under the
Air Force Flight Test Center today, flying about 3,000 hr. on 2,500
sorties this fiscal year. About 1,600 of those missions are devoted to
F-16 testing, while the remaining are support sorties. The F-16 CTF
performs about 40% of the Flight Test Center's flying and 29% of all
flight testing done in the USAF Systems Command. As of May, 1991, the
CTF had flown 23,000 missions since it was established in the mid-1970s
during the YF-16/17 lightweight fighter flyoff.
FRENCH TESTING E-2C PLANES
Grumman Corp., Bethpage, NY, is deploying two E-2C Hawkeye surveillance
aircraft to the French testing center at Istres, where they are
performing a two-week evaluation cycle. The French Navy requires four
airborne surveillance aircraft for the new nuclear-powered aircraft it
is building, the Charles De Gaulle, and its sister ship. French
sources say the unit price is between $600 million and $650 million,
for delivery in 1997.
MD TESTS FIRST PRODUCTION HELICOPTER WITHOUT TAIL ROTOR
The first production helicopter without a tail rotor performed its
maiden flight at McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co's Mesa, AZ plant. The
MD 520N uses the "Notar" system for anti-torque and directional
control. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery to the Phoenix,
AZ, police department, which plans to buy a total of seven. Other 520N
helicopters to be delivered this year include customers in Europe,
Australia, the Philippines, South America and Central America. MD has
156 firm orders for the aircraft.
SWISS CHOOSE MCDONNELL F/A-18 OVER DASSAULT MIRAGE
Switzerland decided to buy 34 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 fighters over
France's Dassault Aviation's Mirage 2000-5. The decision was a blow to
Dassault who was counting on a Swiss order. Swiss government officials
say that F/A-18 was chosen because it is a well-proven system with no
teething problems, and an aircraft with substantial growth potential.
Some French officials say that the selection of the F/A-18 may not be
final since the final decision belongs to the Swiss Parliament.
Dassault and Thomson-CSF have invested more than 3 billion French
francs ($492 million) to develop the Mirage 2000-5, a modernized export
version of the basic French Air Force fighter, featuring a new cockpit,
an improved RDY radar and an updated navigation-attack system.
AVIONICS:
AUSTRALIA SELECTS MARCONI FOR OTH RADAR SYSTEMS
The Australian Telecommunications Corp. has signed a 120 million pound
($197 million) subcontract with Marconi Overseas Ltd. for high-
frequency radar systems for Australia's Jindalee over-the-horizon (OTH)
radar network. Work began in June on the subcontract, which involves
the design and supply over the next 2 1/2 years of two over-the-horizon
radars, one near Longreach, Queensland, and the other near Laverton,
Western Australia. Marconi Communications System Ltd. will provide the
High-frequency transmitter and receiver, while Marconi Radar Systems
Ltd. will design the system.
GEC HEADS EFA WORK
A GEC Avionics-led consortium has been awarded a 20 million pound
($32.6 million) contract to supply the advanced pilot control stick for
the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA). The control stick, or Stick
Sensor and Interface Control Assembly (SSICA), will provide the link
between the pilot and the aircraft's flight controls. The SSICA will
form part of the EFA flight control system, which will be a full-time
quadruplex digital fly-by-wire system with no reversion to mechanical
controls.
GRUMMAN, LOCKHEED TO MARKET EARLY WARNING PLANES
Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Corp. have agreed to together market
airborne early warning capabilities of Grumman's E-2C aircraft in the
airframes of Lockheed's C-130 and P-3. Placing the E-2C's General
Electric APS-145 radar and communications systems into the C-130 or P-3
would yield a relatively low cost, long endurance platform with
advanced capabilities. Company officials say the price will be
affordable for a number of overseas customers, as well as the U.S.
Marine Corps. They don't have a launch customer yet, but prospects
appear to be high in countries in the Middle East and along the Pacific
Rim.
TLD SYSTEMS TO SUPPLY COPTER SOFTWARE COMPILER
TLD Systems Ltd., based in Torrance CA, will provide the Ada software
compiler system to the Boeing Sikorsky team producing the U.S. Army's
RAH-66 helicopter. Intel Corp.'s i80960 and Mil-Std 1750A
microprocessors, which will be used in helicopter mission and flight
control systems, will be programmed using TLD's Ada compiler.
Compilers translate software code into a maching code that can be
understood by a computer.
U.S. JAMMER CONTINUES PRODUCTION
The Defense Acquisition Board recently agreed to continue low-level
production of the U.S. Navy's $7 billion Airborne Self-Protection
Jammer. As little as 48 jammers will be built over the next year by
the Avionics Division of ITT Defense, Nutley, N.J., and by the
Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s Electronics Systems Group, Baltimore.
Congressional opposition and testing problems have prevented approval
of full-scale production until the jammer passes opperational testing.
MISSILES:
AYDIN TO PROVIDE PRODUCTS FOR U.S. NAVY'S SLAM
Aydin Corp, Horsham, PA, was awarded a $3.2 million contract for video
data link products to be used in the guidance section of the Navy
Standoff Land Attack Missile. Aydin builds radars, electronic warfare
equipment and telecommunications equipment. Under the terms of the
contract, the company will manufacture the data links over the next two
years.
HUGHES AND RAYTHEON TO PRODUCE MISSILES
Hughes and Raytheon were awarded contracts for Lot V production of
Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, recieving $355.9 million
(540 missiles) and $186.1 million (270 missiles) respectively.
ORBITAL CLAIMS AFT SKIRT CAUSED JOUST FAILURE
Investigation into the failure of the Joust-1 commercial microgravity
experiment indicate the Orbital Sciences Corp. Prospector suborbital
launch vehicle went out of control because of a problem in its Orbital-
designed aft skirt structure. Loss of the skirt caused inability to
control the vehicle. Range safety officers at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station destroyed the 27,000 pound, 46 foot rocket when it veered off
course 15 seconds after it was rail launched on a mission designed to
give 10 commercial experiments 14 minutes of microgravity. A videotape
of the launch showed possible objects falling away from the tail of the
vehicle shortly after launch.
RAYTHEON, DASA JOIN TO PURSUE INTERNATIONAL MISSILE PROJECTS
Raytheon Co. and Deutsche Aerospace (DASA) have teamed together to
pursue programs related to Patriot, Hawk, a Hawk replacement and other
missile projects involving the U.S. and German governments. The joint
venture will pursue future transatlantic business oportunities. This
recent agreement involves the formation of two companies: Systems for
Defense, in Bedford, MA, which will serve as a prime contractor for
bids in the U.S. and other allied countries; and Gesellschaft fur
Verteidigungs Systeme GmbH., in Munich, Germany, which will be the
leader for German and other European programs.
SCOUT LAUNCHES AF SATELLITE IN POLAR ORBIT
NASA reported that a Scout vehicle launched an Air Force satellite with
the mission of gathering data for use in designing future space-rated
communications gear into a polar orbit. The satellite was launched
from Vandenberg AFB 24 hours later than scheduled due to bad weather.
It placed the Air Force Radiation Experiment (REX) in a 450 nautical
mile polar orbit.
SOVIETS TO EXPORT MISSILE INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM
The Soviet Union intends to export a missile interceptor, designated S-
300 PMU and called "Grumble" by NATA, that it claims is more advanced
than Raytheon's Patriot missile. Almaz is currently prepared to sell
this weapons system abroad and can deliver it just 10 months after
signature of contract. The Soviets offered the missile for sale at the
Paris Air Show.
SATELLITES:
SOVIET GORIZONT COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LAUNCHED
The second of three Gorizont communications satellites was just
launched for the Russian Soviet Federal Sovialist Republic (RSFSR).
Glavcosmos, the Soviet national space agency, reported that the
satellite was launched by a Proton booster from the Tyuratam complex.
TELESAT SIGNS WITH ARIANESPACE
Telesat Mobile, Inc., or Canada has signed a contract with Europe's
Arianespace for the 1994 launch of the MSAT 1 spacrcraft on an Ariane 4
vehicle. MSAT 1 is Canada's first relay satellite for mobile
communications, and the three-axis stabilized spacecraft will provide
services for aircraft, ships and land-based vehicles.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER UNUSUALLY LUMINOUS OBJECT IN UNIVERSE
Astronomers continuing the study of objects discovered by the Infrared
Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) have noticed a new, very distant object
that they say is the most luminous one ever seen in the universe. The
team of 13 U.S. and British astronomers said the cloud may be a massive
galaxy in the process of being formed or a quasar embedded in the dust
of a massive galaxy.
ENGINEERS SAY SPACE STATION COST TOO HIGH
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) issued a
statement opposing the U.S./international space station, which NASA
projects will cost $30 billion before it can be manned permanently in
1999. The IEEE-USA's Technology Policy Council said that without a
simpler orbital base, funds will be diverted from other important
civilian space programs. The IEEE consists of 320,000 members
worldwide, 250,000 of them located in the U.S. IEEE officials said
they fear the station will drain resources from NASA's aeronautics and
space technology research and development efforts, ultimately harming
U.S. economic competitiveness.
SDI's LEAP 2 MAKES ITS FIRST FLIGHT
The Strategic Defense Initiative's lightest kinetic-kill test vehicle,
LEAP 2, which stands for lightweight exoatmospheric projectile, hovers
in a hangar at Edwardes AFB, CA, in its first flight test which was
recently conducted. In the 7-sec. test, the 12-lb. U.S. Army/Hughes
vehicle lifted off and hovered 10 ft. above a test stand and tracked a
target outisde the hangar. The maneuvering engines fired approximately
100 times, and the attitude control thrusters about 1,200 times. SDIO
is developing such vehicles for use in theater and strategic ballistic
missile defense systems.
U.S. SUMMIT TO DISCUSS JOINT MANNED MISSIONS
At the Bush-Gorbachev summit later this summer, discussions concerning
joint manned missions will take place. A proposal covering the launch
of two or more Soviet cosmonauts on the space shuttle in exchange for
Soviet launch of U.S. astronauts to the Mir space station is currently
being prepared. The joint missions would be flown starting about 1993
and enhance the study of human responses to zero-g. This data is
important for development of future U.S. space station and manned
lunar/Mars missions. U.S. astronauts would be able to spend 60-90 days
on board the Soviet station, which is longer than the previous one-week
visits by other international crewmembers. Long-duration missions of
60-90 days will not be possible on the U.S. space station Freedom until
about 2000.
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO
BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO
JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO
MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO
ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO
DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO
TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO
DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO
KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO
DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO
BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO
RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA
PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO
TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO
STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO
RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO
JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO
BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO
FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO
JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO
STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@
MATT FLIPPEN@NYO KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO TOM FLYNN@SYO
JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO
OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO
ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO
BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO
HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO
LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA
MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO
PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA DAVE JOHNSON@FZO
CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO
ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO
PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO
DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO
STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY
KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO
MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO
PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO
MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO
BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST
TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO
RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO
WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO
ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO
RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARILYN MARSH@WRO
DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO
CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO
CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO
JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO
TOM MILLER@SEO PAUL MILLER@EDO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO
JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO
RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO
GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO
BILL MORROW@WRO MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO
BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO
NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO
ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO
STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO
CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO
MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO
PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO
CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO
RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO
ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW
STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO
JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO
PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO
JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@ PHIL RIDDICK@HVO
ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO
PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO
ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@PSO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO
ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO
HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA
BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.121 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/08 | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jul 17 1991 11:58 | 940 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 16-Jul-1991 07:24pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 07/08
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 16-Jul-1991 1306
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of July 08, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 8, 1991
GENERAL:
COMMERCIAL SPACE SECTOR SOARS
GENERAL DYNAMICS CHOOSES NORTHERN VIRGINIA FOR NEW CORPORATE HOME
HUGHES PEACE SHIELD WIN RAISES PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE COMPETITIONS
IBM's NEW GLASS CERAMIC PACKAGE
MCDONNELL DEVELOPS ADVANCED CHIP ON GALLIUM SUBSTRATE
RAYTHEON TO UPGRADE OSLO ATC
RMS TECHNOLOGIES SUPPLIES COMPUTER WORK AT NASA's LRC
WESTINGHOUSE OFFERS COMMERCIAL SPACE SERVICES
COMMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING SIKORSKY'S MANEUVERABILITY
CONGRESS INFORMED OF DOD INTENT TO SELL F-16s TO KOREA
FIRST PANTHER 800 MOVED TO AEROSPATIALE FACILITY
FRANCE, CHINA AND SINGAPORE APPROVE P120L HELICOPTER
LOW-OBSERVABLE TESTS OF B-2 BOMBER
LTV COMPUTERIZED B-2 AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY
MCDONNELL TO DELIVER TAV-8Bs TO ITALIAN NAVY
AVIONICS:
FAA EVALUATING SYSTEM FOR PRACTICING CONTROLLER SKILLS
GEC AND THOMSON FORM JOINT VENTURE COMPANY
HORIZONS INTRODUCES SMALL MISSION PLANNING SYSTEM
NAVY DEVELOPS IMPROVED PROTECTION AGAINST STRUCTURAL FATIGUE
RAYTHEON AND CESELSA TEAM FOR BID
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS NEW F-16 MISSION COMPUTER
WESTINGHOUSE INTRODUCES THREE AIRBORNE RADARS
MISSILES:
AAWS-M SCORES THIRD DIRECT HIT IN A ROW
ARIANE 4 CHOSEN FOR CANADIAN LAUNCH
ASRM PRICE TAG RISES AGAIN
DEBRIS IN ATLAS 1 CENTAUR STAGE MAY HAVE CAUSED LAUNCH FAILURE
LTV CONTINUES TO PRODUCE ATACMS
RAYTHEON TO BUILD 647 MORE PATRIOT MISSILES
SPAIN JOINS FRANCE AND ITALY IN FUTURE MISSILE EFFORT
TITAN 4/CENTAUR TEST
SATELLITES:
JULY 16 PICKED FOR ERS-1 LAUNCH DATE
LAUNCH DATE MOVED FOR EXPERIMENTAL NASA SATELLITE
POSSIBLE OLYMPUS RECOVERY
TELESAT CANADA'S ANIK E2 SATELLITE C-BAND ANTENNA OPENS
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FAIRCHILD CHOSEN FOR SPACE SCIENCE PROJECTS WORK
PRC RECEIVES AF CONTRACT TO OPERATE GEODSS, NAVSTAR GPS SITE
SOLAR FLARE SUSPECTED IN LATEST HUBBLE GYRO FAILURE
SOVIETS SPACEWALK SUCCESSES
******************** NOTE ***********************
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS NEWS AND TECH/APPLICATIONS STORIES WILL BEGINNING
APPEARING AT THE END OF THE CSP NEWSLETTER.
***************************************************
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS NEWS:
Senate Panel Votes To Halt Purchases Of F-16 Fighters
ROCKWELL INTL - New Vice Chairman, CFO
GENERAL DYNAMICS Appoints England Head Of Aircraft
Congress Not Seen Challenging Arms Sales To UAE (ROCKWELL,MCDONNELL)
NASA Awards $194 Mln Job To GE, UNITED TECHNOLOGIES
TECH/APPLICATIONS
Simulation Software Automates CMM Programming
New Frontiers in Electronic Design Automation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
COMMERCIAL SPACE SECTOR SOARS
U.S. revenues from commercial space activities will reach $3.6 billion
in 1991, an increase of 3.6 percent from the previous year, according
to a new Commerce Department study. The satellite industry will
continue to lead the market in 1991, fueled by $900 million in
communications satellite sales, $850 million in transponder leasing and
$1 billion in fixed ground stations. U.S. satellite manufactures are
prime contractors for 49 of the 81 satellites on order this year and
control 62 percent of the world commercial satellite market.
GENERAL DYNAMICS CHOOSES NORTHERN VIRGINIA FOR NEW CORPORATE HOME
General Dynamics selected the northern Virginia suburbs as their new
corporate home. Executives feel that the suburbs of northern Virginia
are a more desirable place to live, with an easier commute and better
schools and amenities. GD is planning on moving only 115 of the 300
now employed at the company's St. Louis, MO, headquarters. Company
officials believe that the northern Virginia area also offers a more
appealing labor pool for future growth.
HUGHES PEACH SHIELD WIN RAISES PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE COMPETITIONS
Hughes Aircraft Co.'s recent award of an $837 million contract from the
Air Force for reprocurement of a terminated portion of Saudi Arabia's
Peace Shield air defense network will boost Hughes future
competitiveness. This work was being performed by Boeing Co., whose
contract was terminated after failing to deliver supplies and services
on time. Hughes' Ground Systems Group, Fullerton, CA, was chosen by
the AF's Electronic Systems Div. over Westinghouse Electric and Unisys.
This is the largest contract that Hughes has received in any area.
About 500 people will be assigned to this program, most of whom are
already within Hughes.
IBM's NEW GLASS CERAMIC PACKAGE
IBM has developed a glass ceramic package, called Thermal Conduction
Module (TCM), that increases the speed of communications between
integrated circuits. Spacecraft and aircraft will benefit most from
this technology because of their need for small, high-performance
computers. The TCM package conducts signals between chips at a record
45% of the speed of light, which is 25% faster than the previous
package. The low dielectric constant of the new glass ceramic
substrate gives the package the boost in speed. The lower the
dielectric constant, the higher the speed of the signals.
MCDONNELL DEVELOPS ADVANCED CHIP ON GALLIUM SUBSTRATE
McDonnell Douglas' Electronic Systems Inc., McLean, VA, developed an
advanced memory chip which is the first on a gallium arsenide
substrate. The company said its nonvolatile eraseable memory chip
stores information on a ceramic thin-film, or ferro-electric film.
Nonvolatile means the chip retains stored information when power is
interrupted. The chip is expected to have wide application for space
missions because it is the first memory device immune to the effects of
charged particles such as those produced by cosmic rays.
RAYTHEON TO UPGRADE ATC
Raytheon Co., was awarded a $23.5 million contract to upgrade the air
traffic control center in Oslo, Norway. The center will include a
totally integrated radar and flight data processing system produced
from off-the-shelf designs from Raytheon as well as team member Ceselsa
of Spain. The upgraded center, which will allow more traffic, will
begin operations early in 1995.
RMS TECHNOLOGIES SUPPLIES COMPUTER WORK AT NASA's LRC
RSM Technologies, Landover, MD, was chosen by NASA's Lewis Research
Center, Cleveland, OH, to negotiate a contract for computing,
communication and network requirements. The initial contract dollar
amount is $6.1 million, and the total contract value, with seven one-
year options, is $70 million. RMS will operate Lewis' centralized
large mainframe computers and centralized data acquisition and display
systems, maintain a variety of stand-alone microcomputers and operate
the computer services division library.
WESTINGHOUSE OFFERS COMMERCIAL SPACE SERVICES
Westinghouse Electronic Systems Group, Baltimore, is offering
commercial space services based on systems that are being developed for
NASA's Commercial Experiment Transporter (Comet) program. Called the
Westinghouse Space Transport and Recovery System, or Westar, it will
provide complete operational support from payload analysis and
integration to launch, on-orbit operation and recovery. Commercial
Westar flights may begin in 1993.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING SIKORSKY'S MANEUVERABILITY
The same engineering approach used by Boeing Sikorsky to develop a
modified tail section for the H-76B Fantail LH technology demonstrator
is being used in the full-scale production of the U.S. Army's RAH-66
Comanche. The H-76B performs 90 degree "snap turns," 180 degree
direction reversals and 70-kt. sideslips. The H-76B effort relied
heavily on computer-aided design. With computers, they were able to
locate everyone in the same room. The Fantail demonstrator weighs only
125 lb. more than a standard H-76B, and the weight penalty is due to
time constraints that dictated the use of sheet metal parts rather than
lightweight composites.
CONGRESS INFORMED OF DOD INTENT TO SELL F-16s TO KOREA
The Pentagon officially informed Congress of its intention to offer 120
General Dynamics F-16C/D aircraft to South Korea for the $3.81 billion
Korean Fighter Program. The F-16C/D program would be carried out in
three phases. In Phase I, 12 planes would be delivered under a Foreign
Military Sales agreement from the U.S. production line. In Phase II,
36 FMS "knockdown" kits would be delivered for final assembly in Korea.
In Phase III, 72 F-16C/Ds would be produced under license in Korea.
FIRST PANTHER 800 MOVED TO AEROSPATIALE FACILITY
Panther 800 light utility helicopter, being developed by a consortium
of four U.S. and French aerospace companies, has been moved from the
LTV Aerospace and Defense facility to Aerospatiale Helicopter Corp.'s
factory here. LTV has completed the design for the hardware and engine
installation, and Aerospatiale will install the two LHTEC T800 engines
and the cockpit instrumentation. IBM and LHTEC are the other team
members. The Panther will be a possible replacement for the U.S.
Army's Bell UH-1.
FRANCE, CHINA AND SINGAPORE APPROVE P120L HELICOPTER
France, China and Singapore have approved development of the P120L
helicopter. First deliveries of the lightweight, 5-seat aircraft are
scheduled for 1996. The program includes France's Aerospatiale, CATIC
of China and Singapore Aerospace. Development will begin in September,
and follows the definition phase that began in 1990. Two versions of
the helicopter will be developed: a basic aircraft with a maximum mass
of 2 metric tons and a high-performance version with a maximum mass of
2.3 tons.
LOW OBSERVABLE TESTS OF B-2 BOMBER
Radar low-observable flight tests of the B-2 bomber, which required
more preparation than expected on the No. 1 aircraft, have provided the
U.S. Air Force with a better understanding of the amount of maintenance
required. The program manager said the aircraft needed little
restorative work after the test flights. Radar tests will continue
through the end of the year. Infrared signature flight tests will
start early next year.
LTV COMPUTERIZED B-2 AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY
Attempting to reduce the production costs of the multibillion dollar B-
2 stealth bomber, LTV Aerospace and Defense's Aircraft Division,
Dallas, has developed the world's largest computer-controlled aircraft
assembly system. The highly accurate Robotics for Major Assembly
system is used for the drilling and fastening of major structural
portions of the B-2 bomber, and was funded by a U.S. Air Force
manufacturing technology initiative.
MCDONNELL TO DELIVER TAV-8Bs TO ITALIAN NAVY
McDonnell Aircraft Co. will transfer one of two RAV-8B Harrier trainers
to the Italian Navy's Giuseppe Garibaldi carrier in August. The two
TAV-8Bs will be used to help train Italian Navy Pilots to fly the
Harrier II Plus, a radar-equipped version of the current AV-8B Harrier
II.
AVIONICS:
FAA EVALUATING SYSTEM FOR PRACTICING CONTROLLER SKILLS
The FAA is currently evaluating an inexpensive practice system to
maintain traffic controller proficiency, in which computer-simulated
pilots acknowledge a controller's spoken instructions and simulated
aircraft radar-blips move accordingly. The system is called "Tracon/
Pro" and is supplied by Wesson International, Austin, TX, and is
installed at the Federal Aviation Administration's Tracon in Austin.
The system sells for less than $100,000 and includes dual controller
stations to provide hand-off experience, and separate consoles, which
can be operated by live pseudo pilots.
GEC AND THOMSON FORM JOINT VENTURE COMPANY
GEC-Marconi and Thomson-CSF, lead radar contractors for two of the
three new European fighter aircraft, have formed a joint venture
company, to develop active array antennas for the next generation of
combat aircraft, and for retrofit. The new company, called GEC Thomson
Airborne Radar (GTAR), hopes to give strong competition to U.S.
airborne radar firms. Thomson-CSF developed the RBE 2 for the Rafale,
while GEC Marconi is the lead contractor for EFA's ECR-90 radar.
HORIZONS INTRODUCES SMALL MISSION PLANNING SYSTEM
Horizons Technology Inc., San Diego, CA, has developed a compact
computerized mission planning system. The Laptop Aviation Support
System allows a pilot to use a computerized map to plan his flight
route, taking into account his bomb load, the weather and enemy
threats. Once the plan is prepared, it can be loaded into an
aircraft's electronics system with a special cartridge.
NAVY DEVELOPS IMPROVED PROTECTION AGAINST STRUCTURAL FATIGUE
The Navy has produced a program to protect against structural fatigue
and extend the life of its planes. Structural Appraisal of Fatigue
Effects (SAFE) uses computer analysis to figure the fatigue-life of all
Navy fixed-wing aircraft. A data module monitors G-forces, airspeed,
altitude, roll rate and fuel weight. The information is then analyzed
at NADC. The system guarantees that undetected assembly-line flaws or
small cracks will not cause failures during an aircraft's expected
lifetime. Naval aircraft are exposed to higher stress than Air Force
planes because of catapult-assisted takeoffs and arrested landings.
RAYTHEON AND CESELSA TEAM FOR BID
Raytheon Equipment Division and Ceselsa Radar/Command and Control
Division of Madrid, Spain, have teamed to bid on air traffic control
activities worldwide. Raytheon will supply the radar data processing
system while Ceselsa will provide flight data processing, based on the
SACTA system commissioned this year for the Madrid Center. The
agreement will apply to the $23.5 million contract awarded to Raytheon
by the Civil Aviation Administration of Norway to modernize the Oslo
ATCC.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS NEW F-16 MISSION COMPUTER
Texas Instruments will develop a new Modular Mission Computer Core
Cluster (MMCCC) to replace existing computers in the General Dynamics
F-16 fighter, and provide computer capacity for such advanced
capabilities as digital terrain following and forward-looking infrared.
The $47 million contract to be signed later this year, is for
development of the new computer and production of the first 30 units.
The MMCCC will consist of data processing modules with 32-bits MIPSCO
R3000 Reduced Instruction Set Computer processors, multiplex bus
modules, an avionics display processor and display driver and power
supply modules.
WESTINGHOUSE INTRODUCES THREE AIRBORNE RADARS
Westinghouse Electronic Systems Group, Baltimore, is adding three low-
cost modular airborne radars to its product line. The series of radars
stems from the company's experience developing military fire control
radar technology. A feature of the modular radars is a core set of
low-cost common electronic modules that provide basic radar functions.
System software and hardware have engineered to accommodate future
advances such as vision sensors and head-up displays, without changing
the core system.
MISSILES:
AAWS-M SCORES THIRD DIRECT HIT IN A ROW
The Advanced Antitank Weapon System-Medium (AAWS-M), being developed
for the U.S. Army by Texas Instruments and Martin Marietta, scored its
third direct hit at Redstone Arsenal, AL. The latest missile hit was
against a stationary target at 1,200 meters, and involved a contractor
gunner-in-the-loop configuration. The first two firings of the planned
replacement for the aging Dragon anti-armor system were against
stationary targets from a rigid launcher. The three hits are proof of
the progress being made in the program.
ARIANE 4 CHOSEN FOR CANADIAN LAUNCH
Canada's domestic mobile satellite operator, Telesat Mobile Inc., has
chosen the Ariane 4 rocket to launch its spacecraft in 1994. The
contract is valued at 120 million Canadian dollars ($104 million). The
spacecraft, called MSAT 1, is one of two satellites that will be used
by Telesat Mobile and its U.S. counterpart, American Mobile Satellite
Corp. (AMSC) of Washington, to supply mobile communications
transmissions capacity throughout North America by the mod-1990's. The
spacecraft are being produced by a contractor team of Hughes Space and
Communications Group, Los Angeles, and Spar Aerospace Ltd.,
Mississauga, Ontario.
ASRM PRICE TAG RISES AGAIN
The cost of NASA's program to upgrade the solid-rocket boosters for the
space shuttle fleet has risen by $350 million, bringing the total cost
estimate to about $3 billion. NASA also announced formally that the
goal of the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM) program is to assist
construction of NASA's troubled space station.
DEBRIS IN ATLAS 1 CENTAUR STAGE MAY HAVE CAUSED FAILURE
General Dynamics assertion that debris probably jammed a Centaur stage
engine and caused the Atlas rocket failure proves that human error,
rather than new technology, is to blame for a recent spate of rocket
failures. Other launch failures caused by human error include the
Ariane 4 launch in February 1990 and the Titan 3 launch in March 1990.
There are two probable theories for the debris jam. The first is that
a foreign object was sucked into the rotor blades that force fuel into
the Centaur engine. The debris jammed the blades, causing the engine
to fail. The second theory is that the engine did not experience
sufficient twisting force, called torque, after it was turned on. In
addition, the presence of a contaminant, such as traces of water, also
could have slowed engine torque.
LTV CONTINUES TO PRODUCE ATACMS
LTV Missiles and Electronics Group, Dallas, TX, has been awarded a
$30.5 million contract by the U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone
Arsenal, Alaska, to continue producing the service's primary long-range
artillery rocket. Under the terms of the contract LTV will build 55
Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for delivery by September 1992.
The contract is a modification to a full-scale production contract for
ATACMS the Army awarded to LTV in November 1990. LTV has been
producing ATACMS since early 1986.
RAYTHEON TO BUILD 647 MORE PATRIOT MISSILES
Raytheon Co.'s Missile Systems Division, Bedford, MA, will manufacture
647 additional Patriot antitactical ballistic missiles, including 32
for both Turkey and Israel, under a $346 million U.S. Army contract.
The contract states that Raytheon will build 283 Patriot missiles for
U.S. forces to replace those missiles fired in the Persian Gulf war and
300 missiles destined for Saudi Arabia under a previous foreign sales
agreement.
SPAIN JOINS FRANCE AND ITALY IN FUTURE MISSILE EFFORT
Spain will join the French-Italian team that is developing the Future
Surface-to-Air Family (FSAF) of ground- and ship-launched missiles,
while the FSAF industrial consortium has received a contract to study
use of the weapon system for sea-based area defense. Spain will take a
13% share in the FSAF program, with the government contributing the
equivalent of about $243 million in funding to the missile system's
development effort. Spanish industry will then receive development
work valued at about $200 million.
TITAN 4/CENTAUR TEST
Procedures for the Titan 4/Centaur launch countdown scheduled for
November will be tested July 12 at Cape Canaveral during a pathfinder
test. The test will duplicate all countdown procedures except fueling.
This will be the vehicles first launch since November of 1990. The
Titan 4 will eventually be the mainstay for heavy Air Force payloads.
SATELLITEES:
JULY 16 PICKED FOR ERS-1 LAUNCH DATE
Arianespace of Evry, France, has chosen a July 16 launch date for the
European Space Agency's ERS-1 environmental satellite. The launch of
the $900 million ERS-1 was delayed following repeated instances of a
brief loss of pressure in the Ariane 4 vehicle's third-stage engine.
The engine's manufacturer, Societe Europeenne de Propulsion of
Suresnes, France, made a slight modification to the motor and test-
fired it on four occasions. Tests will continue, but the results from
the four tests already conducted gave them sufficient confidence to set
a launch date.
LAUNCH DATE MOVED FOR EXPERIMENTAL NASA SATELLITE
The launch date for the troubled Advanced Communications Technology
Satellite has moved to February 1993, which will mean an eight-month
delay in NASA's drive to establish a user community to experiment with
the spacecraft in the largely untapped Ka-band frequency. The ACTS
satellite will operate at 30 gigahertz and 20 gigahertz to provide the
first chance for U.S. government and provide researchers to demonstrate
potential uses for that part of the radio spectrum. A gigahertz is one
billion cycles per second.
POSSIBLE OLYMPUS RECOVERY
Efforts to save the European Space Agency's $800 million Olympus
telecommunications satellite have showed recent signs of success. The
batteries have begun to accumulate power, through reheating, now that
Olympus is in a slightly better orientation to the sun. Ground teams
think the spacecraft should move into a position to accumulate even
more solar power in the coming weeks. There are still many more steps
to be taken for recovery, but the effort is definitely making progress.
TELESAT CANADA'S ANIK E2 SATELLITE C-BAND ANTENNA OPENS
Telesaat Canada's Anik E2 satellite C-band antenna recently opened
after failing to deploy at the April 4 launch. As a result, the
company will not have to institute contingency program or claim $240
million from the insurer. Without the deployed antenna, the satellite
was almost useless. The antenna deployed during some spinning
maneuvers. Telesat estimates it will take 5-7 weeks to get Anik E2
into use.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FAIRCHILD CHOSEN FOR SPACE SCIENCE PROJECTS WORK
Fairchild's Space Division was selected by NASA's Goddard Space Flight
Center Space Technology Division for a $50 million contract to continue
providing technical support for another five years. Work includes the
design, development, fabrication and qualification testing of
spacecraft hardware and software for space science projects. Services
will be provided mainly out of Fairchild's Technical Support Center,
Greenbelt, MD.
PRC RECEIVES AF CONTRACT TO OPERATE GEODSS, NAVSTAR GPS SITE
PRC will operate and maintain the worldwide Ground-based Electro-
Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) and the NAVSTAR Global
Positioning System installation in Diego Garcia under a $34 million Air
Force contract. The company, a subsidiary of Black & Decker Corp.,
will be responsible for operating and troubleshooting three satellite-
tracking optical telescopes located at each of the four worldwide
GEODSS sites in New Mexico, Hawaii, South Korea and Diego Garcia.
Under the contract terms, PRC will also be responsible for maintaining
the NAVSTAR GPS satellite transmitter and receiver located in Diego
Garcia.
SOLAR FLARE SUSPECTED IN LATEST HUBBLE GYRO FAILURE
Proton radiation 200 to 300 times normal levels that was produced by a
powerful solar flare last month is the suspected cause of a second gyro
failure on the Hubble Space Telescope. The No. 4 fine-guidance gyro
showed signs of failing three times before it finally went down
permanently, in a zone where radiation levels from trapped solar
particles were particularly high. Loss of the gyro leaves the orbiting
telescope with only four fine-guidance gyros, in addition to the three
gyros that would keep it in a survival mode in case of an emergency.
The telescope was designed to operate with four fine-guidance gyros at
a time but operators now realize that three are sufficient. The two
failures cam in the electronic components rather than the mechanical
gyro assemblies, and affected the gyros least shielded from radiation
by other telescope components.
SOVIETS SPACEWALK SUCCESSES
Cosmonauts from the Soviet Union's space station Mir performed two
spacewalks in a single week to make station repairs and improvements.
During the first five hour spacewalk they repaired a docking antenna on
the Mir complex's Kvant-1 astrophysics module. The second spacewalk
involved a U.S.-Soviet experiment on its exterior, which lasted nearly
3 1/2 hours.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS NEWS:
Senate Panel Votes To Halt Purchases Of F-16 Fighters
DOW JONES NEWS, July 10, 1991
WASHINGTON -- A Senate Armed Services subcommittee voted to halt purchases
of F-16 jet fighters by the end of 1991 and instead buy 24 more F-117
Stealth fighters, one of the aerial stars of the Persian Gulf War. Meeting
behind closed doors, members of the Senate Armed Services panel yesterday
began drafting a 1992 defense authorization bill that rejects several other
major military priorities adopted by the House. The full Armed Services
Committee, which takes up the measure today, is expected to give President
Bush a strong show of support by approving at least $4 billion to continue
production and testing of the B-2 Stealth bomber in the fiscal year starting
Oct. 1, according to several senators and aides. In addition, they
predicted, the committee will go along with Bush's controversial request to
spend nearly $4.5 billion developing the Strategic Defense Initiative, a
proposed anti-missile system intended to guard against accidental Soviet
nuclear launches and Third World missile attacks.
SDI and the B-2 remain the White House's top defense priorities, and before
yesterday's votes Bush again threatened to veto any military spending bill
that fails to include robust funding for both programs. On the other hand,
the House this year voted overwhelmingly to cut off B-2 purchases and
slashed the administration's SDI request by more than 40%.
Yesterday's developments illustrate the Senate's determination to stake out
a strong initial bargaining position when it negotiates with the House on
the $291 billion authorization measure. Sen. Trent Lott (R., Miss.) said the
subcommittee's recommendation to buy four more of the radar-evading B-2s
manufactured by Northrop Corp. envisions spending $100 million more than
even the White House advocates. But Sen. Lott, an outspoken supporter of the
Pentagon's budget request, suggested that Bush still could veto the final
bill if it fails to endorse space-based SDI research.
In another break with the House, one of the Senate subcommittees rejected
the idea of immediately allowing female pilots to fly combat missions.
Rather, the Senate seems headed toward creating a commission to study the
issue and make recommendations about the short and long-term implications of
allowing women to fly jet fighters and attack helicopters.
The surprise vote to stop purchasing F-16 Falcons, built by General Dynamics
Corp., calls for shutting down the line two years earlier than the Pentagon
wants, and at least three years earlier than the House advocates. The move
will be opposed bitterly by lawmakers from Texas, where F-16s are assembled.
The move is intended to make available nearly $4 billion by the end of 1994
to help underwrite purchases of F-117s manufactured by Lockheed Corp. While
there weren't any formal votes on the B-2 and SDI yesterday, senators and
aides said that Committee Chairman Sam Nunn (D., Ga.) appears to have
assembled a bipartisan coalition strong enough to support the White House's
position in committee. But Pentagon critics expect the votes to be closer
than ever when the bill reaches the Senate floor later this year.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
ROCKWELL INTL - New Vice Chairman, CFO
DOW JONES NEWS, July 10, 1991
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -DJ- Rockwell International Corp. said it named Robert A.
dePalma, a director and formerly chief financial officer, as vice chairman.
He is succeeded as chief financial officer by W.M. Barnes, formerly
corporate vice president, business development and planning. Barnes also
assumes the post of senior vice president, finance and planning, Rockwell
said. As vice chairman, dePalma will serve as senior adviser to both the
chief executive officer and chief operating officer, as well as advise on
banking and treasury functions and assist in the orderly transition of the
chief financial officer function, Rockwell said. The post of vice chairman
is newly created.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
GENERAL DYNAMICS Appoints England Head Of Aircraft
DOW JONES NEWS, July 10, 1991
General Dynamics Corp. named Gordon England, the general manager of its
tankmaking division, to head its giant Fort Worth, Texas, aircraft
operations, which have been criticized lately for poor quality control.
England succeeds Herbert Rogers, 66, who earlier had announced his intention
to retire from Fort Worth and from his post as vice chairman of the
corporation. Rogers was rushed to the aircraft factory last year from
General Dynamics' St. Louis headquarters to shore up the Navy's A-12 attack-
plane program, after the company took a huge write-off on the project. The
A- 12 eventually was canceled by the Pentagon. But the troubles in Texas
didn't end there. In May, Brig. Gen. Ralph Graham, director of the F-16
program for the Air Force, wrote a scathing letter to Rogers about
engineering and manufacturing "deficiencies" on the fighter line.
Since then, Graham has expressed confidence that the company is in the
process of successfully turning things around. Moreover, Wall Street viewed
positively the division's first-quarter profit margin of 5.1%. But
challenges remain. In a letter to the division's 20,000 employees last
month, Rogers noted that Fort Worth "is now at a critical turning point in
its history." "If we are to successfully move forward into the new era of
defense business, we must immediately make the dramatic changes necessary to
ensure continuous and substantive improvement in our processes," he said.
"In short, our business practices that may have been acceptable in the past
must be changed for the future."
In an interview yesterday, England said he will continue many of the plans
Rogers put in place to improve the division's performance, and suggested
that he would add initiatives of his own. England described himself as "a
hands-on guy," and said employees in Fort Worth "will find me very much
involved" in day-to-day decisions. Yesterday, a Senate Armed Services
subcommittee voted to halt F-16 purchases by 1991, which is earlier than
either the Pentagon or the House advocates. General Dynamics has expressed
hope that, no matter when it ceases F-16 production, it will have a role in
producing a follow-up multirole fighter. In addition, the Fort Worth
division is part of the team building the Air Force's Advanced Tactical
Fighter and the FSX fighter with Japan. No successor has been named for
England at the tank unit.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Congress Not Seen Challenging Arms Sales To UAE (ROCKWELL,MCDONNELL)
DOW JONES NEWS, July 10, 1991
Congress looks like it won't challenge the pending sale of 20 Apache attack
helicopters, 620 Hellfire missiles, rockets and other equipment to the
United Arab Emirates. But some defense industry officials cautioned that the
$682 million transaction isn't necessarily a bellwether of how easily future
Middle East arms packages will go through. Military contractors have been
looking at the UAE sale to gauge how Capitol Hill will react to proposed
U.S. weapons transfers in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War. But without
another sale to the region lined up behind it -- especially to Saudi
Arabia-- the UAE deal "has become defanged," said Joel Johnson, vice
president of international activities at the Aerospace Industries
Association, a Washington trade group.
Just yesterday, the U.S., Soviet Union, Britain, France and China reached an
accord in Paris to limit weapons of mass destruction and otherwise restrain
arms shipments to the Mideast. But Johnson noted that the latter four
nations all have apparently sold weapons to the area since the end of the
war, making a U.S. shipment to the UAE not terribly onerous in the eyes of
the international community. Moreover, where it once looked like the Saudis
would buy billions of dollars of U.S. arms after the war, such a sale isn't
likely to materialize quickly, maybe not even before next year. Thus,
supporters of Israel and others wary of proliferation of arms through the
Middle East have decided not to expend much political capital on trying to
stop the UAE sale now.
In government-to-government arms sales, such as this one, the administration
gives lawmakers formal notice of its intent to send weapons to a particular
country. Unless Congress votes to oppose the transaction, it commences after
30 days. In this case, the 30-day deadline is scheduled to expire tomorrow.
The only serious legislative obstacles raised against the UAE sale were
resolutions of disapproval sponsored by Dante Fascell (D., Fla.) in the
House and Alan Cranston (D., Calif.) in the Senate. Although both measures
collected some prominent signatures, Fascell and his allies acknowledge that
they have run out of time to get the necessary votes for their resolution.
That is particularly good news for McDonnell Douglas Corp., which
manufactures the Apache, and Rockwell International Corp., maker of the
Hellfire.
The U.S. Army is scheduled to procure the helicopter, which saw considerable
action during Operation Desert Storm, only through this year. The service
has plans eventually to buy an upgraded version known as the Longbow, but
McDonnell Douglas is hoping that foreign sales can keep the original line
going until that follow-on program is funded. The UAE package alone will
give the Apache program another four or five months of life, helping to keep
its supplier and employment bases intact. Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia
have also ordered Apaches.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
NASA Awards $194 Mln Job To GE, UNITED TECHNOLOGIES
DOW JONES NEWS, July 08, 1991
WASHINGTON -- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said it
awarded a $194 million contract to develop materials for a proposed
supersonic airliner to a team consisting of General Electric Corp. and
United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney subsidiary. Under the
seven-year contract, NASA said the team would develop materials for
"environmentally acceptable" combustors and engines for a next- generation
supersonic transport.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TECH/APPLICATIONS:
Simulation Software Automates CMM Programming
QUALITY, June 01, 1991, page Q-10
CimStation Inspection software automates programming of coordinate
measuring machines (CMMs), letting users create, simulate, verify, and
download dimensional measuring interface specification (DMIS) inspection
programs to CMMs through a three-dimensional graphical interface.
o DMIS sends information relating the measuring sequence from a CAD/CAM
system to the measuring equipment. The return transmission sends the
actual geometries to the CAD/CAM system, allowing models to be built in
the CAD.
o CimStation Inspection integrates with the user's existing CAD
environment. CAD models created on commercial CAD packages are imported
into CimStation via direct or standard data exchange interfaces.
o Using 3-D graphics, users duplicate their entire workcell, including the
CMM and probe (from a library of machines and probes), the CAD part, and
any fixture, in as much detail as desired.
o After the workcell is set up, existing DMIS programs can be uploaded for
verification, or new programs created; the probe is mounted on the CMM;
and the tip diameter of the probe is entered into CimStation.
o Using the graphical interface, the user defines features on the CAD
model to be inspected, and inputs the number of points to be inspected.
CimStation generates the inspection sequence, with approach, retract,
and clearance points, and creates DMIS tolerance commands.
o Once a simulation is completed, the DMIS program is ready for download
to the CMM's controller.
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
*****
New Frontiers in Electronic Design Automation
MANAGING AUTOMATION, May 01, 1991, page 46
Sandy Metz
Trident Microsystems uses Cadence Design Systems' electronic design
automation tool set to design high-resolution Video Graphics Array chips
and boards. The tools are tightly integrated within a framework having a
common user interface and database for all Cadence tools, standard
interfaces between tools, and data-management facilities. Changes made to
a design using one tool are reflected throughout the other tools. A
finished element of a circuit design can be copied and integrated with
other designs. Use of these "kernels" can markedly shorten design time.
o When Loral Data Systems needed more efficient storage and retrieval of
its designs and revisions for chips and printed circuit boards for its
telemetry systems for the aviation industry, TeamOne Systems had a
solution that let Loral retain its Valid Logic Systems EDA tools and all
the designs in its existing databases. TeamOne enables Loral to manage
its Valid files through the UNIX operating system, without affecting the
file contents. Designers work with a virtual copy of the design
database, and only those elements of the copy that differ from the
original are stored, along with a history of where the copy originated.
o Silicon Graphics uses EDA tools to design the IC-based 3-D interactive
graphics and the CPU of the high-powered computer workstations it makes.
A synthesis-based EDA tool from Synopsys Inc. allows Silicon Graphics
designers to "describe" in Hardware Description Language what a circuit
is to do. From that description, the Synopsis synthesizer builds a tree
of gates that implements the desired function.
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO
BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO
JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO
MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO
ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO
DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO
TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO
DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO
KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO
DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO
BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO
RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA
PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO
TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO
STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO
RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO
JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO
BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO
FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO
JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO
STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@
MATT FLIPPEN@NYO KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO TOM FLYNN@SYO
JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO
OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO
ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO
BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO
HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO
LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA
MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO
PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA DAVE JOHNSON@FZO
CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO
ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO
PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO
DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO
STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY
KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO
MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO
PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO
MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO
BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST
TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO
RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO
WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO
ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO
RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARILYN MARSH@WRO
DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO
CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO
CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO
JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO
TOM MILLER@SEO PAUL MILLER@EDO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO
JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO
RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO
GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO
BILL MORROW@WRO MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO
BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO
NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO
ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO
STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO
CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO
MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO
PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO
CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO
RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO
ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW
STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO
JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO
PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO
JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@ PHIL RIDDICK@HVO
ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO
PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO
ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@PSO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO
ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO
HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA
BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.122 | Aerospace news, Week of 07/15/91 | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Jul 26 1991 17:10 | 1469 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 25-Jul-1991 03:51pm CET
From: IMSIS_NEWS
IMSIS_NEWS@SELL3@MRGATE@SAMWIS@MKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace news, Week of 07/15/91
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY ABSTRACTS
For the Week of July 15, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates, Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 15, 1991
GENERAL:
COMPUTER SCIENCES GETS AIR FORCE SUPPORT AWARD
GD TO POST $140 MILLION TAX-RELATED GAIN
GODDARD SELECTS FAIRCHILD FOR ENGINEERING SUPPORT
HARRIS TO UPGRADE RANGE CENTER AT CAPE CANAVERAL
NRC PANEL REQUESTS ADDITIONAL AUTOMATION IN MANUFACTURING
PHOTO TELESIS INTRODUCES PORTABLE COMPUTER
SHAREHOLDERS DECIDE TO DISSOLVE LOCSTAR
COMMERCIAL ANND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
CAUSE OF B-2 GEAR PROBLEM DISCOVERED
F-22 EFFICIENCY
MD-11 DELIVERIES CRUCIAL FOR COMPANY'S FINANCES
PAN AMERICAN PURCHASE
TWO TEAMS FOR NAVY's A-X CONTEST ANNOUNCED
AVIONICS:
CANADIAN MARCONI TO PRODUCE MLS FOR C-130 AIRCRAFT
GE CANADA TO SUPPLY RADARS TO CANADIAN DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
ISRAEL AIRCRAFT WIN AWARD FOR COBRA NIGHT TARGETING SYSTEMS
ITT, WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVE ASPJ LOT II PRODUCTION AWARDS
NEW ZEALAND AF TO PURCHASE MB-339C SIMULATOR
MISSILES:
ARIANE LAUNCHED ERS-1 SMALLSATS
LTV SEEKS MORE COMMERCIAL TEAMING
MARTIN MARIETTA MAY REVIVE COMMERCIAL TITAN
ORBITAL SCIENCES SELECTS VA FOR LAUNCH OF TAURUS AND PEGASUS BOOSTERS
PEGASUS-LAUNCHED MICROSATS FOUND
ROCKWELL TO DEVELOP IMPROVED TARGET DETECTION SYSTEM FOR AGM-130
SATELLITES:
GPS LAUNCHES CONTINUE
HONEYWELL TO PROVIDE GE WITH SATELLITE COMPONENTS
JOINT GTE, SOVIET VENTURE OFFERS SATELLITE PHONE LINKS
SONY INTRODUCES NEW GPS TERMINAL
SOVIETS SUCCEED FOR SECOND TIME WITH GORIZONT LAUNCH
TRW RECEIVES NASA CONTRACT FOR OZONE MAPPER
UPCOMING ATLANTIS FLIGHT
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FULL FUNDING FOR SPACE STATION TRIMS OTHER PROGRAMS
HUBBLE SUFFERS ANOTHER HARDWARE FAILURE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TEAMS WITH SHIMIZU FOR LUNAR BASE RESEARCH
SPACE SHUTTLE READY TO ORBIT TDRS-E ON JULY 23
THIOKOL TO BUILD 146 REDESIGNED SOLID ROCKET MOTORS
******************** NOTE ***********************
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS NEWS AND TECH/APPLICATIONS STORIES WILL BEGIN
APPEARING AT THE END OF THE CSP NEWSLETTER.
***************************************************
BOEING, ALLIED SIGNAL Units Chosen For $70M NASA Pact Talks
GTE Corp. Earnings
MCDONNELL Helicopter Unit Gets Warning From Army
House Arm Blasts Procurement Rules In NORTHROP Case
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS, LTV - AX Aircraft Bid
FOKKER NV To Participate In European Helicopter Consortium
Seoul Sees No Difficulty In Purchase Of F-16s
GE Earnings
GENERAL ELECTRIC Unit Sells Two Aircraft To Singapore Air
Japan To Buy Turbine Engines From Rolls-Royce, GENL ELEC
GE Capital's Nonperforming Assets Said Up To $2.25B In 2Q
TRW INC. Earnings
AIR FRANCE Orders 80 Engines From GENERAL ELECTRIC
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL Results
Aerospace Firms Join Forces For Navy Plane: WSJ Amplifier
BOEING Defense & Space Group Forms Pdt Support Division
GENERAL DYNAMICS Earnings
LaBarge, MCDONNELL DOUGLAS In $2.1M, 5-Yr, Outsourcing Pact
NORTHROP CORP. Earnings
TECH/APPLICATIONS
Software Meets Special Needs of U.S. Plants Operating In Mexico
Communications Planning In CIM
The Computerless Computer Company
CONCURRENT ENGINEERING: [4 Articles]
Casting a Giant Shadow
The Relational Roots of INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING
An Empirical Examination of the of JIT v. NON-JIT Manufacturers
World-Class Mfg In the 90s: Integrating TQC, JIT, FA, and TPM
Software Process Improvement at HUGHES Aircraft
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
COMPUTER SCIENCES GETS AIR FORCE SUPPORT AWARD
The U.S. Air Force Systems Command has awarded Computer Sciences Corp.,
Falls Church, VA, a $180 million contract to provide management
information systems and technical support for communications and
computer system development, implementation and operation. The work
will take place at 14 sites around the U.S. Under the terms of the
contract, services to be provided include automatic data processing,
communications planning, systems analysis, systems engineering,
software development and maintenance, data base administration, systems
integration, research and development support, data reduction, computer
and communications facilities operations and user support activities.
GD TO POST $140 MILLION TAX-RELATED GAIN
General Dynamics' second quarter earnings will be $140 million higher
because the company set aside too much money to cover taxes for 1977
through 1986. The gain, which totals $3.35 a share, reflects the
conclusion of the Internal Revenue Service tax audits last month
covering 10 of 13 open tax years. GD has set aside about $1.7 billion
for taxes during the 13 year period.
GODDARD SELECTS FAIRCHILD FOR ENGINEERING SUPPORT
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, plans to select
Fairchild Space to provide engineering support services for the
center's space technology division, which is part of the engineering
directorate. The support includes the design, development, analysis
and testing of spacecraft hardware and software used for Goddard's
space science projects. The five year contract's estimated value is
$52 million
HARRIS TO UPGRADE RANGE CENTER AT CAPE CANAVERAL
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, CA, has awarded
a $32.9 million contract to Harris Government Information Systems
Division, Melbourne, FL, for improvements to the Range Operations
Control Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. The facility
provides tracking for civilian, commercial and military rocket
launches. Harris is providing additional equipment and support to
expand the center's capabilities, enabling it to handle extra space
vehicles and commercial launches.
NRC REQUESTS ADDITIONAL AUTOMATION IN MANUFACTURING
A panel of the National Research Council suggested that a greater
application of computer tools in manufacturing is necessary to keep the
U.S. competitive internationally. They predicted a need for skilled
manufacturing specialists who worked synergistically with their
machines to incorporate the latest design changes into the
manufacturing process right on the factory floor. The NRC's Committee
on Analysis of Research Directions and Needs in U.S. Manufacturing
calls for a number of research efforts aimed at producing intelligent
manufacturing control (IMC) processes that would drastically cut the
time between customer need and the product to fill it. Technologies
that the panel is promoting include machine vision; adaptive knowledge
bases of design; manufacturing and management intelligence, and dynamic
computer models of manufacturing.
PHOTO TELESIS INTRODUCES NEW PORTABLE COMPUTER
PhotoTelesis Tactical Communications Systems, San Antonio, TX, is
introducing a portable computer, called the TAC-100, to serve a variety
of military missions by providing a compact computer capable of sending
imagery, text and data images to distant terminals. The TAC-100 has a
memory which stores and sends complete computer files to other tactical
communications terminals. The TAC-100 computer became available in
late June.
SHAREHOLDERS DECIDE TO DISSOLVE LOCSTAR
Locstar shareholders have decided to dissolve the company and abandon
their plans to create the Locstar satellite-based system for data/
message transmission and localization of vehicles in Europe and the
Mediterranean basin. Locstar was unable to raise sufficient financing
for the effort. Locstar had ordered two satellites from France's Matra
and was planning to begin its services in 1992. European shareholders
of Locstar include Matra, GEC Marconi, British Aerospace, Thomson,
Daimler-Benz and France Telecom.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
CAUSE OF B-2 PROBLEM DISCOVERED
A piece of cheesecloth-like material inside a hydraulic line caused a
landing gear problem that cut short first flight of USAF/Northrop B-2
No. 3. Prior to takeoff, the cloth was inserted into the line by a
repairman to prevent hydraulic fluid from dripping. Rejoining the
high-pressure hydraulic lines involved the use of cryogenic fluids and
special processes, possibly necessitating a dry, clean surface at the
joint. The final quality control inspectors had no way of knowing that
the cloth was still inside the hydraulic line. In flight, the cloth
moved in the line and jammed a valve, preventing the gear from
functioning properly during retraction/extension tests.
F-22 EFFICIENCY
Logistics planners expect that the F-22 will require at least one-third
less time to maintain and support than any previous aircraft in spite
of its complexity. The F-22 will be maintained at the Sacramento Air
Logistics Center once it becomes operational. The Advanced tactical
fighter system program office is planning for a combat turnaround time
of 15 minutes and expects to transport all the material necessary to
deploy a full squadron of the Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics F-22s
for 30 days in no more than eight Lockheed C-141 loads, about one-half
those required for today's fighters.
MD-11 DELIVERIES CRUCIAL TO COMPANY'S FINANCES
McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s efficiency in delivering 36 MD-11 commercial
transports by the end of the year is crucial to the company's finances,
since the new trijet will have a greater impact on profitability than
any other current program. McDonnell Douglas expects to deliver 36 MD-
11s this year, with one new widebody transport being produced each week
beginning in mid-October. If this schedule is met, the MD-11 will
generate about $3.6 billion, roughly equivalent to the St. Louis-based
aerospace concern's long-term debt of $3.4-3/7 billion.
PAN AMERICAN PURCHASE
Pan American World Airways is considering buying seven Boeing 727-200
aircraft from defunct Eastern Airlines. The aircraft would replace the
same number of 727-200s Pan Am is returning to lessors after they
refused to lower payment terms. This move should reduce operating
expenses for New York based Pan Am, which has been operating with
protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code
since Jan 8. Eastern, also in Chapter 11, is currently liquidating its
assets.
TWO TEAMS FOR NAVY'S A-X CONTEST ANNOUNCED
A team headed by Grumman Corp. and another headed by McDonnell Douglas
Corp. recently announced their entry into the contest for the Navy's A-
X attack aircraft program. Grumman signed a teaming agreement with
Boeing Co. and Lockheed Corp. for the A-X, while McDonnell Douglas said
it will team with LTV Aerospace and Defense's Aircraft Products Group
to compete for the program. McDonnell Douglas said it picked LTV over
other potential partners because of the company's knowledge of carrier-
suitable aircraft, low-cost production, advanced integrated product
definition and low-observable technologies. Grumman, Boeing and
Lockheed said their first task will be to respond to a request for
proposals for the concept exploration phase, which should be issued
early next month.
AVIONICS:
CANADIAN MARCONI TO PRODUCE MLS FOR C-130 AIRCRAFT
Canadian Marconi Co., Montreal, Canada, will supply 539 Microwave
Landing Systems (MLS) for C-130 aircraft under a $17 million contract
from Air Force Electronic Systems Division which marks the beginning of
a program to convert all AF cargo aircraft from Instrument Landing
Systems (ILS)to MLS. MLS will greatly enhance precision landing
guidance during times of poor visibility. The service claims that MLS
covers eight times more area and has a range 20 miles greater than ILS.
MLS also offers pilots the option of flying one of many final
approaches, compared to just one with ILS. MLS also can be received
over 200 radio channels, compared to 40 by ILS, which is limited by its
proximity to FM radio signals.
GE CANADA TO SUPPLY RADARS TO CANADIAN DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
General Electric Canada will provide four AN/FPS-117 long-range radars
to the Canadian Department of National Defence under a $46 million
contract. Three radars will be based in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia
while the forth will be based in British Colombia. There are also 16
FPS-117 radars being installed across northern Canada as part of the
North Warning System. Data from all the FPS-117s in Canada, including
the four new ones, will be fed to the North American Aerospace Defense
Command's center at North Bay, Ontario.
ISRAEL AIRCRAFT WIN AWARD FOR COBRA NIGHT TARGETING SYSTEMS
Israel Aircraft Industries received $41.5 million from the U.S. Navy
for fiscal year 1991 production of 35 Night Targeting Systems for Cobra
helicopters of the U.S. Marine Corps and Israeli Air Force. Two of the
systems to be built by IAI's Tamam Plant, Yahud, Israel, are for the
Marines' AH--1W Super Cobra and 33 are for the IAF's AH-1S Cobras, the
Pentagon said. The contract was awarded by Naval Air Systems Command.
ITT,WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVE ASPJ LOT II PRODUCTION AWARDS
ITT and Westinghouse recently received a total of about $89 million for
Lot II production of Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ) systems.
The awards follow a Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) decision allowing
the Navy to continue with the program, and then to choose one of the
two companies to build most of the required systems. ITT Avionics
Division, Nutley, N.J., received a $37.8 million contract from Naval
Air Systems Command for Lot II low rate production of 12 ASPJs, and
Westinghouse's Electronic Systems Group, Baltimore, MD, got a Navair
contract for $51.4 million for Lot II production of 24 of the systems.
Both companies are to complete their work in May 1994.
NEW ZEALAND AF TO PURCHASE MB-339C SIMULATOR
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is buying a fixed-base Aermacchi MB-
339C aircraft simulator from Rediffusion Simulation of West Sussex, the
United Kingdom. The simulator, which is to be equipped with a visual
system is to be installed at Ohakea Air Force Base, north of
Wellington, in about two years. The contract is valued at about $6
million.
MISSILES:
ARIANE LAUNCHED ERS-1 SMALLSATS
An Ariane 40 launch vehicle, delayed since May for changes in its
third-stage hydrogen fuel system, lifted the European Space Agency's
ERS-1 remote sensing satellite and four small satellites in a launch
from Kourou, French Guiana. The satellites were placed in a polar
orbit inclined to 98.5 degrees at a perigee of 439.8 miles and apogee
of 472.2 miles. Total payload at liftoff of the Ariane 40 vehicle,
which does not employ strap-on boosters, was 5,805 pounds.
LTV SEEKS MORE COMMERCIAL TEAMING
LTV's Missiles & Electronics Group, which this month began delivering
the first VT-1 air defense missiles for Thomson-CSF's New Generation
Crotale air defense system, is content with the strictly commercial
arrangement and would like to pursue more ventures of the sort. During
the remarkably short three-year development program, Thomson was a
wonderful customer, according to LTV officials.
MARTIN MARIETTA MAY REVIVE COMMERCIAL TITAN
In a move that could revive its commercial Titan marketing efforts,
Martin Marietta Astronautics Group is considering offering a lower-cost
rocket design that would loft single payloads and be compatible with
several new satellites planned for the mid-1990's. The new
configuration, called Titan 3L, would be targeted for new commercial
satellites, such as those planned by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph
(NTT) of Tokyo to launch two communications spacecraft in 1995.
Another option is the effort by Korea, to launch two commercial
spacecraft beginning in April 1995.
ORBITAL SCIENCES SELECTS VA FOR LAUNCH OF TAURUS AND PEGASUS BOOSTERS
Orbital Sciences will launch Virginia's first privately funded orbital
flights from NASA facility on Wallops Island in 1993. VA expects to
reap significant economic benefits from Orbital's decision. Taurus,
which can put a full ton into orbit, will be used for large payloads
designed to go after the scientific and communications markets.
Orbital will also fly its Pegasus air-launched booster from the site.
Orbital plans to use Pegasus rocket to put constellation of 24 light
communications satellites in orbit by mid-1990's.
PEGASUS-LAUNCHED MICROSATS FOUND
Seven small communications satellites that were initially lost after
being launched by a Pegasus booster have finally achieved orbit. The
orbit was lower than planned, but objectives of the demonstration
program are expected to be achieved. The Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency said the microsats are estimated to be orbiting at 245
by 192 nautical miles and 82 degrees. Orbital Sciences Corp., which is
developing Pegasus with Hercules Aerospace, said nominal orbit for the
mission was to have been 389 N.M. circular at 82 degrees. Following
the launch on the 17th, an Army official said that preliminary
indications from real-time telemetry data indicated an anomaly may have
occurred during the separation event between the first and second
stage. The Pegasus was released by the B-52 as it flew off the coast
of California, the solid rocket motors of its three stages ignited, and
then the first ignition of the booster's hydrazine auxiliary propulsion
system (HAPS) occurred five minutes later. HAPS is a liquid fourth
stage designed to increase injection accuracy. Telemetry information
during the second HAPS burn was not received.
ROCKWELL TO DEVELOP IMPROVED TARGET DETECTION SYSTEM FOR AGM-130
Rockwell International Corp. received a 19 month, $2.7 million Air
Force contract to develop an improved target detection system for the
AGM-130 rocket-powered standoff weapon. The company's Tactical Systems
Division, Atlanta, GA, will replace the weapon's television camera with
a silicon charge coupled device camera, correlation tracker and rate
stabilization platform. These changes are expected to reduce the
number of parts by 50%, improving producibility and reliability.
SATELLITES:
GPS LAUNCHES CONTINUE
The U.S. Air Force has launched the 11th Block 2 Navstar Global
Positioning System satellite to resume GPS missions after an eight-
month hiatus to find and fix a spacecraft anomaly. The GPS was used
widely by allied forces during Operation Desert Storm, during which it
provided three-dimensional positioning, velocity and timing in an area
with imprecise maps and charts.
HONEYWELL TO PROVIDE GE WITH SATELLITE COMPONENTS
Honeywell's Solid State Electronics Center, Plymouth, Minn., will
supply 1,100 advance computer chip components to GE Astro Space, East
Windsor N.J., for spacecraft for several customers. The computer
components, called static random access memory (SRAM) semiconductors,
are designed to resist the natural radiation in space that could damage
electronic components. The SRAM components will be manufactured at a
plant in Plymouth. The contract includes options for 400 parts.
JOINT GTE, SOVIET VENTURE OFFERS SATELLITE PHONE LINKS
A new joint venture by GTE Corp., Stamford, CA and the Soviet Union,
will supply private telecommunications service via satellite between
Moscow and other regions of the world, alleviating a severe shortage in
international telephone links for business executives and tourists
there. The service, expected to start in late 1991, is being installed
at four hotels and a conference center in Moscow. It will bypass the
Soviet Union's existing telecommunications system and will be managed
independently by the U.S. Soviet joint venture, called Sovinel. GTE
International Communication Services Corp., McLean, VA, the
international subsidiary of GTE Corp, is the primary U.S. participant
in the venture.
SONY INTRODUCES NEW GPS TERMINAL
Sony Corp. unveiled a new, lightweight global positioning system
receiver to be used internationally by outdoor enthusiasts such as boat
owners, mountain climbers, and hang gliders. Sony, based in Tokyo,
projects that over the next few years it will sell 5,000 of its PYXIS
IPS-360 receivers each month. The 158,000 ($1,150) system became
available to the Japanese public on July 1. Exports to the United
States will begin later this summer and European sales will start later
in the year. The nearest comparable unit from Magellan Systems Corp.,
a Monrovia, CA, firm active in the market, costs $2,400. Transpac,
another comparable unit made by Trimble Navigation, of Sunnyvale, CA,
is available for less than $2,000.
SOVIETS SUCCEED FOR SECOND TIME WITH GORIZONT LAUNCH
The Soviet Union's Russian republic recently launched its second
satellite, a Gorizont telecommunications spacecraft. Tass, the
official Soviet news agency, reported that the Gorizont will beam
Russian television programming to 3,500 settlements, primarily in the
Ural Mountains and Siberia. The Russian government's first Gorizont
was launched November 23, 1990. It serves 21,000 settlements in the
European portion of the Russian republic, the Soviet Union's largest
component republic.
TRW RECEIVES NASA CONTRACT FOR OZONE MAPPER
TRW Space and Technology Group, Redondo Beach, CA, was awarded a $21.7
million contract from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt,
MD, to design and manufacture the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer
(TOMS) spacecraft, the first in NASA's planned Earth Probe series of
small, environmental-monitoring satellites. The launch is scheduled
for September 1993 aboard a Pegasus air-launched space booster. TOMS
is designed to continue daily coverage of the health of Earth's
protective ozone blanket. Such information has been gathered by the
Nimbus 7 remote-sensing satellite since 1978. Scientists want to track
how much of the change in the global ozone layer is due to human-made
sources, like, chlorofluorocarbins, and how much is attributable to
natural processes in the atmosphere.
UPCOMING ATLANTIS FLIGHT
NASA will return to a more standard flight late this month with the
launch of the U.S. space agency's fifth Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite (TDRS) aboard shuttle Atlantis. Launch of the $120 million
communications satellite is scheduled for no earlier than July 23. The
satellite will be known as TDRS-E until its circuits are checked in
orbit. Once these checks are complete, NASA will rename it TDRS-5.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FULL FUNDING FOR SPACE STATION TRIMS OTHER PROGRAMS
The Senate Appropriations Committee has voted to fund NASA's
international space station fully next year while cutting money from
other programs and canceling a portion of the CRAF/Cassini project.
The panel responded to the recommendations of its subcommittee to
provide $2.03 billion for the station in its Fiscal 1992 bill. The
House legislation contains $1.9 billion for the $30 billion orbital
base.
HUBBLE SUFFERS ANOTHER HARDWARE FAILURE
NASA's $1.5 billion Hubble space telescope has experienced another
hardware failure. One of Hubble's six attitude control gyroscopes
apparently burned out from high radiation doses that the telescope
encounters in a dangerous region of low Earth orbit called the South
American Anomaly. Recent intense solar flare activity most likely
magnified the region's effects. Hubble lost another gyro for similar
reasons in December 1990, which leaves only four operational gyros
remaining. A minimum of three gyros are required to keep the telescope
pointed accurately. Engineers are currently trying to write new
computer software that could operate the telescope with only two gyros.
Only 14 hours of observing time were lost due to the most recent
problem and Hubble is continuing with its scientific duties.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TEAMS WITH SHIMIZU FOR LUNAR BASE RESEARCH
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. and the Japanese Shimizu Corp.,
will team together in a research effort to develop technologies that
may be applicable in lunar bases. Some of the technologies to be
investigated may also find a role in the Mars-exploration portion of
President Bush's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI). Initial work will
use solar concentrator technology McDonnell Douglas developed for a
terrestrial solar power project. The two companies will study how the
solar concentrator, able to produce temperatures higher than 3,000
degrees Fahrenheit, can be used to break rocks for lunar road-building
and resource recovery. Shimizu will contribute its experience in site
preparation and construction of large structures to the venture. Other
areas of study will be life support systems, radiation modeling and
shielding, robotics and closed-system recycling to reduce the need for
resupply from Earth, all of which may have applications in SEI.
SPACE SHUTTLE READY TO ORBIT TDRS-E ON JULY 23
The Space Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to lift off July 23 on a nine-
day mission that will combine deployment of the fifth Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite (TDRS-E) with a series of medical experiments leading
to longer duration missions when the Shuttle Columbia completes a
planned overhaul next year. Following deployment of TDRS-E, the
astronauts will study use of an upgraded Lower Body Negative Pressure
device to offset the effects of weightlessness in preparation for 13-
day Shuttle missions set to begin with Columbia's first post-overhaul
flight next year.
THIOKOL TO BUILD 146 REDESIGNED SOLID ROCKET MOTORS
Thiokol Corp. will build 142 redesigned solid rocket motors for the
Space Shuttle program under a six-year, $2.6 billion NASA contract.
Under the contract, which runs through Sept. 30, 1997, the company will
build the motors, refurbish used ones, and provide launch site
operations, flight and integration support and specials studies. Work
will be performed primarily at Thiokol's Box Elder County plant near
Brigham City, Utah, and at its refurbishment facility in Clearfield,
Utah.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS NEWS
BOEING, ALLIED SIGNAL Units Chosen For $70M NASA Pact Talks
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
WASHINGTON -DJ- Boeing Co. said the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration has selected RMS Technologies Inc. and its team members,
Boeing's Computer Support Services unit and Allied Signal Corp.'s Bendix
Field Engineering unit, for negotiations on a communications and services
contract at the NASA-Lewis Research Center. In a press release, Boeing said
the contract is for an eight-year term and has an estimated total value of
$70 million. A Boeing spokesman said the negotiations are required by NASA
before the formal awarding of a contract. The contract is to provide
computing, communications and networking support services to the research
center. Boeing said phase-in activities will occur between Sept. 1 and Sept.
30, with contract start-up scheduled for Oct. 1.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
GTE Corp. Earnings
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
2nd Quar June 30:
1991 1990
Revenues $5,367,000,000 $5,323,000,000
Net income 403,000,000 403,000,000
The condensed summary of consolidated results has been restated on a
pooling- of-interests basis to include the operations of Contel Corp., which
merged with GTE on March 14, 1991, the company said in a press release. The
restated 1990 results include certain cellular operations purchased during
1990 from their respective dates of acquisition, the company said. The 1991
results have also been adjusted for comparison purposes to exclude one-time
net charges of $204 million, or 23 cents per share, incurred in the first
quarter in connection with the Contel merger and the gain on the transfer of
certain cellular properties, as well as a charge of $22 million for the
Texas rate matter.
GTE Corp. said its second-quarter net income includes a recently reported
after-tax charge of about $22 million, or 2 cents a share. The charge
involves a decision by a Texas District Court of Appeals concerning a 1989
rate-case order, the company said in a press release. GTE Corp. reported
modest second-quarter increases in revenues from telephone operations and
telecommunications products. Without the Texas rate case decision, GTE said
telephone segment operating income grew 7 pc to $971 million. Operating
income in the telecommunications segment increased 8 pc to $42 million in
the second quarter.
In GTE's electrical products segment, sales slipped to $529 million from
$548 million in the quarter a year ago. GTE attributed the decline to lower
volumes of sales from lighting and precision materials products in weakened
economies in the U.S. and overseas. That segment's operating income fell to
$37 million in the quarter from $41 million in the quarter a year ago. GTE
said the lower income reflects softness in many markets served by the group,
including the U.S. automotive and construction industries as well as the
European construction industry.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
MCDONNELL Helicopter Unit Gets Warning From Army
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
MESA, Ariz. -- McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s helicopter division, beset by late
deliveries, continuing parts shortages, cost overruns and "systemic
management problems," has been asked by the Army to devise a plan to improve
its performance within 30 days. In a letter last week to Tom Gunn, the
division's president, Col. Lee Thompson said that "underlying most problems
is a lack of pro-active management and a lack of discipline and (helicopter
unit) compliance with company procedures and contractual requirements,"
according to an account in the Phoenix Gazette. The Army has placed the
helicopter division on the government's Contractor Alert List and in its
Contractor Improvement Program. The Gazette reported that Col. Thompson
warned the helicopter division that it "operates in a fragmented mode where
coordinated processes are not accomplished between departments, suppliers
and customers." A spokesman for the helicopter unit said company executives
are "aware of the Army's concerns, and have been working for more than a
year" to address them. "We feel we're fairly far along," the spokesman
added, stressing that the letter has no immediate financial impact on the
company.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
House Arm Blasts Procurement Rules In NORTHROP Case
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
A House panel, issuing its final report on misconduct by Northrop Corp.,
called for more oversight of defense contractors and criticized "a
regulatory loophole" that has allowed a company subsidiary to continue doing
government business while under suspension. The House Government Operations
Committee, which last year held hearings into Northrop's activities, noted
that while the company's Precision Products division has been barred from
receiving new government work since July 1989, it has still managed to
receive at least five prime contracts from the Defense Department during
that period. The Pentagon has explained that, in some cases, it has no
choice but to turn to the division for guidance equipment because Northrop
is the only manufacturer of the gear. Still, the committee blasted the Air
Force and Navy for failing to develop "viable alternative" sources for the
components.
In addition, the committee reported, the Precision Products division has
received at least 161 subcontracts while under suspension. "Such massive end
runs have to be stopped," said Rep. John Conyers, (D., Mich.), the
committee's chairman. He pledged to take action "against a procurement
system where regulatory loopholes allow a suspended or debarred corporation
to continue to take in . . . taxpayer dollars simply by acting as a
subcontractor instead of a prime contractor." In February 1990, as part of a
criminal settlement, Northrop admitted to falsifying test results on the
air-launched cruise missile and Harrier jet, and paid $17 million in
penalties. Last month, the company agreed to settle a related civil suit,
and the Justice Department indicated in court papers that the Air Force was
soon expected to reinstate the Precision Products division.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS, LTV - AX Aircraft Bid
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
ST. LOUIS -DJ- McDonnell Douglas Corp. said it has formed a team with LTV
Corp. to compete for the Navy's AX attack plane program. McDonnell Douglas'
McDonnell Aircraft division will serve as prime contractor under the
agreement; the aircraft division of LTV Aerospace and Defense in Dallas was
named principal subcontractor. McDonnell Doyuglas said it selected LTV after
evaluating other potential industry partners because of LTV's ''knowledge of
carrier-suitable aircraft, reliable low-cost production, advanced integrated
product definition, and low-observable technologies.''
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
FOKKER NV To Participate In European Helicopter Consortium
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
AMSTERDAM -DJ- Koninklijke Nederlandse Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker NV said it
will take part in a European consortium to develop a new helicopter for the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The consortium marks the first time that
Fokker will be a partner in a helicopter development program. The
consortium, which will be led by France's Aerospatiale, will also include
Italy's Agusta SpA and Germany's Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH as well as
Fokker. The 1.4 billion European Currency Unit development program is
expected to lead to a basic design for the new helicopter which will then be
used as the basis for designing a naval version, the NATO Frigate
Helicopter, and an army version, the Tactical Transport Helicopter. Current
plans call for the building of 726 of the new NATO helicopters.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Seoul Sees No Difficulty In Purchase Of F-16s
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
SEOUL -AP- South Korean officials said the government would fulfill all
pledges for Gulf War aid by year-end and they expected no difficulty in the
$3.7 billion purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter planes. Five U.S. Senators,
including Appropriations Committee chairman Robert Byrd, said yesterday they
will try to block the sale because Seoul has yet to fulfill its financial
pledge for Operation Desert Storm. Byrd said this year's emergency spending
bill for the war, passed in April, requires that all such pledges be paid
before arms sales are consummated. The Seoul government has paid $180
million in cash and $55 million in transportation services, said Hong
Suk-kyu, a Foreign Ministry official. He said $150 million worth of
transportation services and military supplies remains outstanding. He said
the U.S. government has yet to submit a list of the military items it
expects as payment, but that officials expected it to be closed before the
end of the year.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
GE Earnings
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
2nd Quar June 30:
1991 1990
Revenues $14,800,000,000 $14,400,000,000
Net income 1,131,000,000 1,088,000,000
In commenting on the company's earnings, GE Chairman John F. Welch said:
"The impact of the sluggish economy on GE's short-cycle businesses continued
in large part to be offset by strong productivity growth which again ran at
5% on an annualized basis. For the quarter, the major drivers of revenue and
earnings growth were Power Systems, Aircraft Engines, and Medical Systems.
GE Financial Services continued its outstanding performance with earnings up
16%. "NBC had a significantly negative quarter-to-quarter comparison
reflecting lower ratings and the weak advertising market," Welch said in a
press release. The company declined to provide any more information. The
company's long-cycle backlog increased to $33 billion, a company spokesman
said.
Some components of the backlog include:
- GE Aircraft Engines has received more than $4 billion in firm commercial
engine orders in the past 60 days.
- GE Medical Systems orders for the first six months of the year are running
about 15% ahead of the comparable period in 1990.
- GE Power Systems backlog totaled $8.4 billion at June 30, 1991, which was
up from $7.8 billion at year-end 1990. During the quarter just ended,
approval was given to begin construction of the first of two 1350 megawatt
power projects by Tokyo Electric.
GE gave the following comments comparing revenues and operating profit by
industry segment for the second quarter of 1991 and 1990:
- Power Systems operating profit increased sharply reflecting continued
strong productivity gains and higher revenues.
- GE Financial Services net earnings were 16 pc ahead of last year's
quarter. Contributing to the earnings gain was continuing strong portfolio
growth in GE Capital and improved performance at both Kidder Peabody and
Employer's Reinsurance. The company declined to provide detailed
information on Kidder Peabody.
- Technical Products and Services operating profit was much higher than the
second quarter of 1990 led by strong revenue growth in the Medical Systems
business and productivity improvements in Communications and Services.
- Aircraft Engines operating profit was somewhat higher from a year ago as
increased sales and improved productivity more than offset recession-induced
softness in the commercial spare parts business.
- Aerospace operating profit was somewhat higher than the second quarter of
1990 on flat revenues.
- Industrial operating profit was modestly lower on flat revenues
principally resulting from softness in the short-cycle portion of the Motors
business.
- Broadcasting operating profit was sharply lower on a modest increase in
revenues primarily because of market softness and comparatively lower
overall ratings. The revenue increase was entirely related to the NBA play-
offs.
- All other operating profit was flat on somewhat lower revenues than last
year.
A GE spokesman said the company's overall long-cycle backlog of $33 billion
at the end of the second quarter compares to a backlog of about $32 billion
at the end of 1990.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
GENERAL ELECTRIC Unit Sells Two Aircraft To Singapore Air
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
SAN FRANCISCO -DJ- GE Capital, a unit of General Electric Corp., said that
it sold two 747-245 freighter aircraft to Singapore Airlines. In a release,
GE Capital said its unit Polaris Aircraft Leasing Corp. is the sole and
exclusive agent for GE Capital in the transaction. Included in the sale
package are two spare JT9D-7Q engines, the company said. The two 747-245Fs
are currently leased to Federal Express Corp. until January and July 1992,
and will be delivered to Singapore Airlines following the termination of
those leases.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Japan To Buy Turbine Engines From Rolls-Royce, GENL ELEC
DOW JONES NEWS, July 16, 1991
TOKYO -DJ- Japan's Defense Agency will purchase gas turbine engines for
escort warships from Rolls-Royce PLC and General Electric Co. The Defense
Agency will purchase two engines from each maker for the current fiscal
year, ending March 31, 1992. An agency spokesman would not disclose the
purchase price. Each escort warship requires four engines. The spokesman
said that although budgeting for the ships for the coming fiscal years
hasn't yet been set, the agency will continue to purchase the engines from
both makers equally. The engines being purchased are Rolls-Royce's SM130 and
General Electric's LM2500. Local press speculated that the Defense Agency's
decision was highly political and followed direct requests from U.S. Defense
Secretary Dick Cheney and U.K. Defense Minister Tom King. The spokesman
wouldn't comment on the factors leading to the agency's decision.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
GE Capital's Nonperforming Assets Said Up To $2.25B In 2Q
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
NEW YORK -DJ- GE Capital's nonperforming assets increased in the second
quarter, primarily in the real estate and aircraft leasing segments. While
GE Capital's parent, General Electric, declined to quantify the increase in
nonperforming assets, First Boston analyst Martin A. Sankey said the
non-performing assets rose to $2.25 billion at the end of the second
quarter, up from $1.4 billion in the first quarter. GE Capital has a
portfolio with more than $70 billion in assets. "The increase in aircraft
leasing is principally attributable to Boeing 757s which were obtained from
Eastern Airlines within the last week," General Electric said in a prepared
statement. "GE is confident that the aircraft will be leased to new
customers in the near future. The commercial real estate increases were not
unexpected and are in line with our outlook for GE Financial Services, which
... continues to expect a double-digit earnings increase in 1991," General
Electric said.
General Electric's stock price dipped 2 1/8 to 71 3/4. Analysts attributed
the drop in part to concern about the increase in nonperforming assets at GE
Capital. A spokesman for General Electric later confirmed that GE Capital's
nonperforming assets rose to $2.25 billion at the end of the second quarter,
up from $1.4 billion in the first quarter. GE Capital has a portfolio with
more than $70 billion in assets.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TRW INC. Earnings
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
2nd Quar June 30:
1991 1990
Sales $1,980,000,000 $2,100,000,000
Net income 24,000,000 63,000,000
The company said that the lower revenues from the current period compared to
a year ago resulted from the divestment of the European piston ring and
cylinder sleeve businesses, which cost the company $18 million after taxes
or 29 cents a share.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
AIR FRANCE Orders 80 Engines From GENERAL ELECTRIC
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
PARIS -DJ- Air France said it has decided to buy 80 engines made by General
Electric Co. to power 20 Boeing 747-400 aircraft it has on order. Air France
also has options to acquire about 10 more 747-400s, and these aircraft will
also be equipped with GE's CF6-80c2 engines, a spokesman for the airline
said.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL Results
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
3rd Quar June 30:
1991 1990
Sales $2,978,000,000 $3,126,000,000
Net income 151,400,000 171,200,000
Commenting on the 3rd quarter and 9 months results, Rockwell International
said the lower percentage drop in earnings per share as compared with net
income reflected the continuing impact of its share repurchase program.
Donald R. Beall, chairman and chief executive officer, said earnings per
share for the full year ending Sept. 30, before an anticipated gain from the
sale of the company's Network Transmission Systems division to Alcatel for
$625 million, ''could be somewhat below last year's.'' Last year, Rockwell
had net income of $624.3 million, or $2.56 a share, on sales of $12.4
billion.
''Earlier this year, we had expected the economy to strengthen in the second
half of our fiscal-1991 year, resulting in higher earnings than during our
first half. We now do not see our businesses benefiting significantly from
an economic recovery in this fiscal year,'' Beall said. In addition, the
gain from the sale of the Network Transmission division could be partly
offset by charges for restructuring actions the company is considering in
some of its commercial businesses, he said.
Rockwell's backlog at June 30 was $16.4 billion, compared with fiscal 1990
year-end backlog of $15.5 billion. The backlog includes $3.9 billion of
commercial orders, $4 billion of funded government orders and $8.5 billion
of unfunded government orders. Rockwell International said electronics
operating earnings for the 1991 quarter were down 18 pc from a year earlier,
principally reflecting lower volume and product mix in the Allen-Bradley
Industrial Automation and Avionics businesses. Revenues and earnings of its
Defense Electronics business were ''strong,'' although earnings were
somewhat below last year's third quarter, which benefited from favorable
contract adjustments, Rockwell said.
It said Aerospace earnings were up from last year's third quarter, as
reduced earnings from the Space Shuttle program were more than offset by
recognition of improved contract performance in the aircraft business.
Rockwell said depressed world markets continued to keep Automotive
components and systems earnings substantially below the 1990 period, even
after a gain from sale of a unit in the 1991 quarter. It said Graphic
third-quarter earnings were also down substantially from last year's third
quarter, as higher earnings from the newspaper press business were more than
offset by lower sales and earnings from the commercial press business and
facility consolidation costs.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Aerospace Firms Join Forces For Navy Plane: WSJ Amplifier
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
The giants of the aerospace industry began forming new alliances to win the
contract to build the U.S. Navy's next-generation attack plane, the A-X.
Grumman Corp. joined with Boeing Co. and Lockheed Corp. to prepare a bid for
the multibillion-dollar program, while McDonnell Douglas Corp. and LTV Corp.
announced a team of their own. The moves underscore the propensity for
aircraft makers to cooperate while pursuing the few big prizes left in the
shrinking U.S. military budget. The three-member arrangement joins Grumman's
nearly 60 years of experience as a builder of carrier-based aircraft,
Boeing's strength in avionics and Lockheed's expertise in radar-evading
designs. The other team plays to McDonnell Douglas's strength in building
Navy planes, while LTV serves as a major subcontractor on several advanced
aircraft and has been conducting a study on Navy requirements since the
beginning of the year.
The A-X, which won't become operational until sometime in the next century,
is supposed to replace the Grumman-built A-6 Intruder. Originally, McDonnell
Douglas and General Dynamics Corp. were working to manufacture the A-12
Avenger as an A-6 replacement. But Defense Secretary Dick Cheney terminated
the $52 billion A-12 program last January after the companies encountered
huge cost overruns and delays. The two contractors and the government are
now locked in a legal battle over who is responsible for the costs of
cancellation. Meanwhile, the web of alliances being spun across the industry
grows more tangled all the time.
General Dynamics still plans to make an A-X offering based on the A-12, with
McDonnell Douglas serving as the principal subcontractor on that effort.
Similarly, Lockheed, Boeing and General Dynamics recently won a competition
to build the Air Force's F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter, and they will make
a separate bid for the A-X based on that aircraft. Lockheed said it has set
up internal controls so that the engineers working with Grumman won't know
what the F-22 staff is doing, and vice versa. "We've fenced things off,"
Riley said. Still, the situation remains fraught with possible confusion.
Lockheed can apply F22 technology to the Grumman A-X candidate, yet only
with the permission of Boeing and General Dynamics. But by asking General
Dynamics for such a go-ahead, Lockheed could conceivably tip off the A-12
team to the strategy of the Grumman team. "That's where it gets sticky," a
Lockheed spokesman acknowledged. Grumman also is weighing another A-X bid
based on its F-14 Tomcat fighter.
By making multiple bids -- in one case acting as prime contractor, in
another as main supplier -- the aerospace companies are seeking to spread
their risks and increase their odds to win. The teams assembled by Grumman
and McDonnell Douglas also illustrate how eager companies are to give the
Navy at least one proposal responsive to the service's most up-to-the-minute
requirements. By submitting "clean sheet" designs, instead of derivatives of
earlier models, the teams hope to meet the Navy's demands. More teams are
expected to emerge in the next few weeks, as both Northrop Corp. and
Rockwell International Corp. have expressed interest in the A-X. But
Restelli said Northrop and McDonnell Douglas, which teamed in the Advanced
Tactical Fighter contest, have no plans to make an A-X entry together. The
Navy is expected to award a number of nine-month to 12-month "concept
exploration" contracts for the A-X later this year. Only one of the teams is
then expected to be picked, possibly by 1993, to begin a "demonstration-
validation" program. That, in turn, would be followed by fullscale
development.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
BOEING Defense & Space Group Forms Pdt Support Division
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
WICHITA, Kan. -DJ- Boeing Co.'s Boeing Defense & Space Group said, in a
press release issued yesterday, that it formed a Product Support division
with headquarters in Wichita. While the other four Defense & Space Group
divisions are product-line divisions - Helicopters, Missiles & Space,
Electronic Systems, and Military Airplanes - the newest will concentrate on
customer service. It will combine product-support organizations in the
other divisions. Nearly 25 pc of the Defense & Space Group's business is in
product support, the company said.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
GENERAL DYNAMICS Earnings
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
2nd Quar June 30:
1991 1990
Sales $2,416,000,000 $2,624,000,000
Net income a 211,000,000 b (240,000,000)
a. Includes gain of $140 million, or $3.35 a share, from adjustment to tax
provision.
b. Includes after-tax charge of $330 million, or $7.91 a share, associated
with the now-terminated A-12 aircraft program and the SINCGARS radio
contract.
General Dynamics said latest second-quarter results reflect ''continued
success'' in implementing the company's new strategy, put in place earlier
this year. In May, the company said it would reduce its work force of 90,000
employees by at least 30 pc over the next four years to adapt to ''a new
defense industry environment.'' The company said it made progress towards
reducing risk, stabilizing and then improving profitability and building
financial strength. General Dynamics said operating results for its various
businesses were in line with management's expectations. The military
aircraft segment profits reflected the receipt of the final $10 million
pre-tax license payment from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japanese
FS-X Program. Cessna Aircraft reported improved performance with sales and
profits increased over the year ago period, General Dynamics said in a news
release. It also said funded backlog at the end of the latest second quarter
was $17.7 billion and total backlog (funded and unfunded) was $22.2 billion,
the latter amount representing 2.3 years of sales. At the end of the
year-ago second quarter, funded backlog was $18.2 billion and total backlog
was $25.9 billion.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TECH/APPLICATIONS
LaBarge, MCDONNELL DOUGLAS In $2.1M, 5-Yr, Outsourcing Pact
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
ST. LOUIS -DJ- LaBarge Inc. said it signed a five-year outsourcing agreement
worth $2.1 million with McDonnell Douglas Corp., in an effort ''to control
costs, improve operating efficiency, standardize practives among plants and
comply with the demanding government reporting requirements of manufacturing
for the defense market.'' LaBarge said it chose to outsource because the
company's in-house data center couldn't support its new software product
without ''significant investments in new equipment.'' LaBarge said it is
closing its data center and implementing systems at the McDonnell Douglas
site that offer commonality between LaBarge's headquarters and six
manufacturing plants in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
NORTHROP CORP. Earnings
DOW JONES NEWS, July 17, 1991
2nd Quar June 30:
1991 1990
Sales $1,325,000,000 $1,414,100,000
Net income a 36,200,000 29,300,000
a. Includes $8.4 million in provisions for the settlement of various
litigation and related issues.
Commenting on its second quarter earnings, Northrop Corp. said operating
profit of its electronics segment was reduced by $21.8 million before taxes
as a result of settling various legal and product disputes at its Precision
Products Division. The provision included $11.8 million for the estimated
costs of changing the fluid in the guidance systems of the Air Force air-
launched cruise missile, plus $1.2 million to resolve other disputes at the
division. Also included in the amount is an $8.8 million settlement of
civil litigation. Other income in the second quarter included $9 million in
proceeds from the settlement of a shareholder derivative lawsuit, which when
offset against the other settlements and charges resulted in an after-tax
total of $8.4 million.
Northrop said the drop in its sales for the second quarter resulted from
fewer deliveries of shipsets for the F/A-18 Hornet, the conclusion of the
Advanced Tactical Fighter program, and lower business volume in its
electronic segment. Partially offsetting the declines were higher revenues
from the missile and unmanned vehicle systems business segment, and
increased deliveries of shipsets for the Boeing 747 jetliner. Backlog
increased to a record $7.07 billion from $6.54 billion at June 30, 1990,
largely from 747 work, Northrop said.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TECH/APPLICATIONS
Software Meets Special Needs of U.S. Plants Operating In Mexico
AUTOMATION, May 1, 1991, page 39
Leslie C. Jasany
United States-based manufacturers with operations in Mexico are called
maquiladoras. Rosemont, IL-based Advance Transformer Co., a division of
North American Phillips, manufactures electronic lighting ballast in
Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
o XL/Maquila customs accounting and inventory management software from
Programming Services International, a subsidiary of XL/Datacomp Inc.
(Hinsdale, IL.), handles Advance Transformer's special information needs
and helps the company comply with Mexican and U.S. customs requirements.
The software is menu-driven; the on-screen language is interchangeable
from English to Spanish.
o The Maquila Inventory Control System (MICS) interfaces with the Customs
Accounting for the Maquila (CAM) module to process shipments, starting
with an in-transit notification and continuing through to the final
return of parts in finished goods. In MICS, in-transit shipments can be
included when scheduling production and can be imported, through CAM, by
selecting the in-transit shipment number, avoiding reentry of data.
o The CAM module maximizes the accuracy of customs accounting, minimizes
the cost of customs, and keeps material moving across the borders. CAM
processes the permit and prepares all of the Mexican and U.S.
importation and exportation documents. The CAM package is updated
quarterly with all of the customs and regulations changes.
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Communications Planning In CIM
INSIDE INFORMATION, July 24, 1991
~
"Careful planning of computer communications platforms is essential to
support computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) and computer-integrated
environments (CIEs). This article offers a procedure for such planning that
includes the various levels of computing devices, system software, and
networks, with particular emphasis on interconnectivity and decoupling
requirements. A framework for categorizing CIM/CIE interconnectivity is
also included."
Source: Journal of data & computer communications v. 4, n. 1 Summer 1991
pp. 63-77
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
The Computerless Computer Company
INSIDE INFORMATION, July 24, 1991
~
"Building boxes is bad business", say these authors. "The future belongs to
the computer company that competes on how computers are used, not how they
are built. The leaders will leverage fabulously cheap and powerful hardware
to create and deliver new applications, pioneer and control new computing
paradigms, and assemble distribution and integration expertise that creates
enduring influence with customers. So long as companies have reliable
supplies of adequate hardware -- and this seldom means the most advanced
hardware -- there are fewer advantages and a growing number of
disadvantages to building it. Three new rules will define this new focus.
Compete on utility, not power. Monopolize the true sources of added value;
create vigorous competition for enabling components. Maximize the
sophistication of the value delivered; minimize the sophistication of the
technology consumed."
Source: Harvard business review v. 69, n. 4 July-August 1991 pp. 69-80
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
CONCURRENT ENGINEERING: [4 Articles]
INSIDE INFORMATION, July 24, 1991
~
o New Rules for Design, p. 23-26: "World-class companies must focus all
their resources so that new products are high in quality and work right the
first time. Designs can no longer be tossed 'over the wall' to
manufacturing. Instead, as early as possible, concurrent engineering teams
up a company's knowledge of design and development with its experience in
marketing, manufacturing, service, and sales. o The Darpa Initiative, p.
26-30: "The purpose of the Darpa Initiative in Concurrent Engineering
(DICE) is to encourage the practice of concurrent engineering in the US
military and industrial base. Toward that end, DICE's mission includes
developing, integrating, and disseminating technologies for concurrent
engineering. A consortium of more than a dozen industries, software
companies, and universities conducts DICE for Darpa. The consortium's
overall goal is to develop an architecture for concurrent engineering in
which the people working on a project can instantly communicate with each
other and access, share, and store up-to-date information in a transparent
way, unhindered by geographic separation, organizational structure, product
complexity, and incompatible tools, databases, and computing resources." o
Making It Work, p. 30-32: "Dedication, teamwork, and a sweeping corporate
cultural change are essential for all products, whether one of a kind or
turned out in high volume. It takes commitment by the entire organization,
from top to bottom. In place of the typical short-term business focus,
concurrent engineering encourages quality, trouble-free products, and
continuous improvement." o Success Stories, p. 32-37: "The experience of
four different companies [Hewlett-Packard, Cisco Systems, Raytheon, ITEK
Optical Systems] implementing concurrent engineering reveals its
applicability to a wide range of products and systems - from the Patriot
missile, to electronic measuring instruments, to internetwork bridges and
routers, to the mirrors for optical telescopes. These case histories
illustrate how these companies are coming to grips with introducing
concurrent engineering procedures and reaping the benefits."
Source: IEEE spectrum v. 28, n. 7 July 1991 pp. 22-37
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Casting a Giant Shadow
INSIDE INFORMATION, July 24, 1991
~
"Ranking on a par with the tax collector, DP auditors have never been
popular with IS managers. But now it turns out that the auditors may be the
key to helping IS execs solve one of their most pressing problems: finding
ways to better align IS with the rest of the business." Armed with the
technological and business acumen needed to determine the cost to a company
of a massive computer system failure, systems auditors are charged with
making certain that a corporation's computer systems perform as expected.
The role played by these auditors is a pivotal one, but given the rapid
pace of change in technology and business practices, it is also different
from what it has been in the past. A 1991 report, the Systems Auditability
and Control study, funded by IBM and 36 other major corporation, concludes
that internal auditors have moved beyond reviewing systems that affect only
financial statements, and now review all computer systems and support
operations that affect the processing of critical information.
Source: InformationWeek (Manhasset, N.Y.) n. 328 July 8, 1991 pp. 38-45
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
The Relational Roots of INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING
INSIDE INFORMATION, July 24, 1991
~
"To perform as advertised, the dispersed and often incompatible elements of
computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems must share data through a
data base management system (DBMS) that presents a consistent view of that
companywide data to all users, allowing them to update the data in a
shared-access environment, while providing security, transaction logging,
and query languages that sort data and generate management reports.
Relational and object-oriented DBMSs -- the most promising for CIM -- are
especially suited to report-intensive applications (e.g., manufacturing
resource planning [MRP]) and workstation applications (e.g. ,
computer-aided design [CAD] and computer-aided engineering [CAE]). This
report explores these two data base models, focusing on commercially
available systems."
Source: Information strategy v. 7, n. 4 Summer 1991 pp. 33-42
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
An Empirical Examination of the of JIT v. NON-JIT Manufacturers
aINSIDE INFORMATION, July 24, 1991
~
"This study provides insight into the characteristics of those companies
that have implemented Just-in-Time production (JIT) as compared to those
that have not. It also examines the changes that management can expect to
encounter as JIT is incorporated into a manufacturing firm. The responses
to a survey on JIT implementation of 175 manufacturing organizations
indicate that companies that have implemented JIT have fewer customers who
purchase in higher volumes than non-JIT customers. Service levels in JIT
companies have been found to improve in response to customer requirements
more quickly than in non-JIT companies. In addition, product and process
engineering skills are higher, and financial liquidity is better in JIT
organizations. Several differences that were expected to exist between the
two types of firms were not supported by the data. It had been believed
that JIT companies would have significantly fewer suppliers than non-JIT
companies because JIT requires manufacturers to develop ways of
establishing long-term strategic partnerships with suppliers. The data,
however, did not support this relationship. Also contrary to expectations,
JIT companies did not exhibit less vertical integration and did not
emphasize effective coordination among function to a greater extent than
non-JIT companies. Finally, the results showed that JIT companies did not
have the ability to change products in response to changes in demand more
quickly than non-JIT companies and JIT companies did not have more
flexibility in rerouting jobs in case of machine breakdowns."
Source: Manufacturing review v. 4, n. 2 June 1991 pp. 78-86
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
World-Class Mfg In the 90s: Integrating TQC, JIT, FA, and TPM
INSIDE INFORMATION, July 24, 1991
~
"The authors present an integrated manufacturing strategy, based on
Japanese continuous quality improvement techniques, that they believe is
the key to competitive success for US manufacturers in the 1990s. The plan
incorporates four recent developments in production management: total
quality control (TQC); just-in-time (JIT) production methods; factory
automation (FA); and total productive maintenance (TPM). Each of these
elements is defined and the importance of its interrelationship with the
other elements is discussed. In addition, the role of worker participation
as an aid to implementation of the integrated strategy is examined."
Source: Manufacturing review v. 4, n. 2 June 1991 pp. 87-95
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Software Process Improvement at Hughes Aircraft
INSIDE INFORMATION, July 24, 1991
~
"In 1987 and 1990, the Software Engineering Institute conducted process
assessments of the Software Engineering Division of Hughes Aircraft in
Fullerton, CA. The first assessment identified the strengths and weaknesses
of the SED, and the SEI made recommendations for process improvement.
Hughes then established and implemented an action plan in accordance with
these recommendations. The second assessment found the SED to be a strong
level 3 [where 1 is worst and 5 is best] organization. Hughes found that
the $445,000 investment improved working conditions, employee morale, and
the performance of the SED as measured in project schedule and cost. Hughes
estimates the resulting annual savings to be about $2 million. This article
outlines the assessment method used, the findings and recommendations from
the initial assessment, the actions taken by Hughes, the lessons learned,
and the resulting business and product consequences."
Source: IEEE software v. 8, n. 4 July 1991 pp. 11-23
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO
BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO
JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO
MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO
ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO
DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO
TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO
DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@ZSO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO
KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO
DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO JACK DAVIS@BMO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO
BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO
RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA
PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JACK DEVLIN@MRO JIM DEZUTTER@UPO
TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO
STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO
RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO DANIEL DUBREUIL@FGT GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO
JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO
BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO
FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO
JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO
STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@
MATT FLIPPEN@NYO KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO TOM FLYNN@SYO
JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO
OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO
ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MHO ROLF GAERTNER@MFR ROLF GAERTNER@MGO
JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO
BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO
HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO
LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA
MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO
TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO
LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO
PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST
LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO
ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO
BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO
PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA DAVE JOHNSON@FZO
CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO
ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO
PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO
DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO
STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@ACT TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY
KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO
MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO
PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO
ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO
MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO
BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST
TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO
RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEO MADRID@PBF LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO
WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO
ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO
RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO STEVE MARINO@MRO MARILYN MARSH@WRO
DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO
CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO
CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO
JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO
TOM MILLER@SEO PAUL MILLER@EDO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO
JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO
RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO
GARY MOORE@TSO BILL MOORE@MET ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO
BILL MORROW@WRO MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO
BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO
NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO
ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO
STEVE OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO
CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO
MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO
PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO
CHARLES PETITHORY@P BOB PETITTI@SEO DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@WFR IGAL PITCHON@WRO
RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO
ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW
STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO
JOHN REILLY@VRO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO
PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO
JERRY RICHARDS@MTO DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO ALLISON RICHARDSON@ PHIL RIDDICK@HVO
ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO
PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO
ROBERT ROSE@STO MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@PSO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO KEVIN SALMON@SLO
ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV CHUCK SARGENT@DVO
HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@KYO DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA
BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT PEYTON SMITH@SEO TROY SMITH@ACI
KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL
TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO
DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO
RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO
NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO
DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO
DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA
DON WOLFE@WRO HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
STEWART WRIGHT@SLO TOM WRIGHT@FZO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO MARION KAKIS YOUNG@ RONALD ZANDER@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.123 | Supplemental Aerospace News, Week 7/29..... | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Aug 14 1991 12:38 | 622 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 12-Aug-1991 09:46pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Supplemental Aerospace News, Week 7/29.....
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 12-Aug-1991 1528
***************************************************************************
ADDITIONAL AEROSPACE BUSINESS NEWS
WEEK OF JULY 29, 1991
***************************************************************************
Second Quarter Results for BOEING
BOEING Sees 1991 Loss From Space, Def. Operations Less Than '90
BOEING Tries to Steer Its Defense Operations Out Of Woes
BRITISH AEROSPACE Softens Profit Forecast Of Rover Chief
Progress Payments for B-2 Withheld From NORTHROP
LTV CORP. Earnings
Sequa Corp. - UNITED TECHNOLOGIES
ALLIED-SIGNAL INC. Earnings
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS - Pilots' Age Limits
Pentagon Won't Take Delivery Of MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Aircraft
ROHR INDUSTRIES Plans To Eliminate Up To 1,500 Jobs
MCDONNELL Confirms US Refuses To Take Some Of Its Aircraft
AIRBUS Says Singapore Air Orders 7 Planes, Options On 13
Turkish Natl Airline Buys Three BRITISH AEROSPACE Planes
Singapore Air Cancels Option For 20 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-11s
**************************************************************************
Second Quarter Results for BOEING
DOW JONES NEWS, July 29, 1991
Second quarter ended June 30 1991 1990
Sales $7,813,000,000 $6,969,000,000
Net income 454,000,000 387,000,000
BOEING Co. said that the increase in net earnings for the second quarter
and the half, as compared to last year, is due to increased commercial
aircraft sales and lower defense and space business operating losses,
partially offet by higher research and development expense principally for
the 777 program and lower other income. The company said that requests by
airline customers to reschedule deliveries as a result of reduced traffic
caused by the Gulf War and the economic slowdown continue to affect a
relatively small numberof aircraft. The company said that it expects
research and development expenditures for the year to exceed $1.5 billion,
primarily in support of the 777 program and other commercial jet transport
programs and activities.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
BOEING Sees 1991 Loss From Space, Def. Operations Less Than '90
DOW JONES NEWS, July 29, 1991
BOEING Co. said that it continues to project an operating loss for its
defense and space business for the year, but it is expected to be
significantly less than the loss reported in 1990. A representative for
Boeing said the company reported operating losses of $418 million in the
defense and space business in 1990. The company is not releasing specific
figures for this year. In a release, the company also said that in the first
six months, commercial sales were $11.5 billion, sales to the U.S.
government were $2 billion and foreign government military sales were $0.4
billion. Comparable sales for 1990 were $10.4 billion, $2.6 billion and
$0.4 billion, respectively. The company said that it projects total 1991
sales to be in the $28 billion range. Total 1990 sales were $27.595 billion,
the representative said.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
BOEING Tries to Steer Its Defense Operations Out Of Woes
DOW JONES NEWS, July 29, 1991
If BOEING Co. is the Superman of airliner makers, its defense business has
been all Clark Kent. Boeing's commercial-aircraft operations are soaring,
thanks to marketing savvy and a boom in jet buying. Boeing not only leads
the nation in industrial exports, with a commercial backlog close to $100
billion, but consistently ranks among the most admired corporations. Then
there's Boeing the defense-contracting bungler. The Pentagon has canceled
two major Boeing projects in the past year because of cost overruns and
missed schedules. Boeing even delivered Air Force One, the president's
plane, late and over budget. Moreover, the military side has been
humiliated by fraud charges. The bottom line: While Boeing's
commercial-jetliner division has earned more than $3 billion over the past
two years, its defense and space operations have sustained nearly $900
million of losses.
But Boeing isn't saying farewell to arms. Behind the company's staid facade,
executives have engineered a restructuring designed to make the defense side
as sturdy as the commercial. "I am not here to preside over the demise of
the defense and space business," declared B. Dan Pinick, chief of Boeing's
military operations, in a recent letter to employees. He has spent most of
two years reorganizing his division, paring several layers of management,
research labs and 10,000 job slots, half of which were picked up by the
commercial side. (Defense now employs 45,500 people, 29 percent of the work
force.)
But why is Boeing so committed to this course -- a balancing act attempted
by only one other U.S. company, McDonnell Douglas Corp.? One reason is
historical. Boeing traces its roots back to producing wood-and-fabric
planes that the Navy bought as trainers shortly after the U.S. entered
World War I. In addition, Chairman Frank Shrontz says, a defense-commercial
mix "provides long-term stability" and a testing ground for new technologies
lacking immediate commercial application. Financially, he notes, "there have
been times when the defense side carried the commercial business." And
though it won't happen anytime soon, the defense business could conceivably
dominate again. Within the past few months, Boeing has captured pieces of
two of the biggest projects left in this era of shrinking arms budgets: the
Air Force's next-generation fighter and the Army's LH advanced light
helicopter. The Pentagon also recently disclosed that the company is the
second-source supplier for the Stealth missile, a $15 billion program
carried on in secret since 1986. Just a couple of weeks ago, Boeing teamed
with Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Corp. to compete for the Navy's new A-X
attack plane.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
BRITISH AEROSPACE Softens Profit Forecast Of Rover Chief
DOW JONES NEWS, July 29, 1991
Following Friday's Financial Times report in which the chairman of BRITISH
AEROSPACE Plc's Rover division predicted first-half profits for the unit,
British Aerospace said market conditions for its Rover division were
"difficult," due to the current U.K. car market and the traditional
weighting of sales toward the second half. In the report, chairman of the
Rover group, Sir Graham Day, indicated the car maker "would be shown to
have remained profitable" in the first half. According to data from the
Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders Ltd., Rover's sales in the U.K.
fell 19 percent to 121,072 in the six months to June, compared to the
year-ago period. Its market share however, increased to 15.1 percent from
14.1 percent a year-earlier. British Aerospace also noted that the Rover
unit experienced an improved export performance and increased domestic
market share during the first half of 1990.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Progress Payments for B-2 Withheld From NORTHROP
DOW JONES NEWS, July 30, 1991
LOS ANGELES -- The government said it's withholding $5 million in progress
payments from Northrop Corp. on the B-2 bomber program because the
company's cost-accounting methods do not meet military standards. "It's
not a matter where we think they're overcharging," said a spokesman for
the Defense Contract Management Command, an arm of the Pentagon. "It's
more a technical thing." The government's action -- apparently the first
ever taken on B-2 progress payments -- was originally reported by Defense
Week, a Washington-based trade publication. A Northrop spokesman said the
military's work-measurement methods are "constructed on broad guidelines,
and the interpretation of some of the guidelines is in question." He added
that "in an effort to work out these differences," the company submitted a
corrective action plan to the Pentagon plant representative earlier this
month.
Defense Week also reported that the first six B-2 bombers have incurred
thousands more defects than either Northrop or the Air Force had
projected. The sixth radar-evading aircraft, for example, has 80,200
defects, Defense Week said, while the projected number was 60,000. The
publication said the defect rate will be one of the subjects of a critical
General Accounting Office report to be released this week. The Northrop
spokesman declined to comment on the defects, except to note that a defect
doesn't necessarily mean there's a major problem. It can be anything from
"a chip of paint to something serious" that demands immediate attention,
he said.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
LTV CORP. Earnings
DOW JONES NEWS, July 30, 1991
2nd Qtr June 30:
1991 1990
Sales $1,561,200,000 $1,586,400,000
Net income 13,400,000 b 76,600,000
Figures in brackets are losses.
a. Includes a $10 million first-quarter charge for restructuring,
primarily related to personnel reductions.
b. Includes a one-time gain of $44.3 million on the sale of an investment
company which produces stainless steel.
The company attributed the decline in net income for the latest periods to
the impact of lower volume and operating levels for steel, partially
offset by improved results in aerospace and defense.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Sequa Corp. - UNITED TECHNOLOGIES
DOW JONES NEWS, July 30, 1991
NEW YORK -DJ- Sequa Corp. and United Technologies Corp. said they signed a
letter of intent to combine Sequa's Atlantic Research Corp. Aerospace
Group and United Technologies' Chemical Systems Division to create a new
propulsion company. In a joint press release, the companies said Sequa
would own 60 pc of the venture and United Technologies 40 pc. Revenues of
the new company would be about $500 million and assets about $400 million.
The transaction is subject to government approval, due diligence by both
companies, and a definitive agreement approved by the boards of both
companies. The new company would be governed by a board with membership
from both Sequa and United Technologies. Chairman and chief executive
would be Antonio L. Savoca, a Sequa senior vice president. President and
chief operating officer would be James R. Sides, currently president of
the Atlantic Research Aerospace Group. The companies said Atlantic
Research's joint venture with Allied-Signal Inc. to produce automotive air
bags would not be included in the transaction. However, the new company
would supply energetic materials to the automotive air bag joint venture.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
ALLIED-SIGNAL INC. Earnings
DOW JONES NEWS, July 30, 1991
2nd Quar June 30:
1991 1990
Sales $3,047,000,000 $3,184,000,000
Inc bef item 84,000,000 121,000,000
Extrd credit a 5,000,000 ....
Net income 89,000,000 121,000,000
a. Includes charge or $32 million, or 24 cents a share, for streamlining
and restructuring costs at company's automotive operations in Brazil, and
gain of $37 million, or 27 cents a share, from sale of oil and gas assets
by Union Texas Petroleum Holdings Inc., in which Allied holds a 39 pc
stake.
The company said the U.S. recession and a weakening economic climate in
Europe continued to have a negative effect on its businesses in the second
quarter. Allied-Signal said it expects these weak market conditions will
continue to impact operating income at least for the next quarter.
Allied-Signal said second quarter net income from its aerospace business
was $51 million, compared to the year-ago $59 million. Overall, aerospace
sales were $1.34 billion, compared to $1.32 billion last year. Excluding
the one-time Brazil restructuring costs, the company's automotive
operations reported net income of $4 million in the latest second quarter,
compared to the year-ago $8 million. Automotive sales were $1.05 billion,
compared to $1.07 billion in 1990. Improved results for antilock braking
systems in North America were more than offset by lower sales of heavy
vehicle equipment and friction materials as well as reduced European brake
sales.
The company said its Engineered Materials unit's net income was $60
million, on sales of $656 million, compared to year-ago net income of $71
million on sales of $791 million. Reduced sales of carpet fibers and
fluorine products accounted for the income decline. The sales decline
reflected primarily the formation of a joint venture of the company's high-
density polyethylene business in July 1990 for which sales are not being
consolidated in 1991.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS - Pilots' Age Limits
DOW JONES NEWS, July 30, 1991
LONG BEACH, Calif. -DJ- McDonnell Douglas and the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission said that the company will raise the age limit for
pilots at the Douglas Aircraft Co. to 65 from 60 as part of a settlement
with the commission over an age discrimination lawsuit. Nine pilots who
had been removed from flight status when they turned 60 will be eligible
to return to the cockpit, the company said. The company said it also
agreed to pay a total of $152,366 to seven current and former pilots and
to increase pension benefits for some past and present Douglas pilots.
The agency's complaint was filed in January in Los Angeles federal court.
A federal court hearing to approve the settlement is set for Aug. 12.
Under the agreement, Douglas Aircraft Co. will suspend its age-60 policy
for the next five years, during which time pilots age 57 and older will
undergo increased medical and neuropsychological testing.
In many respects, the entire defense industry is troubled. Following the
arms buildup in the Reagan administration's early years, the Pentagon cut
progress payments to its suppliers, required more up-front corporate
investment and locked companies into fixed-price contracts. Industry debt
has grown more than 80% in five years, while industry earnings have
slumped 45%. Boeing's case shows the difficulties any company, even such
an established and sophisticated one, can have in dealing with Uncle Sam.
Boeing says it takes two finance experts and three contracting officers on
a defense project for every one assigned to a commercial program. A
contracting official in the commercial division handles $46.7 million of
work, compared with only $9 million for a counterpart in defense, so
complex is the Pentagon procurement system. The government's demands are
"crazy," says Charles Bofferding, who heads the union representing Boeing
engineers.
However, many of Boeing's problems are of its own making. The company,
which traditionally launches commercial-aircraft projects only after
getting a firm handle on the time and money involved, low-balled many
Pentagon bids in the 1980s and thrust itself into areas where it had little
expertise. And in what many saw as a reckless pursuit of government
contracts, Boeing went even further -- ending up pleading guilty in late
1989 to trafficking in classified Pentagon planning documents and being
penalized $5 million. Lured by the Reagan defense buildup, "we pushed too
hard," Pinick concedes. Last December, the Army canceled a contract with
Boeing and Hughes Aircraft (which General Motors Corp. ultimately bought)
for a fiber-optic guided missile. It termed the team's original $131
million bid "unrealistically low." The companies acknowledged they had
"clearly underestimated the magnitude of the job to be done." Boeing also
misjudged what it would take to build the latest version of Air Force One.
Almost 30% of the presidential plane's wiring had to be pulled out after
it was misinstalled, causing an 18-month delivery delay. Special equipment
complicated the job, and the project is estimated to have exceeded budget
by $385 million, all of which Boeing has had to eat.
In the mid-1980s, Boeing took on a program to replace the aluminum wings
on A-6 Navy bombers with lightweight, high-tech composites. But it had
little experience with the exotic plastics, and it also apparently tried
to cut corners to meet the Navy's rigorous production schedule. The
admiral running the program wound up chiding Boeing for "poor workmanship"
and called for more government auditors "to eliminate questionable
technical practices." The company replaced 10 officials and is believed to
have lost several hundred million dollars on the A-6 snafu.
Unquestionably, Boeing's prospects in defense have now brightened. The
recent Advanced Tactical Fighter award, on which Boeing is a subcontractor
to Lockheed, and the LH helicopter award to Boeing and United Technologies
Corp.'s Sikorsky subsidiary are potentially worth tens of billions of
dollars into the next century. They give Boeing's military business
"excellent long-term potential," Shrontz asserts. Boeing's older programs
also seem to be maturing well. For example, B-2 technicians at first
underwent an expensive trial-and-error process learning how to handle
composites, which help give the bomber its radar- evading capabilities.
Gradually, Pinick's focus on the bottom line seems to be working. He has
set a goal for defense-division revenues to exceed costs by an average of
6% between 1990 and 1996. Given last year's $418 million loss and a
projected 1991 deficit, the division will need profit margins of 8% or more
by 1992 to achieve his aims.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Pentagon Won't Take Delivery Of MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Aircraft
DOW JONES NEWS, July 31, 1991
St. LOUIS -DJ- McDonnell Douglas Corp. confirmed that the Pentagon has
refused to take delivery of military aircraft from the company's plant here
since July 12 because of concerns that a subcontractor didn't perform
adequate inspections on certain parts. The company, commenting on a report
in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said it learned in May from an employee of
closely-held St. Charles Metal Finishing Co. of St. Charles, Mo., that
inspections of aircraft parts might be being inadequately performed. St.
Charles, which declined comment, provides coating, painting and inspection
services for McDonnell Douglas suppliers of metal ribs, supports and
fittings. McDonnell-Douglas learned that in some case inspections weren't
being performed at all. The company alerted the Pentagon, which has
launched a criminal investigation. McDonnell spokesman Lee Whitney said the
company expects to resume delivery of the aircraft this week, and stressed
that "this is not a safety-in-flight issue, it's a verification issue." He
said production was continuing and that no planes had been grounded.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
ROHR INDUSTRIES Plans To Eliminate Up To 1,500 Jobs
DOW JONES NEWS, July 31, 1991
CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- Rohr Industries Inc. said it would eliminate as many
as 1,500 jobs, or 12.9 percent of its work force, over the next two years,
including about 500 at its main facility here. R. William Difley, vice
president of human resources, blamed the planned cuts on a downturn in the
airline industry and said most of the jobs would be lost through attrition.
Rohr provides system management, design, development, manufacturing and
support services to the aerospace industry.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
MCDONNELL Confirms US Refuses To Take Some Of Its Aircraft
DOW JONES NEWS, August 1, 1991
ST. LOUIS -- McDonnell Douglas Corp. confirmed that the Pentagon has
refused to take delivery of military aircraft from the company's plant here
since July 12 because of concerns that a subcontractor didn't perform
adequate inspections on certain parts. The company, commenting on a report
in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said it learned in May from an employee of
closely held St. Charles Metal Finishing Co., St. Charles, Mo., that
inspections of aircraft parts might have been inadequately performed. St.
Charles, which declined to comment, provides coating, painting and
inspection services for McDonnell Douglas suppliers of metal ribs, supports
and fittings. McDonnell Douglas said it learned that in some cases
inspections weren't being performed at all. The company alerted the
Pentagon, which launched a criminal investigation. McDonnell spokesman Lee
Whitney said the company expects to resume delivery of the aircraft this
week. About six aircraft currently are awaiting delivery. The aircraft
whose parts passed through St. Charles include F-15s, F/A-18s and AV-8B
jets.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
AIRBUS Says Singapore Air Orders 7 Planes, Options On 13
DOW JONES NEWS, August 2, 1991
PARIS -DJ- Airbus Industrie said Singapore Airlines Ltd. has placed seven
firm orders, seven orders subject to reconfirmation, and six options for
Airbus A340-300 aircraft. Airbus didn't reveal the value of the contract.
However, aviation industry sources said an A340-300 currently sells for
about $104 million. Airbus said deliveries of the medium-sized aircraft will
begin in October 1995 and continue through 1998. The 270-seat planes will be
powered by CFM International CFM56-5C4 engines and be used for long-range
non-stop service to Paris and other European destinations.
Airbus is a consortium including Aerospatiale of France, British Aerospace
PLC, Construcciones Aeronauticas SA of Spain, and Deutsche Airbus, a unit of
Daimler-Benz AG. The Airbus transaction was valued by Singapore Airlines at
$3.36 billion, including spare parts. Deliveries are scheduled to be made
between 1995 and 1998. The CFM International engines are made by a
partnership of General Electric and Snecma of France.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Turkish Natl Airline Buys Three BRITISH AEROSPACE Planes
DOW JONES NEWS, August 2, 1991
LONDON -DJ- The Turkish national airline Turk Hava Yollari AO signed a
memorandum of understanding with British Aerospace PLC for the purchase of
three ATP regional airplanes, British Aerospace PLC said. The agreement,
which hasn't been finalized, will also include an option for the purchase of
five additional ATP turbo-prop planes, British Aerospace said in a
statement. A spokesman said the planes usually sell for $12 million dlrs to
$13 million each, but prices in this case are still under negotiation. He
added that the planes seat 60 to 70 passengers. They will be operated by
THY's domestic unit, Turk Hava Tasimaciligi.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Singapore Air Cancels Option For 20 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-11s
DOW JONES NEWS, August 2, 1991
NEW YORK -DJ- Singapore Airlines has "withdrawn its reserved positions" for
20 McDonnell Douglas Corp. MD-11s, citing concerns the jetliner couldn't
meet the airline's long-range demands. Renee Handler, general manager of
communications for Douglas Aircraft Co., says there "was a difference of
opinion" between the company and Singapore Airlines. McDonnell Douglas was
informed of the decision yesterday, Handler says. Handler says rumors that
the decision involved firm orders for MD-11s are "categorically untrue."
She emphasizes that the decision won't materially impact McDonnell Douglas
because it wasn't part of the recorded order backlog. Singapore was
concerned the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney and McDonnell Douglas
couldn't meet the demands of the 7,200-mile, Singapore- Paris, route by
1994, the time the first aircraft were scheduled to be delivered, Handler
says. "We're quite confident that MD and Pratt will meet the demands of that
route by then," she says. Pratt & Whitney is a unit of United Technologies
Corp.
Singapore Air now doesn't have any reservations, options or firm orders
placed for the MD-11s, she says. The official declines to reveal the price
of the MD-11, but market sources put the price tag at $100 million to $115
million each. Handler says the withdrawal by Singapore doesn't reflect any
lack of confidence in McDonnell Douglas products or technology. Handler also
says the airline's decison shouln't be psychologically damaging to the
MD-11s or efforts to gain customer support for the jetliner. "We're
disappointed," she says "but quite confident we'll sell, both current and
future, airlines to Singapore. They're continuing to be interested in our
narrow body and wide body products."
Earlier today, Singapore Air said it placed seven firm orders, seven orders
subject to reconfirmation, and six options for Airbus A340-300 aircraft.
Fuel efficiency has been a burning issue for the MD-11 since the three-
engine airliner was introduced late last year. Carriers have complained that
the MD-11 has failed to meet certain range requirements, whether powered by
engines made by General Electric Co. or Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United
Technologies Corp. The Singapore Airlines MD-11s were to have been equipped
with Pratt & Whitney PW-4000 engines. "We're certainly disappointed" about
the cancellation, said a spokesman for Pratt & Whitney. "But Singapore has
some relatively unique requirements." Pratt & Whitney and McDonnell Douglas
stressed that they have a program in place to enhance the MD-11's range, and
both companies said they are confident they could have met Singapore
Airlines' needs well before the carrier would have taken delivery of the
planes. "We've already made tremendous improvements," the McDonnell Douglas
spokeswoman said, adding that the company expects the issue to be resolved
by the end of next year.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@HZO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO
RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
TOM BECKWITH@SEO PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO
LLOYD BERRY@EKO DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO
BILL BIRD@STO CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO
AUBREY BONE@MAO BOB BONNER@IVO CAROL BONNER@IVO LERAH BORDANO@FOO
JIM BOREL@LAO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@ STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO
BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO
JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@ RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO
MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO
ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO
ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO
LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO
STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO
DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO
DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO
DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO
TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO
DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@SEO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO
KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO
DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO GARY DAVIS@FOO G DAVIS@DVO BART DAVISON@TFO
PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO RICHARD DEGRAW@CKO
TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO
JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JIM DEZUTTER@UPO TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO
LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO
JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO RICHARD DUBOIS@MRO GREG DUDA@SEO
TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO
GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO
JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET
GARY EVANS@SEO JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO
WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO
CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO KEN FLOYD@RCO RUFUS FLOYD@CWO
TOM FLYNN@SYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO
RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO
AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MKO JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL
RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO BRUCE GARLAND@BIO
DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO
DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO
KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO LEN GREANEY@SEO
STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA MITCH HALL@ORO
SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO TOM HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO
DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO JUDY HECKER@VFO
JOE HELFER@LAO BARBIE HENDON@CWO ROBERT HERRICK@WIO TODD HERSHBERGER@WI
RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO LEN HOCH@SEO
JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO PAUL HOSKINS@TFO
ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST LARRY HUDSON@LAO
AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO ZORAN ILIC@MRO
CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO BILL JAMES@MPO
TIM JAMESON@VBV CHUCK JANOSIK@LAO ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO
SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA BOB JOHNSON@ORO DAVE JOHNSON@FZO
CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO
JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO
JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO
VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO
LEE KNOCH@NIO TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO
FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV
TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO
BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO ROBERT LEE@WRO
CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MICHAEL LEVESQUE@MQ
MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO BOB LIPTROT@FMT
MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO LARRY LIVINGSTON@ST TONI LOESCH@RTO
BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO
LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA LEO MADRID@PBF JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO
MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO CRAIG MALLOW@WNO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L
BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO
MARGARET MARINO@SEO MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO
HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO
MICHAEL MCCABE@LAO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH
LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO
PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO
JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO
TOM MILLER@SEO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO JANET MINARD@ORO
SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO
DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO BILL MOORE@MET
GARY MOORE@TSO ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO RAY MORRIS@WLO
MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO
MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@ENO NANCY NEALE@LIO
DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA
GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO STEVAN OLSEN@SEO
WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO
CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO MERVYN PATON@BBP
HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO
CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO CHARLES PETITHORY@P
DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO BOB PETITTI@SEO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO
MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@MRO IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO
DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M
MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO
BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@MSO
KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET
TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO
ALLISON RICHARDSON@ DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO
RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO
ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO
BERND ROSENBACH@MFR MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@IVO ROBERT ROWE@PSO
DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO ULF SANDIN@SOO
JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ BILL SCHAEPE@HZO
MICHAEL SCHALLI@MFR MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO
CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO
CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO
STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO
SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@PHH DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO
PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA BILL SLEZAK@DCO
TOM SLIVA@FMT TROY SMITH@ACI PEYTON SMITH@SEO KEVIN SMITH@LIO
PAUL SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO
MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO JIM STANFILL@SEO
PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L
LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO BOB TASSONE@SEO
JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO
DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO ED TREMBLAY@SEO
TRACY TRENT@SDO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO
LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO DALE VAUGHAN@LAO
MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO
MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB PAUL WANNINGER@SEO NEIL WARDEN@OLO
JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO DAVE WATTS@SEO
DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO
ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA HELEN WOOD@EWO
ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO TOM WRIGHT@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO
DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO RONALD ZANDER@LAO
GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ BILL ZICCARDI@CWO ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO
MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.124 | Aerospace News, Week of 08/12 | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Aug 22 1991 17:38 | 514 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 22-Aug-1991 03:59pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace News, Week of 08/12
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 22-Aug-1991 0947
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 12, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 12, 1991
GENERAL:
DIGITAL WIZARDS WINS SWITCHING SYSTEM AWARD
GENERAL ELECTRIC, TI TEAM ON COMMERCIAL CHIP PLAN
HEWLETT-PACKARD MAKES PURCHASE
MIMIC PHASE TWO AWARDS TO TRW, RAYTHEON/TI AND HUGHES
SEQUA AND UT FORM NEW COMPANY TO BOLSTER COMPETITIVE POSITION
UNISYS DEFENSE SYSTEMS WINS TWO FAA CONTRACTS
U.S. AIR FORCE AWARDS GTE MORE FUNDS FOR CONTRACT
COOMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
EC-130V MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
FRENCH AF ACCEPTS DELIVERY OF ITS SECOND AWACS AIRCRAFT
KOREAN F-16 SALE CLEARS LAST HURDLE
MITSUBISHI AWARDS GD FIRST FSX SUBCONTRACT
PARAGON PRECISION TO MAKE ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR GARRETT
AVIONICS:
ATLANTIS AEROSPACE RECEIVES SIMULATOR CONTRACT
LORAL'S WARNING RECEIVER COMPLETES OPERATIONAL TESTS
RAYTHEON TO OPERATE PAVE PAWS SYSTEMS
REFLECTONE WINS CONTRACT FOR WILD WEASEL TRAINING
U.S. ARMY APPROACHES CHOICE OF EW GEAR INTEGRATOR
MISSILES:
AIR FORCE LIFTS EMBARGO ON ACM
AIR NATIONAL GUARD FIRES AIM-7 MISSILES FROM F-16s
FIVE COMPANIES OR CONSORTIA COMPETE FOR U.K.'s ASRAAM
FIRMS POSTPONE RM-5 DEVELOPMENT
SATELLITES:
CINCINNATI ELECTRONICS ANNOUNCES PORTABLE TERMINAL
NASA AND ARGENTINA SIGN JOINT SPACE MISSION AGREEMENT
NAVY INITIATES EFFORT TO CONVERT SATELLITE LINKS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
DIGITAL WIZARDS WINS SWITCHING SYSTEM AWARD
The Naval Sea Support Center Pacific has awarded Digital Wizards Inc. a
$9.3 million, four year contract to provide hardware and software
support for the internal phone and switching system aboard the Navy's
Aegis cruisers and LHA amphibious transport ships. Under the terms of
the contract, San Diego-based Digital Wizards also will help develop
the next-generation Integrated Voice Communication System using the Ada
software language.
GENERAL ELECTRIC, TI TEAM ON COMMERCIAL CHIP PLAN
Dallas-based Texas Instruments Inc. and General Electric Co.,
Fairfield, CN, have agreed on a plan to commercialize GE's chip
packaging technology as part of a three-year Defense Department program
to establish manufacturing capabilities for specialized electronics
with military applications. Under the terms of the agreement the
companies said Texas Instruments will produce and market electronic
devices called multichip modules for military and commercial
applications. Multichip module packages permit several chips to be
mounted in packages that contain the wiring to link them to other
electronic components. The modules are based on a high-density
interconnect process developed at GE Research and Development Center,
Schenectady, N.Y.
HEWLETT-PACKARD MAKES PURCHASE
Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, CA, recently announced plans to pay
$82.8 million to acquire Avantek AInc., a Santa Clara, CA, manufacturer
of microwave semiconductors and components that received about half of
its $155.5 million 1990 sales from military business. Avantek will
become a part of Hewlett-Packard's Components Group in San Jose, CA.
Hewlett-Packard plans to continue Avantek's defense business.
Avantek, one of Silicon Valley's pioneers in microwave technology,
totaled a net loss of $2.7 million in 1990 and a loss of $21.4 million
in 1989.
MIMIC PHASE TWO AWARDS TO TRW, RAYTHEON/TI AND HUGHES
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently awarded
three contracts for the second phase of the DARPA/Tri-service microwave
and millimeter wave monolithic integrated circuits (MIMIC) program.
Winners of the phase two awards were: Army: TRW Inc. Electronic
Systems Group, Redondo Beach, CA, for $65.7 million. Navy: Raytheon/
Texas Instruments, Tewksbury, Bedford MA, for $83.5 million. Air
Force: Hughes Aircraft Co. Radar Systems Group, Los Angeles, CA, for
$78.9 million. All three winners will develop MIMIC chips primarily
from gallium arsenide over three years.
SEQUA AND UT FORM NEW COMPANY TO BOLSTER COMPETITIVE POSITION
Sequa Corp. and United Technologies Corp. have agreed to combine their
solid rocket motor divisions into a large, new company to compete more
effectively for shrinking defense and aerospace business. Sequa's
Atlantic Research Corp. (ARC) produces solid rocket motors for small to
intermediate tactical missiles, while UTC's Chemical Systems Division
(CSD) makes large strategic boosters. The combined business will have
annual revenue of about $500 million, assets of more than $400 million
and about 3,200 employees. Officials said the new organization, which
has yet to be named will be owned 60% by Sequa and 40% by United
Technologies.
UNISYS DEFENSE SYSTEMS WINS TWO FAA CONTRACTS
Unisys Defense Systems Inc. has won two Federal Aviation Administration
contracts worth a total of $275 million to upgrade air traffic control
systems at airports across the country. Under one contract, worth $185
million, Unisys will provide computer systems, peripheral systems and
design engineering to expand the air traffic control systems at more
than 60 major U.S. airports. The second contract, worth $87.7 million,
requires Unisys to manufacture additional equipment and provide design
and project support for the upgrade of air traffic control systems at a
number of smaller U.S. airports.
U.S. AIR FORCE AWARDS GTE MORE FUNDS FOR CONTRACT
The U.S. Air Force has awarded GET Government Systems Corp. an
additional $14.7 million worth of work as part of a 1989 contract for
the Air Force Command and Control System software modernization
program. Under the contract, the Needham, MA based GTE is upgrading
software used in a variety of Air Force computer systems. Roughly 50
percent of the work is being performed at GTE's facility in Montgomery,
AL.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
EC-130 MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
The EC-130V Airborne Early Warning aircraft made its first flight at
General Dynamics' Ft. Worth, TX, facility on July 31. The GD design
matches the Navy's E-2C Hawkeye APS-145 radar system with a long-range
C-130 airframe. Flight endurance is 10 hr. Much of the system is
mounted on pallets to allow easy maintenance and reconfiguration.
Three weeks of flight testing at Ft. Worth will be followed by a
systems test program at the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center, MD.
Sixty-two countries operating C-130s are potential customers.
FRENCH AF ACCEPTS DELIVERY OF ITS SECOND AWACS AIRCRAFT
Boeing has delivered the second E-3F Airborne Warning and Control
System aircraft to the French air force, marking a midpoint in the
country's phase-in of the U.S. supplied control/surveillance system.
Delivery of France's No. 2 AWACS by Boeing at Avord air base occurred
July 23, two days ahead of the company's commitment date. The base is
headquarters for the 36th Airborne Detection Wing, created to operate
the four E-3Fs purchased by France. The French air force received its
first AWACS May 22, which was the date stipulated in the original
purchase contract.
KOREAN F-16 SALE CLEARS LAST HURDLE
The deadline for blocking the sale of 120 F-16s to the Republic of
Korea passed without notice, despite some congressional opposition to
the $2.52 billion purchase. Congressional opponents of the sale were
not able to pass a resolution disapproving the sale in the 30-day
period provided under the Arms Export Control Act. Congress was
notified of the proposed Korean Fighter Program on July 8.
MITSUBISHI AWARDS GD FIRST FSX SUBCONTRACT
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Tokyo awarded a Fort Worth, TX, division
of General Dynamics Corp. its first major subcontract to develop the
new FSX fighter, an aircraft based on the U.S. company's F-16 Falcon
design. Under the terms of the $100.7 million contract signed last
month, General Dynamics will develop the aft fuselage, leading edge
flap, wing, avionics systems and computer-based avionics test equipment
at its Fort Worth facility through 1994. A General Dynamics spokesman
says the company is expected to ultimately receive about $800 million
during the development phase through 1996. General Dynamics already
has received about $250 million from Mitsubishi, which includes a $60
million license fee for the baseline F-16 design.
PARAGON PRECISION TO MAKE ENGINE COMPONENTS FOR GARRETT
Paragon Precision Products, Valencia, CA, will manufacture components
for the TFE1042 engine, which will power the Taiwanese Indigenous
Fighter, under a $6 million contract extension from Allied Signal
Aerospace's Garrett Engine Division. The company will make fan and
compressor vanes and compressor blades for 100 engine sets over the
next 2 1/2 years. Paragon will machine from raw stock engine
components which are traditionally cast or net shaped forgings.
AVIONICS:
ATLANTIS AEROSPACE RECEIVES SIMULATOR CONTRACT
Atlantis Aerospace Corp. of Brampton, Ontario, has received a $7
million (Canadian) contract from the Royal Australian Navy and Army to
build high-fidelity simulated aircraft maintenance trainers for the
Seahawk and Black Hawk helicopters. A flight control and hydraulic
trainer will be developed for each service. The army also will get an
avionics and external stores system trainer. AWA Defence Industries of
Adelaide will assemble the flight control trainers under a $3 million
subcontract. Deliveries are to be completed by March, 1993.
LORAL'S WARNING RECEIVER COMPLETES OPERATIONAL TESTS
A radar warning receiver being produced by New York-based Loral Corp.
for the U.S. Air Force F-16 tactical aircraft, completed operational
tests flights. As a result, Loral's Systems Manufacturing Co.,
Yonkers, N.Y., received a $63 million contract extension August 1 for
continued production of its ALR-56M(V) advanced warning receiver. The
receivers are used to alert pilots when they have been picked up by
enemy radar-control weapons. In June, the receiver completed seven
months of operational test and evaluation in an F-16C aircraft assigned
to the Tactical Air Warfare Center at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. The
first F-16 equipped with the ALR-56M will be delivered to the Air Force
in October, and will become operational in February.
RAYTHEON TO OPERATE PAVE PAWS SYSTEMS
U.S. Space Command has awarded a $23.4 million contract to Raytheon
Service Co. to operate and maintain two Pave Paws Missile-tracking
radar sites at Beale Air Force Base in California and Cape Code Air
Force Station in Massachusetts. The Pave Paws system provides early
warning of sea-launched ballistic missile attack on the continental
Unites States as well as space surveillance support in tracking
orbiting space objects. Raytheon Co. is based in Lexington,
Massachusetts.
REFLECTONE WINS CONTRACT FOR WILD WEASEL TRAINING
Reflectone Training Systems, Tampa, FL, has received a $1.9 million
contract to provide flight simulator and academic training for F-4E and
F-4G Wild Weasel aircrews, which were used in the Persian Gulf to hunt
down and destroy Iraqi air defenses. Under terms of the five-year
contract awarded July 18, Reflectone will provide the training for F-4
units based at George Air Force Base, Alabama. Training for German Air
Force F-4Es, which is also included in the contract, will move to
Holloman Air Force Base, N.C., in 1992. Training for U.S. F-4 aircrews
will move to an undetermined.
U.S. ARMY APPROACHES CHOICE OF EW GEAR INTEGRATOR
The U.S. Army will select contractors in October to integrate a new
generation of advanced electronic eavesdropping and jamming systems
into helicopters, trucks and armored vehicles. One TRW manager says
that the program is going to set the future for Army ground-based
signal intelligence systems for the next 15 years. Under the contract,
the winner will combine new electronic eavesdropping and jamming
equipment with new armored vehicles and existing helicopters and
trucks. The mobile Intelligence and Electronic Warfare (IEW) systems
would collect information on the movements and plans of enemy weapons
and units by monitoring electronic signals. Once armed with the
information, U.S. forces could attack the enemy units with long-range
weapons and maneuver forces.
MISSILES:
AIR FORCE LIFTS EMBARGO ON ACM
The U.S. Air Force Strategic Air command will soon end a four-month
embargo on its AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM), with deliveries
scheduled to resume by the end of this month or early September.
Deliveries of the nuclear-tipped stealthy cruise missile were halted in
April due to technical and quality control problems discovered on
missiles built by the San Diego, CA based Covair Division of General
Dynamics Corp. Resumption of deliveries, coupled with a July 25
Defense Acquisition Board endorsement for full-rate production, will
stabilize the $6.5 billion program marred by developmental and testing
setbacks.
AIR NATIONAL GUARD FIRES AIM-7 MISSILES FROM F-16s
The Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Interceptor Group recently fired
the first live AIM-7 Sparrow missiles from operational F-16s. The
group, stationed in Jacksonville, FL, is one of 10 ANG units dedicated
to air defense of the continental U.S. that flies specially configured
F-16 A/Bs. Originally, the aircraft were not equipped to employ
beyond-visual-range missiles. The tests, which included seven
launches, were conducted at Tyndall AFB, FL.
FIVE COMPANIES OR CONSORTIA COMPETE FOR U.K.'s ASRAAM
Five British, French, German and U.S. companies or consortia are
believed to have entered the U.K.'s latest competition for an advanced
short-range air-to-air missile (ASRAAM). Responses to the Royal Air
Force's latest request for bids were reportedly filed by British
Aerospace/Hughes Aircraft, France's Matra and the U.K.'s Marconi,
Germany's Bodenseewerk Geratetechnik (BGT), Raytheon Co. and Loral
Corp.
FIRMS POSTPONE RM-5 DEVELOPMENT
The three European companies involved in the development of the RM-5
hypervelocity surface-to-air missile have decided to indefinitely
postpone the program's full-scale development. A Matra spokesman said
that they will undertake new technical and marketing studies before
proceeding with the full-scale development phase. Other sources say
that because of the general trend toward lower military spending, the
three companies have decided not to commit themselves to financing RM-5
development without a launch customer. Cost of development is
estimated at about 1 billion French francs ($172 million) over five
years. Paris-based Aerospatiale and Matra as well as Munich-based
Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm (MBB) agreed in 1990 to jointly fund the
development of the RM-5 as part of a wide-ranging upgrade to the Roland
surface-to-air missile.
SATELLITES:
CINCINNATI ELECTRONICS ANNOUNCES PORTABLE TERMINAL
A new portable satellite communications system has been developed by
Cincinnati Electronics Corp., Cincinnati, the company recently
announced. The briefcase-sized, 32-pound system is called the
Minitiarized Integrated Satellite Terminal Equipment, and can work with
message-scrambling equipment.
NASA AND ARGENTINA SIGN JOINT SPACE MISSION AGREEMENT
NASA and Argentina have signed the first joint space mission agreement
undertaken between the U.S. and a Latin American country. The two
countries will jointly develop the scientific applications satellite
(SAC-B) to study solar physics and astrophysics. SAC-B will be
launched by the late 1990s on a U.S. expendable booster.
NAVY INITIATES EFFORT TO CONVERT SATELLITE LINKS
The U.S. Navy is preparing a 30-year plan to convert its satellite
communications links into stealthy radio networks. The conversion of
the Navy's numerous radio networks to stealthy communications, known as
low-probability of interception or low-probability of detection (LPD)
networks, is a major element of a push by the Navy to strengthen their
commitment to the emerging SEW doctrine. Under this Doctrine the Navy
would strive to blind and confuse an enemy while preserving its own
command, control and intelligence capabilities.
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@MKO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO LLOYD BERRY@EKO
DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO BILL BIRD@STO
CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO AUBREY BONE@MAO
CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO JIM BOREL@CWO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@
STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO
GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@
RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO
RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO
DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO
ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO
JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO STEVE CARTER@DYO JOHN CASACCIA@IVO
GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO DAVID CERULLO@OFO GINA CHANG@SEO
JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO BILL CLAIRE@CYO
DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO DAN COHEN@WRO JIM COLEMAN@FZO
STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO CHUCK COOPER@IVO
JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO JOAN COULSON@SEO
JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO TIM CRNKO@STO
ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO NED DANIELS@MRO
JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO G DAVIS@DVO GARY DAVIS@FOO
STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO GEORGE DECLUE@SYO
RON DEFUSCO@OFO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO CHRISTINE DELARA@LA
PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JIM DEZUTTER@UPO TANNA DIBBLE@MPO
RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO STEVEN DORSETT@INI
LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO GREG DUDA@SEO
TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVIER DUMAS@ATY FRED DUPLAIN@DYO
GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF KAREN EKBLAD@SEO
JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO MIKE ENGBROCK@MET
GARY EVANS@SEO JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO PETER FALLETTA@CWO
WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO JOHN FERRARO@MKO
CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO FRANK FONTANES@NJO
DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO OVIDE FORTIER@SDO RALPH FOSTER@CWO
RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO MELL FULLER@MKO
JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO JOE GANNON@MKO
BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO
BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO
HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO MICHAEL GRAM@MRO
LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO TOM HAAS@BWA
MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO KEN HAMILTON@VFO
TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO JIM HATTRUP@WRO
JUDY HECKER@VFO BARBIE HENDON@CWO TODD HERSHBERGER@WI RICHARD HESSELGREN@
NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO LEN HOCH@SEO JERRY HOLM@SEO
LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO PAUL HOSKINS@TFO ANDY HOUCK@KXO
JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST LARRY HUDSON@LAO AUDREY HUE@SEO
LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO ZORAN ILIC@MRO CONSTANCE INTEMANN@
BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO BILL JAMES@MPO TIM JAMESON@VBV
ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO TONY JEZIOR@DCA
DAVE JOHNSON@FZO CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO
RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO PATTI KAIYALA@SEO
BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO JERRY KAPLAN@KYO
DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO BILL KERT@CKO
MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@NIO TOM KOETTING@STO
NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA
BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO
CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO
JIM LAWSON@MMO ROBERT LEE@WRO CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO
ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MARK LEVY@LAO SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO
BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO CAROLYN LISS@STO TONI LOESCH@RTO
BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO
LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA LEO MADRID@PBF JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO
MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO
DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO
MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO
SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL TOM MCALEAVY@DLO MICHAEL MCCABE@LAO
SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO
BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO
BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO
ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO PAUL MILLER@EDO TOM MILLER@SEO
RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO
MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO
SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO BILL MOORE@MET GARY MOORE@TSO
ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO RAY MORRIS@WLO MICHAEL MORSE@STO
CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO
GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@FMT NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO
DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO
W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO STEVAN OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO
BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L
JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW
HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO
BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO CHARLES PETITHORY@P DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO
BOB PETITTI@SEO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB
TOM PISINSKI@MRO IGAL PITCHON@WRO RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO
RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD
ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO
RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO JOHN REILLY@MSO KEN RENNER@HVO
ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO
SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO JERRY RICHARDS@MTO ALLISON RICHARDSON@
DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO PHIL RIDDICK@HVO ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO
KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO
MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO ROBERT ROSE@STO BERND ROSENBACH@MFR
MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@IVO ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO
LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO
LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV HAROLD SATTERFIELD@ WILLIAM SCHAEPE@MKO MICHAEL SCHALLI@MFR
MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO
ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO
JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO
RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO
PAMELA SHIELDS@PHH DALE SHILLING@PBF TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO
GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT
TROY SMITH@ACI KEVIN SMITH@LIO PAUL SMITH@SEO PEYTON SMITH@SEO
MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO
STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO
LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO
SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO
ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO
THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO ED TREMBLAY@SEO LAURA TUCKER@LAO
MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC
WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO DALE VAUGHAN@LAO MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO
JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB
J PAUL WANNINGER@SE NEIL WARDEN@OLO JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO
BOB WATTS@FOO DAVE WATTS@SEO DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@
RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO
STEVE WITTENBERG@LA HELEN WOOD@EWO ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO
TOM WRIGHT@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO
GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@ ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO
MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.125 | Aerospace Industry News, Week of 08/19 | ULYSSE::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Aug 29 1991 16:53 | 961 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 28-Aug-1991 03:53pm CET
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@MRGATE@ICS@PKO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: See Below
Subject: Aerospace Industry News, Week of 08/19
VMSmail To information: @AER
VMSmail CC information: IMSIS
Sender's personal name: Industry Marketing and Sales Information Service -- IMSIS on VTX. 28-Aug-1991 0938
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of August 19, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 19, 1991
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE LIFTS TWO YEAR SUSPENSION OF NORTHROP UNIT
NORTHROP EXECUTIVE NAMED BY MCDONNELL
UNISYS CONTINUES WORK ON NEXRAD RADAR NETWORK
AEROSPACE CONTRACTORS UTILIZE RAPID PROTOTYPING
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
OPPORTUNITIES SURFACING FOR UAV SUBSYSTEM UPGRADES
SEOUL DELAYS KFP ENGINE DECISION
ICAD IN SERVICE TO PRATT & WHITNEY
AVIONICS:
LOCKHEED SANDERS TO UPGRADE ALQ-149 SYSTEM UNDER NAVY P31 CONTRACT
U.S. AIR FORCE CONTRACT GOES TO SMITHS INDUSTRIES
MISSILES:
GD GETS 64% OF SUPPLEMENTAL TOMAHAWK WORK OVER MCDONNELL
HEDI MISSILE TO BE LAUNCHED WITHIN TWO MONTHS
EXPLOSION MARS LE-7 WORK
SATELLITES:
HUGHES SEES DBS BECOMING MAIN BUSINESS IN LATE 1990s
POSSIBLE CHANGES IN EOS
SPECTRUM RESEARCH READY FOR HIGH-STORAGE DISK WORK
HARRIS DEBUTS RADIATION RESISTANT SATELLITE CHIP
CANADIAN PROCESSOR TO BE USED IN INMARSAT
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COOLING MANEUVER FAILS TO FREE GALILEO ANTENNA
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TESTS SOVIET SPACE WELDING DEVICE
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WINS $58.9 MILLION SSTO PROTOTYPE CONTRACT
NEW SHUTTLE MANIFEST LEAVES AUGUST 1993 DATE FOR HUBBLE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL DOW JONES NEWS
BOEING Says FAA's 767 Order Won't Have Major Effect On Ops
BOEING - Washington Work Force Unchanged
FAA Orders Deactivation Of BOEING 767 Thrust Reversers
Indian Air Crash Kills All On Board (BOEING AEROSPACE)
BOEING Recommends Checks Of Thrust Reversers On More Jets
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS, HUGHES AIRCRAFT - Navy Pact
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Awards Contracts To Two Utah Firms
BRITISH AEROSPACE Gets $750 Mln Japan Aircraft Order
TRW Doesn't Plan To Sell Credit Opers At This Time
Concurrent Computer Sells Systems To TRW For Army Pact
BOEING - Spokane Plant Upgrade
GM's EDS Unit To Acquire MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Unit
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Gets 2 Yr, $58.9M Strategic Defense Pact
Air Force Lifts 2-Year Suspension On NORTHROP Unit
NORTHROP To Settle Charges With U.S. Government
Fedl Probe Recommends Study Of BOEING 727, 737 Jet Rudders
ROHR INDUSTRIES - Debt Reduction
----------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE LIFTS TWO-YEAR SUSPENSION OF NORTHROP UNIT
Northrop Corp. said the Air Force has ended a two-year contract
suspension it had imposed on the company's Electronic Systems Division,
Norwood, MA. An executive officer told shareholders in August that as
a result of the suspension, imposed because of shortcomings in several
programs, the company launched an intensive program of education and
training in business conduct, ethics and compliance with government
regulations for every employee at the Norwood site. The program will
be maintained and Northrop will reinforce it annually with refresher
training sessions for all Norwood employees. Also as a result of the
suspension, Northrop has committed to replacing fluid in gyroscopes and
accelerometers in the flight data transmitter of Boeing Air Launched
Cruise Missiles. The action will assure their performance under cold
weather conditions.
NORTHROP EXECUTIVE NAMED BY MCDONNELL
The McDonnell Douglas Corporation yesterday said it has hired an
executive from the Northrop Corporation to become vice president and
general manager in charge of production for the struggling C-17
military cargo jet program. The executive, James F. Berry, 43 years
old, had been vice president of operations for Northrop's B-2 division,
in Pico Rivera, CA, the division responsible for developing and
building the Stealth bomber. Mr. Berry moves to the Douglas Aircraft
company unit of McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, CA, where the company
had been having trouble developing the Air Force's C-17.
UNISYS CONTINUES WORK ON NEXRAD RADAR NETWORK
Unisys Corp. will begin work again on the 175-unit NEXRAD radar network
for the National Weather Service, after the Commerce Department agreed
to pay the company a little more than a fifth of what it had demanded
to complete the job. The company claims it needs another $250 million
on top of its basic $450 million contract to finish the job, which
includes installation of the first 10 radars and heavier-than-expected
computer work. But Unisys agreed to take a $56 million payment
instead, which settled the dispute, which had stalled the program for
months. Total system cost is now expected to reach $1.4 billion,
including buildings, land and other expenses.
AEROSPACE CONTRACTORS UTILIZE RAPID PROTOTYPING
Rapid prototyping is changing the way aerospace contractors design,
test, and build parts. Using the same data that produce computer-aided
design (CAD) drawings, new machinery can churn out precise plastic
prototypes, usually within a day or two. Aerospace companies have
jumped on the technique and are using the prototypes to review designs,
to check form and fit, and as templates to make flyable epoxy or
aluminum components. The process takes only 1/10 - 1/20 the time
needed for conventional modeling. Engineers can also produce working
prototypes and low-volume parts with no investment in hard tooling. 3D
introduced the firts commercial rapid prototyping system in 1988 and
has installed more than 275 stereolithography apparatus (SLA) machines
since. Its SLA machines build plastic parts by mathematically slicing
CAD designs into thin cross sections. An ultraviolet laser beam traces
each layer in a vat of photosensitive chemicals that solidify as they
are irradiated. After each layer is finished, the elevator holding the
part moves down slightly and the next layer is solidified on top of it.
SLA prices start at $100,000, not much more expensive than a top-of-
the-line workstation.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
OPPORTUNITIES SURFACING FOR UAV SUBSYSTEM UPGRADES
UAV competitors recently agreed that Government requirements for short
range unmanned aerial vehicles will soon change to reflect lessons
learned in Operation Desert Storm, and industry should start upgrading
its short range UAV subsystems accordingly. An IAI/TRW team is
competing against a McDonnell Douglas/Developmental Sciences team in
the Short Range UAV competition under the direction of the Navy's
Cruise Missile Project and the UAV Joint Project Office. McDonnell
Douglas officials agreed that opportunities exist for upgrading UAV
subsystems to expand performance, but stressed that some of the
advanced capabilities outlined in the UAV Master Plan are available
now.
SEOUL DELAYS KFP ENGINE DECISION
Seoul has put off a decision on an engine to power its 120F-16Cs and Ds
being bought under the Korean Fighter Program, and may not make its
choice public until the end of this month or early Setember. A
decision has been expected since early August, but a diplomatic source
said that wrangling over the 1992 budget has distract official
attention away from making an engine choice. Pratt & Whitney, which
despite the Advanced Tactical Fighter engine win earlier this year
faces steep cutbacks in its military engine business, has made winning
the KFP contest a high priority and the delay is especially frustrating
to P & W.
ICAD IN SERVICE TO PRATT & WHITNEY
Icad, Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., is providing its knowledge-based
software product for mechanical design and automated manufacturing to
Pratt & Whitney for use in developing aircraft engine parts. Icad's
software is designed to run on Hewlett Packard workstations. The
design product is offered by McDonnell Douglas Manufacturing and
Engineering Division as part of the Unigraphics product family. The
software complements CAD programs by capturing the engineering intent
behind a product. The system can generate new design iterations
automatically, based on design, engineering, and manufacturing rules.
Harris Corp.'s Government Aerospace Systems Division also uses the Icad
software to speed the design of new satellite antennas.
AVIONICS:
LOCKHEED SANDERS TO UPGRADE ALQ-149 SYSTEM UNDER NAVY 031 CONTRACT
Lockheed Sanders will upgrade the ALQ-149 tactical communications
countermeasures system under a $20 million pre-planned product
improvement contract from the Navy. Under the terms of the contract,
the unit's receiver will be replaced by a more reliable one developed
by Sanders' Microwave Technology Center. Other modifications include a
new digital wide band signal processor and changes in the system's
distribution and power supply units. The ALQ-149 will be flown aboard
Navy and Maine Corps EA-6B aircraft and is designed to detect, evaluate
and jam communications signals and early warning radar systems.
US AIR FORCE CONTRACT GOES TO SMITHS INDUSTRIES
The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Smiths Industries of Grand Rapids,
Mich., a $13 million contract for the full-scale development of a
standardized compass/attitude and heading reference system (Compass/
AHRS) which is to become the Navy and Air Force standard. The fiber
optic gyro system has no moving parts and will replace conventional
mechanical units with optical fiber, optical switches, and laser
technology. The company values potential production for U.S. and
international air forces and commerical aircraft at more than $300
million between 1995 and 2005.
MISSILES:
GD GETS 64% OF SUPPLEMENTAL TOMAHAWK WORK OVER MCDONNELL
General Dynamics recently received $180.7 million, or 64% of total
funding for fiscal year 1991 supplemental Navy buys of Tomahawk
missiles and upgrades over rival McDonnell Douglas. GD will build 208
Tomahawk Block II Sea Launched Cruise Missile all-up rounds for $180.7
million, with options to upgrade them to the Block III configuration,
along with upgrade of acceptance test equipment and software. GD will
perform the work at its Convair Div., San Diego, CA. McDonnell
Douglas' Missile Systems Co., St. Louis, MO, will build 70 tomahawk
SLCMs, with options to upgrade to Block III, for 104.4 million. The
contract also includes repair of 12 Capsule Launching Systems and 279
canisters. The Naval Air Systems Command let the contracts, which will
be completed in November 1993.
HEDI MISSILE TO BE LAUNCHED WITHIN TWO MONTHS
The second flight test of the Army's High Endoatmospheric Defense
Interceptor (HEDI) will take place within the next two months,
following postponement of the test due to low voltage in the flight
termination system battery. During the August 12 test at White Sands
Missile Range, NM, countdown was delayed approximately 35 minutes while
the first three parachute flare targets failed. When the fourth flair
was propoely delivered, the flight control computer detected low
voltage in the battery powering the destruct mechanism and aborted the
mission.
EXPLOSION MARS LE-7 WORK
Officials from Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) and
Misubishi Heavy Industries have yet to find the cause of a fatal
explosion during an engine test August 9 for the country's H-2 rocket
program. Japan suffered its first space-related death and another
setback in the development of its new H-2 rocket when an engine
exploded in a high pressure test at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plant
in Nagoya, about 250 miles south of Tokyo. This accident could well
result in NASDA and Mitsubishi being forced to delay unti fall 1992
attaching the LE-7 engine to the rocket body.
SATELLITES:
HUGHES SEES DBS BECOMING MAIN BUSINESS IN LATE 1990s
Hughes Communications' principal business will be direct broadcast
satellite (DBS) now that Hubbard Bcstg. has purchased $100 million in
transponder capacity to help launch first U.S. DBS bird in 1994.
Hughes and Hubbard are working together to find companies that will
make DBS dishes and related equipment for sale to the public, and to
pick compression technology that will make more efficient use of
channels. Hubbard will folloow Hughes' lead in talking to consumer
electronics manufacturers to make an estimated $500 equipment package
that consumers will need to receive DBS.
POSSIBLE CHANGES IN EOS
NASA is considering major changes in its 20-year, $30 billion, Earth-
Observing System (EOS), designed to study Earth's environment from
space. The agency is considering substituting many smaller satellites
for few large ones as was planned originally. Use of huge satellites,
launched by heavy-lift vehicles, still is the best way to get necessary
scientific measurements, but the large satellite program is inflexible,
particularly in times of budgetary constraints.
SPECTRUM RESEARCH READY FOR HIGH-STORAGE DISK WORK
Spectrum Research Inc. plans to begin building in September prototype
components of a high-density computer disk drive for satellites, under
a $250,000 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract.
The new disk drive will enable spacecraft to store more data in a
smaller space than current spacecraft computers, while using less
power. The initial phase of the program involved Spectrum Research
studying designs to package commercial disk drive systems, ranging from
80 megabytes to 4 gigabytes, on spacecraft.
HARRIS DEBUTS RADIATION RESISTANT SATELLITE CHIP
Harris Military and Aerospace Products Division, Melbourne, Fla., has
introduced two new integrated circuits, each made of silicon and
sapphire, for use in satellites. The integrated circuits have been
designed specifically to make them resistant to those phenomena, such
as solar flares, that can drench a satellite in radiation and disrupt
space electronics.
CANADIAN PROCESSOR TO BE USED IN INMARSAT
Com Dev, Ltd., a Canadian manufacturer and major exporter of defense
and space satellite subsystems, was selected over the Japanese
electronics giant NEC for a multi-million dollar contract to supply on-
board processors for the third generation of Inmarsat satellites. The
processor is a new application of Com Dev's surface acoustic wave
technology and will provide better utilization of the spectrum.
Inmarsat-3 satellites will use multiple spot beams to provide voice and
data communications to worldwide terminals the size of pocket
calaculators.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COOLING MANEUVER FAILS TO FREE GALILEO ANTENNA
A maneuver designed to free the Galileo Jupiter probe's stuck high-gain
antenna by cooling it in the spacecraft's shadow for 50 hours has
failed, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers won't try again to fix
the crippling malfunction until December. A JPL announcement said the
cooling maneuver, which also included switching off electrical power to
systems close to the antenna that might otherwise have heated it, did
not produce temperatures low enough to unstick the few antenna ribs
apparently bound by friction to the antenna's central tower. The
antenna will be turned away from the sun again in December, when it is
further away, and other steps as yet undetermined will be taken to make
the antenna even colder.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TESTS SOVIET SPACE WELDING DEVICE
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. is testing a welding device the
Soviets have used on their Mir space station in weightless conditions
for possible application on NASA's proposed Space Station. In a series
of tests aboard a KC-135 performing parabolic maneuvers to achieve
short periods of weightlessness, McDonnell Douglas personnel are
evaluating the Soviet tool for maneuverability, clearances and fit over
weld joints typical of those planned for the Space Station. For safety
reasons no actual welding will be performed on the four DC-135 flights
planned from Ellington Field in Houston, which have recently started.
The device was provided by the Paton Electric Welding Institute in the
Soviet Union, which also sent two technicians to help with the tests.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS WINS $58.9 MILLION SSTO PROTOTYPE CONTRACT
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Division, Huntington Beach, CA, was
awarded a $58.9 million two-year Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization contract for Phase II of the Single-Stage-To-Orbit
Technology Demonstration program. McDonnell Douglas will develop an
SSTO prototype and demonstrate critical hardware, software, technology,
design and operational features. The design and software/hardware
demonstration phase will be followed by a critical design review that
could lead to full-scale development. McDonnell Douglas plans to build
a one-third-size reusable experimental vehicle, the DC-X, which will be
flown through suborbital flight phases to demonstrate take-off and
landings; safe return in the event of an engine failure, and rapid
turnaround for reflight.
NEW SHUTTLE MANIFEST LEAVES AUGUST 1993 DATE FOR HUBBLE
NASA's latest mixed fleet manifest opens a flight opportunity in August
1993 that could be used for a return to the Hubble Space Telescope six
months earlier than planned to fix its growing list of problems. A
space agency scheduling expert said the open flight aboard the Space
Shuttle Discovery builds flexibility into the flight scheduled so
planners can react quickly if there is a need for a rapid rescue of the
orbiting telescope. The open flight, designated STS-59, falls six
months before the first planned return to Hubble scheduled on STS-63 in
February 1994.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL AEROSPACE NEWS FROM DOW JONES NEWS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOEING Says FAA's 767 Order Won't Have Major Effect On Ops
DOW JONES NEWS, August 16, 1991
SEATTLE -DJ- A Boeing Co. spokesman said the Federal Aviation
Administration order today for U.S. airlines to deactivate engine thrust
reversers on Boeing 767 planes shouldn't have a major effect on operations
of the plane. He said no grounding of 767 aircraft is expected as a result
of the FAA order. Thrust reversers are routinely used in slowing airplanes.
But the Boeing spokesman noted that when the plane was certified by the
FAA, it had to prove itself capable of slowing and braking without use of
thrust reversers. The Boeing spokesman said that the 767 flight manual
calls for pilots to add 5% to the runway length used as an "added safety
margin" when thrust reversers aren't used. He said that requirement won't
eliminate any U.S. airports from using 767s, but added that "there may be
some (airports) in some countries that could not be operated on with full
payloads."
The Boeing spokesman said that 383 of its twin-engine 767s are flying
world-wide with General Electric, Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney engines.
He said that the FAA order applies to 175 of those aicraft. The order
reflected the FAA's concern that there was a possibility the thrust
reversers might reverse in flight. An inadvertent deployment is being
studied as a possible cause of the Lauda Airlines accident in Thailand May
26, which killed all 223 on board. The 767 flown by Austria-based Lauda was
a 767-300 extended range plane powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW-4060
engines.
The FAA said the investigation of the Lauda Airlines accident has not shown
that the thrust reverser was at fault but showed "a number of possible
discrepancies in the thrust reverser control system." Flight crews reverse
engines on landing to assist an aircraft's brakes. FAA spokesman Fred
Farrar said 382 of the Boeing jets fly worldwide, 145 in the United States.
Although the Lauda airliner was equipped with Pratt and Whitney PW4000
engines, the FAA extended the order against use of the reversers to 767
planes equipped with General Electric and Rolls Royce engines as well. A
telegram went out to airlines today to put the order into effect
immediately.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
BOEING - Washington Work Force Unchanged
DOW JONES NEWS, August 16, 1991
SEATTLE -DJ- Boeing Co. said its Washington state employment level will
finish 1991 virtually unchanged from the beginning of the year. Boeing said
in January that it anticipated the company's Washington work force would be
reduced by about 2,000. However, during the first seven months of 1991, the
company's Washington state work force grew by about 450. The increase is
due mainly to the requirements of the 777 airplane program. During this
same period, about 350 employees whose qualifications could not be matched
with available Boeing jobs were laid off. Layoffs were minimized by the
reassignment of about 1,800 employees through normal placement activity.
Before the end of the year, an estimated reduction of about 500 employees,
primarily in the Boeing Defense & Space Group, is expected to be
accomplished mainly through normal attrition and some layoffs. Current
Boeing employment in Washington state totals 105,000; companywide it is
158,500.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
FAA Orders Deactivation Of BOEING 767 Thrust Reversers
DOW JONES NEWS, August 16, 1991
WASHINGTON -AP- The Federal Aviation Administration ordered U.S. airlines
to deactivate engine thrust reversers on all Boeing 767 planes because of
the possibility that they might reverse in flight. Such an incident is
believed by some experts to have been involved in the crash of a Lauda
Airlines flight in Thailand on May 26 that killed all 223 aboard.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Indian Air Crash Kills All On Board (BOEING AEROSPACE)
DOW JONES NEWS, August 16, 1991
NEW DELHI, India -AP- An Indian Airlines jet crashed in hilly eastern India
several miles short of its destination today, killing all 69 people on
board, airline and government officials said. News agencies said 63
passengers, including an infant who was not on the airline's manifest, and
six crew members were aboard the Boeing 737 when it went down outside the
city of Imphal. R.K. Ranbir Singh, the chief minister of Manipur state,
said all 69 people aboard were killed, reported Press Trust of India and
United News of India. Two air force helicopters located the wreckage of the
plane near Loktak Lake, the agencies said. Imphal is the capital of
Manipur, a state bordering Burma. Initial reports blamed the mishap on bad
weather, airline sources in New Delhi said. It is monsoon season in the
area, and heavy rains and high winds are common. But a meteorolgist at the
national weather bureau said he had no report of adverse weather. The wind
speed was a normal 12-18 miles per hour, he said. "The clouds are not too
dense, but as you know, this is a hilly area," and there could be mountain
gusts, he said on condition of anonymity.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
BOEING Recommends Checks Of Thrust Reversers On More Jets
DOW JONES NEWS, August 16, 1991
SEATTLE, Wash. -DJ- Boeing Co. has recommended checks of thrust reverser
electronic control systems on additional 767 jets and may broaden that
request to include hundreds of other new model airplanes, a spokesman said.
The service bulletin sent Wednesday to customers worldwide affects about
105 767s powered by General Electric CF6 80C2 engines and 13 767s with
Rolls Royce engines, Boeing Commercial Airplane spokesman Randy Harrison
said. In the wake of the May 26 crash in Thailand of a Lauda Air 767-300ER
powered by Pratt and Whitney 4000 engines, Boeing earlier asked customers
to check thrust reversers on 767s powered by those engines. All 222 people
aboard the Lauda jet died in the crash. Thrust reversers help slow planes
for landing.
Airlines performing the checks reported four or five types of minor
problems, such as chafed wires and minute gaps in sensors on the thrust
reverser electronic controls, Harrison said. Because of those reports,
Boeing decided to ask for a broader inspection. "None of the anomalies
found were linked in any way to the Lauda investigation," Harrison said.
"If they had been they would be treated in an entirely different manner."
Harrison added that "at some point in the future we may ask for similar
inspections" in several other models of newer aircraft "that share a design
philosophy." Jets in that category include the 300-, 400- and 500- series
of 737, all the 757s and the 747-400s. Boeing had delivered 374 of its 757
jets, 929 new model 737s and 135 747-400s as of June 30, Harrison said.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS, HUGHES AIRCRAFT - Navy Pact
DOW JONES NEWS, August 16, 1991
ST. LOUIS -DJ- McDonnell Douglas Corp. and Hughes Aircraft Co. said they
signed an estimated $257 million contract with the U.S. Navy to produce an
improved radar for the F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter. The agreement, signed
in June, covers the production readiness and actual production of 12 radars
in the third block of fiscal year 1992 F/A-18 procurement, the companies
said in a press release. The companies said deliveries of aircraft equipped
with the new APG-73 radar are expected to begin in June 1994. Prime
contractor McDonnell Douglas has been working with Hughes on the radar
upgrade for two years under a $223 million full-scale development contract
with the Navy, the companies said. The Canadian Forces also are
participating as part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization cooperative
development program, they said.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Awards Contracts To Two Utah Firms
DOW JONES NEWS, August 23, 1991
SALT LAKE CITY -DJ- McDonnell Douglas Corp. said it awarded contracts
totaling about $4 million to two Utah companies for the production of
assembly tools for its aircraft manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City.
The two $2 million contracts were awarded to Petersen Specialized
Fabricators, Ogden, and Val's Machine, Salt Lake City. The contracts call
for the manufacture of assembly tools for the McDonnell Douglas MD-90
fuselage. The new tools are scheduled to be ready by the end of the year.
They will be used in the manufacture of the fuselage for the company's
next-generation twin engine aircraft, the MD-90.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
BRITISH AEROSPACE Gets $750 Mln Japan Aircraft Order
DOW JONES NEWS, August 23, 1991
LONDON -DJ- British Aerospace PLC said it won a $750 million contract to
supply the Japan Air Self Defense Force with 27 BAe 125-800 aircraft. The
aircraft, designated U-125a, are to be delivered between 1995 and 2003 and
represent Japan's next generation of search-and-rescue aircraft, the
manufacturing group said. British Aerospace has sold more that 800 125-800s
since 1964, when the aircraft were first built. The group said the jet has
now captured about half the worldwide mid-sized cabin-class market. As part
of the latest order the aircraft will be fitted with 360-degree scan radar,
forward-looking infrared systems and be capable of dropping rescue
equipment and market flares.
A spokesman for British Aerospace's commercial aircraft division said that
the aircraft will operate within Japan's 200-mile defense zone. In 1989 the
Self Defense Force ordered three similar aircraft from British Aerospace
for flight inspection duties, in a contract worth $75 million. That order
was the first time the force had ordered a non-American overseas-built
aircraft, British Aerospace said.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TRW Doesn't Plan To Sell Credit Opers At This Time
DOW JONES NEWS, August 23, 1991
CLEVELAND -DJ- During a meeting with business news editors at The New York
Times yesterday, TRW Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Joseph T. Gorman
received a number of questions about TRW's consumer credit reporting
business, the company said in a news release. Gorman said that while the
business recently hasn't performed to expectations, it is an attractive
business with good profit margins. He did indicate that the company is
conducting strategic reviews of its businesses, including its information
systems businesses, TRW said. In connection with these reviews, the company
regularly considers the full range of strategic options, including
divestment, it said. TRW said it is continuing these reviews but has no
plans to sell the credit reporting business at this time.
The New York Times today reported that TRW Inc. was considering selling its
credit reporting business, in part because of the growing public outcry and
regulatory scrutiny of the business of tracking and selling sensitive
consumer financial data.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Concurrent Computer Sells Systems To TRW For Army Pact
DOW JONES NEWS, August 23, 1991
TINTON FALLS, N.J. -DJ- Concurrent Computer Corp. said it sold three
MicroFive Multiprocessing systems and 10 Model 7500 systems worth $2.4
million to ESL Inc., a unit of TRW Inc., for use in the Army's "Guardrail"
project. Concurrent said in a press release that its MicroFive
Multiprocessing systems will be used to collect, process and relay
intelligence information as part of the Army's ground-based integrated
processing facility.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
BOEING - Spokane Plant Upgrade
DOW JONES NEWS, August 22, 1991
SPOKANE, Wash. -DJ- Boeing Co.'s Commercial Airplane Group said it will
spend $11 million to expand its composites fabrication plant in Spokane,
Wash. Construction is expected to begin in May 1992, with completion about
a year later, the company said in a statement. The project will enlarge the
existing facility by 108,000 square feet, or almost half, providing
increased production space plus new areas for employee training and other
support services, the company said. The company also said the expansion
will require the company to bolster its 400 employees with another 85 to
100 employees. Hiring is expected in 1993.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
GM's EDS Unit To Acquire MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Unit
DOW JONES NEWS, August 19, 1991
DALLAS -DJ- General Motors Corp's. Electronic Data Systems Corp. subsidiary
said it signed a letter of intent to acquire McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s
Systems Integration Co. unit. The transaction includes the domestic
operations of the McDonnell Douglas unit and certain computer-aided design,
manufacturing and engineering research and distribution activities of the
Systems Integration unit and McDonnell Douglas Information Systems
International that take place outside of North America. Further terms were
not disclosed. The commonality between EDS and and the McDonnell Douglas
unit's customer bases and service offerings would furnish opportunities to
leverage resources and relationships to better serve customers in such
vertical markets as manufacturing, state and local government, energy and
chemicals, communications and insurance, the companies said in a joint
statement. The McDonnell Douglas unit had 1990 worldwide revenue of $398
million, and EDS reported revenues of $6.1 billion in 1990.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Gets 2 Yr, $58.9M Strategic Defense Pact
DOW JONES NEWS, August 19, 1991
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -DJ-McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., a unit of
McDonnell Douglas Corp., said in a press release issued Friday that it
received a $58.9 million, 24-month contract for the Phase II
Single-Stage-to- Orbit Technology Demonstration Program from the Strategic
Defense Initiative Organization. Under the contract, McDonnell Douglas will
develop the design for a prototype Single-Stage-to-Orbit Technology vehicle
and demonstrate the technology necessary to achieve the design performance.
Single-Stage-to- Orbit Technology is a reusable launch vehicle that will
bring airline-type operations to the launch business.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Air Force Lifts 2-Year Suspension On NORTHROP Unit
DOW JONES NEWS, August 19, 1991
LOS ANGELES -DJ- Northrop Corp. said the Air Force lifted a two-year
suspension of the Norwood, Mass., facility of its Electronics Systems
Division. In a letter to shareholders, Northrop said that, among other
commitments made to the Air Force, it has undertaken to replace the fluid in
the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the flight data transmitters of air-
launched cruise missiles to assure proper performance under cold weather
conditions and to provide new gyroscopes for the radars in the F-15
fighters. Northrop Corp., which said the Air Force lifted a two-year-old
suspension of the Norwood Mass. facilities of its Electronic Systems
Division, said it also tentatively ''resolved'' a related civil suit by the
Government concerning the rate sensor assembly on the AV-8B Harrier.
In the letter to shareholders, signed by Kent Kresa, chairman, president and
chief executive, Northrop noted that it took a previously reported $11.8
million charge for the estimated costs of changing the fluid in the
gyroscopes of the air-launched cruise missile, $1.2 million to resolve
''other disputes'' and $8.8 million ''for the settlement of civil litigation
and related issues.'' Northrop said it has for the past two years had an
''intensive'' program of education and training in business conduct, ethics,
and compliance with government regulations for employees at the facility.
The company said it has told the Air Force that it will continue the program
and provide annual refresher training courses for all employees at the
Norwood facility. Northrop said it is providing similar ethics education and
training to all of its 36,000 employees in U.S. locations.
In July 1989, Northrop's Precision Products division, as it was then called,
was suspended indefinitely from doing business with the federal government
based on charges that it had knowingly falsified tests on weapons systems.
Northrop eventually pleaded guilty to criminal charges against it and paid
$17 million in fines. The Air Force said earlier this year that it expected
the company to fix problems with the weapons, whose guidance systems were
affected by a faulty fluid that thickened in cold conditions less stringent
than called for by military specifications.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
NORTHROP To Settle Charges With U.S. Government
DOW JONES NEWS, August 19, 1991
LOS ANGELES -- Northrop Corp. has tentatively agreed to pay the government
$600,000 to settle charges that it improperly billed the Air Force for work
at a logistics depot in Warner Robbins, Ga. Northrop said in a filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission that the alleged violations had
occurred at a depot that maintains C-141 transport planes and other
aircraft. A lawsuit first filed by an employee of Northrop alleged that
before 1987, the aerospace concern improperly charged expenses to unrelated
contracts after it had used up allotments for labor and material costs under
other contracts. A Northrop spokesman declined further comment on the
settlement.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Fedl Probe Recommends Study Of BOEING 727, 737 Jet Rudders
DOW JONES NEWS, August 20, 1991
WASHINGTON -AP- Federal investigators recommended that rudders of all Boeing
727 and 737 jetliners be inspected because of abnormal movements found in an
investigation of a United Airlines crash near Colorado Springs, Colo., on
March 3. The recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board
was submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration, which has 90 days to
respond to it. The FAA usually accepts such recommendations, but is free to
reject them. The board said it has not determined the cause of the Colorado
crash and does not know whether difficulty that was found in moving a rudder
control was a factor in it. But the board said it was ''concerned'' that
the condition could ''lead to control difficulties.'' It recommended that
the FAA issue an airworthiness directive requiring a check on all Boeing 737
and 727 airplanes to determine the force needed to rotate the control lever.
The March crash killed all five crew members and 20 passengers on United
flight 585. Boeing spokesman Steven Smith could not immediately be reached
for comment.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Defense Stocks Get Boost From Crisis In Soviet Union
DOW JONES NEWS, August 23, 1991
"We told you so." That, in essence, was the reaction of the U.S. defense
establishment as details spread about the ouster of Mikhail S. Gorbachev as
Soviet president. Since the Berlin Wall crumbled in 1989, defense
contractors have lobbied to keep selling their weapons by arguing, in part,
that the most sincere promises of Soviet change could wither overnight. Now,
with armored personnel carriers rumbling through the streets of Moscow, the
U.S. military-industrial complex says it has been vindicated. "We've got to
keep our guard up," says Bernard Schwartz, chairman of Loral Corp. The stock
market's reaction seemed to drive home that point. In yesterday's broad
decline, a number of major defense industry stocks bucked the trend to close
higher in active trading.
Executives acknowledged that it's too early to tell exactly what impact the
Soviet situation will have on the defense debate in the U.S. The country's
leaders "shouldn't manage national defense on the basis of daily events,"
says Norman Augustine, chairman of Martin Marietta Corp. "Our defense
strategies should be defined to meet long-term requirements." Augustine
notes that it "takes decades to develop and provide the sophisticated, high-
performance equipment that, for instance, was used in the Persian Gulf" War
against Iraq. So far, at least, nothing major has changed in terms of the
Soviet threat. The Warsaw Pact is no more. The Soviet economy is in
shambles, raising questions about whether it will ever really be able to arm
itself with next- generation weapons to match what the Pentagon is still
preparing to build.
Tom Christie, a staff member with the Institute for Defense Analysis and
former top Pentagon procurement official, says he sees no reason the U.S.
defense budget, which is slated to decline about 5% a year through the
middle of this decade, should change direction now. "The Soviets have so
many problems with their military --morale problems, equipment problems," he
says. "And even if the hardliners come back, they're going to be busy trying
to hold their country together." Nonetheless, says Renso Caporali, chairman
of Grumman Corp., the Bush administration and Congress "were certainly
making decisions about how the nation would defend itself based on the
Gorbachev regime." Augustine adds: "The instability in the Soviet Union will
clearly continue, confronting the Soviet people with some difficult
possibilities ranging from a fascist state to total anarchy."
It's precisely that volatility that is bound to give U.S. backers of certain
weapons systems -- particularly the Strategic Defense Initiative and the B-2
Stealth bomber -- more ammunition as they fight for funding on Capitol Hill.
The company also disclosed that its Electronic Systems Division, which had
been suspended from doing business with the government for two years because
of fraud, has been reinstated. Other defense issues closing higher on the
Big Board included McDonnell Douglas Corp., up $2.50 to $51.25, and Loral,
up 50 cents to $43.75. Some stocks, including General Dynamics Corp. and
Lockheed Corp., rose early in the day. However, General Dynamics closed
unchanged at $44.25, and Lockheed ended at $44.125, off 12.5 cents.
When Congress reconvenes next month, the House and Senate must sort out a
number of important issues on a $291 billion defense-spending plan for
fiscal 1992, which begins Oct. 1. The Senate, for instance, wants four more
B-2s, while the House voted overwhelmingly to kill the bat-winged bomber.
The House also has relegated anti-missile research to the back burner by
eliminating almost half of the requested funding by the White House; the
Senate voted almost all of
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
ROHR INDUSTRIES - Debt Reduction
DOW JONES NEWS, August 20, 1991
Rohr Industries;~BUS;
CHULA VISTA, Calif. -DJ- Rohr Industries Inc. said it repaid $30 million of
indebtedness during its 1991 fourth quarter. Total debt, including short-
term debt, long-term debt and other obligations that constitute
indebtedness, decreased to $636 million at July 31, as compared to $666
million at April 28. In a news release, the company said accelerating
deliveries during the quarter contributed to the its improved cash-flow
position. Also cited were the recovery of pre-production costs amortized by
units delivered on several new programs in which the company has significant
investments, configuration stability on new programs and improved collection
efforts on accounts receivable. Rohr said it expects to release year-end
earnings early next month. In the year-ago fourth quarter, the company
earned $6,979,000, or 39 cents a share, on sales of $318,794,000.
(c) Dow Jones News - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Distribution:
TO:
BRANDON ABBEY@IVO ROB ABOUD@MAO DOUGLAS ALDEN@BJO JACK ALEXANDER@ORO
BILL ALLEN@TFO PAUL ALWINE@IVO ERIK AMBJOR@NJO LAURIS AMES@MKO
LARRY ANTINONE@CWO AL APPEL@IVO DON ARMAGNAC@KYO RICK ARMSTRONG@GVH
SUSAN ARMSTRONG@LAO PAT ARNOLD@MMO DAVE BAKER@DCO JIM BALLANCE@EWO
BILL BALLENTINE@SEO MERLE BAPTISTE@CWO MACK BARBER@ORO BILL BARGAS@TMO
JIM BARR@IVO FRANK BASILE@LAC NANCI BASTEK@TFO JIM BEALL@AQO
PAUL BENDIK@LIO JIM BENSON@WRO GARY BENTON@TMO LLOYD BERRY@EKO
DON BERTOLI@IVO TED BIADASZ@CWO CHAD BIGONY@WRO BILL BIRD@STO
CLYDE BLASSENGALE@V JOE BLOMKER@STO GIANLUCA BOGI@RIO AUBREY BONE@MAO
CAROL BONNER@IVO BOB BONNER@IVO JIM BOREL@CWO JEAN-CLAUDE BORRAZ@
STEVE BOSWELL@SSO IAN BOURNE@OLO BOB BOWEN@CWO MARY BOWMAN@WRO
GARY BRAATEN@LIO CLINTON BRENNAN@DLO JIM BRESLAUER@IVO NICO VAN DEN BRINK@
RON BRODICT@PHO RAY BROGAN@BFO MARTIN BROPHY@WLO NEIL BROSNAHAN@SDO
RON BRUNNER@CWO RICHARD BRUSO@SLO ROSE BRYDA@LAO PERRY BUCHANAN@ORO
DAVE BURKE@WNP RON BUTTERFIELD@SEO ANNE BUZBEE@WRO EDWIN BUZZELL@HSO
ALBERT CABRALOFF@LA WANDA CALHOUN@AOO LAURENCE CALLAGHAN@ RAY CARBONE@NYO
JOHN CARLYLE@CWO BOB CARMICHAEL@IVO ARIE CARMON@ISO STEVE CARTER@DYO
JOHN CASACCIA@IVO GENE CERNAN@HSO ERMANNO CERRANO@TNO DAVID CERULLO@OFO
GINA CHANG@SEO JOSEPH CHICK@CYO GENE CHRISTIAN@ATO DIANE CIUFFETTI@MKO
BILL CLAIRE@CYO DAN COCO@FZO BOB COHEN@IVO DAN COHEN@WRO
JIM COLEMAN@FZO STEVEN COLETTA@OFO HELEN CONDELL@OFO TOM CONDON@ITO
CHUCK COOPER@IVO JIM COPELAND@TSO JIM CORBETT@FZO DANI COTNOIR@MQO
JOAN COULSON@SEO JEFF COVERT@LAO BRYAN COX@DLO KENT CRAWFORD@WRO
TIM CRNKO@STO ALLAN CROWDER@SEO DEBORAH CRUNK@CHO DICK DALEY@IVO
NED DANIELS@MRO JON DANZAK@PTO ROBERT DAVIDSON@MMO G DAVIS@DVO
GARY DAVIS@FOO STEPHANIE DAVIS@LAO BART DAVISON@TFO PAUL DECAPUA@IVO
GEORGE DECLUE@SYO RON DEFUSCO@OFO TOM DEHENNIS@CWO BRIAN DELANEY@LAO
CHRISTINE DELARA@LA PETE DELISI@WRO JOE DESPAUTZ@PHC JIM DEZUTTER@UPO
TANNA DIBBLE@MPO RICHARD DICKSON@OFO LEO DITSCHUN@TRO LEO DITTEMORE@LAO
STEVEN DORSETT@INI LESTER DRAZIN@DCO JOHN DRENGUIS@SEO EDWARD DRUST@PHO
GREG DUDA@SEO TIM DUGAN@LIO JOSEPH DUKLEWSKI@ME OLIVIER DUMAS@ATY
FRED DUPLAIN@DYO GUY EASTERBROOK@REO BRAD EATON@OFO RAY EBERLY@ALF
KAREN EKBLAD@SEO JIM ELGIN@MRO FRANK ELIA@ORO PAT ELLENBECKER@SEO
MIKE ENGBROCK@MET GARY EVANS@SEO JOHN FADEL@CLO MARK FAIGENBAUM@WRO
PETER FALLETTA@CWO WILLIAM FARIS@FOO STEVE FARLOW@STO ERNIE FEASEL@MRO
JOHN FERRARO@MKO CHERYLENE FLETCHER@ MATT FLIPPEN@NYO JOHN FOERCH@NYO
FRANK FONTANES@NJO DOUG FORD@LAO RONALD FORSYTHE@CYO OVIDE FORTIER@SDO
RALPH FOSTER@CWO RICHARD FRANK@LIO AL FRASZ@CLO ROBERT FRAZIER@ATO
MELL FULLER@MKO JEAN-FRANCOIS GAILL RON GALASSO@SEO JOHN GANLEY@OGO
JOE GANNON@MKO BRUCE GARLAND@BIO DOUG GARNER@CHO JAVIER GARRIDO@SQO
CHUCK GEORGEDES@CHO BOB GERSTEN@LIO DAN GILBOA@ISO BRUCE GILLESPIE@SEO
JIM GIRLANDO@ZBO HERB GOLDSTEIN@CWO KEN GONTARZ@STO JOSE GONZALEZ@CWO
MICHAEL GRAM@MRO LEN GREANEY@SEO STEWART GREATHOUSE@ CARTER GUIDER@FHO
TOM HAAS@BWA MITCH HALL@ORO SCOTT HALLIDAY@WRO ROBERT HAMILTON@CWO
KEN HAMILTON@VFO TOM HAMILTON@CWO DAVID HARDWICKE@LAO DALE HARRIS@IVO
JIM HATTRUP@WRO JUDY HECKER@VFO BARBIE HENDON@CWO TODD HERSHBERGER@WI
RICHARD HESSELGREN@ NICK HILL@ATY THOMAS HIPP@WRO LEN HOCH@SEO
JERRY HOLM@SEO LARRY HOLMBERG@AQO PAUL HORNE@WRO PAUL HOSKINS@TFO
ANDY HOUCK@KXO JAMES HOUGHTON@LAO SCOTT HUCHINGSON@ST LARRY HUDSON@LAO
AUDREY HUE@SEO LYNNE HUMMEL@CWO JOHN HUMPHREY@STO ZORAN ILIC@MRO
CONSTANCE INTEMANN@ BOB ISSENBERG@OFO ARTHUR JACKSON@OLO BILL JAMES@MPO
TIM JAMESON@VBV ALLEN JAYME@LAO PETER JELINSKI@RTO SCOTT JEPSEN@STO
TONY JEZIOR@DCA DAVE JOHNSON@FZO CLAUDIA JOHNSON@LAO BOB JOHNSON@ORO
JAMIE JOHNSTON@SLO RUSS JONES@NIO ARTHUR JONES@TUO JOHN JONKMAN@SLO
PATTI KAIYALA@SEO BILL KANDOHLA@WLO PAUL KANE@DYO JONG KANG@SEO
JERRY KAPLAN@KYO DAVID KASEFANG@STO DAVE KEAY@WRO VINCE KELLY@TFO
BILL KERT@CKO MIKE KIER@CYO STEPHEN KLINE@FVO LEE KNOCH@NIO
TOM KOETTING@STO NICHOLAS KONTRAS@CY KENNETH KOONTZ@BJO LEO KOSIBA@ALF
FRED KRAUS@SEO BOB KUHN@DCA BILL KURPIEL@VFO MAX KYMMELL@VBV
TED LACINA@DVO RUSTY LACY@HVO CINDY LAFRANCE@KYO PATRICIA LAMBS@WRO
BOB LANDGRAF@WRO ROBERT LAVINE@SDO JIM LAWSON@MMO ROBERT LEE@WRO
CO DE LEEUW@UTO SHARON LENHART@SEO ABRAHAM LEV@IVO MARK LEVY@LAO
SAM LEWIS@CHO JEROME LIEVRE@PAO BOB LIPTROT@FMT MIKE LISCHKE@SEO
CAROLYN LISS@STO TONI LOESCH@RTO BRETT LOWE@MAO CAROL LUCHT@DVO
LYNN LUNN@SEO RICHARD LYNN@WRO LEOPOLDO MADRID@FLA LEO MADRID@PBF
JOHN MAGINNIS@CWO WAYNE MAH@CWO MIKE MAHONEY@EKO DAVE MALLON@MKO
ROBERT A. MANCUSO@L BILL MANOOCH@NOO DAVE MAPLES@WRO BOB MARCONI@WRO
RICHARD MARCUS@LAO MARGARET MARINO@SEO MARILYN MARSH@WRO DENIS MARTINI@CLO
FRED MASSEY@HVO HANK MATYNIAK@LAO SKIP MAUSER@IVO CLIFFORD MAUTON@MEL
TOM MCALEAVY@DLO MICHAEL MCCABE@LAO SAM MCCANDLISH@SEO JOHN MCCONNELL@LAO
RICHARD MCCUMBER@PH LLOYD MCDANIEL@IVO BILL MCDERMOTT@PVO EDWARD MCDONALD@SEO
CHRIS MCGUIRE@SEO PAUL MCKAY@SEO BOB MCKELVEY@CWO JACK MCKELVIE@KYO
JESSE MCLEAN@FOO JIM MCNABB@ORO ED MEINTZER@DVO BARRY MILBERG@NJO
PAUL MILLER@EDO TOM MILLER@SEO RICHARD MILLIGAN@LA BETTY MILLS@SEO
JANET MINARD@ORO SANDY MINGIA@WRO MARK MIRANDA@HVO DAVID MITCHELL@ORO
RICHARD MODER@SLO DICK MODICA@LAO SEAN MOHAN@STO DON MONTOYA@DVO
BILL MOORE@MET GARY MOORE@TSO ROBERT MOORHEAD@WRO BOB MORGAN@PDO
RAY MORRIS@WLO MICHAEL MORSE@STO CLAY MORSE@PHO MIKE MULKA@ORO
BILL MURPHY@STO MIKE MUSI@OFO GERALDINE NAGLE@CHO ALMA NAMIAS@FMT
NANCY NEALE@LIO DAVID NEFF@DYO DICK NEHR@SEO BILL NEVILLE@IVO
ALEX NGUYEN@DCA GARRY NOEL@CKO W NUHFER@ORO TERRY OHLRICH@CWO
STEVAN OLSEN@SEO WES ONO@SEO BILL OVERMAN@WIO BOB PACE@LAO
JOE PALMINTIERO@LAO CAROL PALMINTIERO@L JOE PAROLA@SDO MATT PARTLOW@SEO
MERVYN PATON@BBP HAROLD PATTERSON@CW HOWARD PATTON@DLO LARRY PECKHAM@SDO
PETE PENNINGTON@PHO CHRIS PENTA@WAO BILL PERRICK@DCO JACK PERRY@WRO
CHARLES PETITHORY@P DEBBIE PETITTI@LAO BOB PETITTI@SEO JEANNE PHANEUF@MKO
STEVE PHILLIPS@SDO MICHELLE PINOT@EVB TOM PISINSKI@MRO IGAL PITCHON@WRO
RON POPE@LAO DONALD POTTER@CHO RENE PRESSE@MQO DON PRICE@STO
ANTHONY QUATTRONE@M MARY ELLEN QUILL@SD ALAN RALEIGH@FZO JULEIGH RAWLINGS@CW
STEVE REDFERN@MKO BOB REED@SEO RON REENTS@OFO TIM REGIER@WIO
JOHN REILLY@MSO KEN RENNER@HVO ANITA RENTERIA@EWO BRENDA REPLAND@LIO
PAULA RESEVICK@MET TOM REYNOLDS@LAO SAMY REZGUI@ATY URSEL RHEA@IVO
JERRY RICHARDS@MTO ALLISON RICHARDSON@ DAVE RICHARDSON@SEO PHIL RIDDICK@HVO
ROGER RIEMANN@STO RIP RIOPELLE@CWO KATE RISDON@WLO RAY RITTENHOUSE@IVO
PATRICK ROACH@VBO ALLAN ROHRER@TFO MICHAEL RONDEAU@AQO SUSAN ROPER@LAO
ROBERT ROSE@STO BERND ROSENBACH@MFR MITCH ROSS@SEO ROBERT ROWE@IVO
ROBERT ROWE@PSO DENNIS RUDLOFF@SDO LOU RYCZEK@ACI PHILIP SACHS@DVO
ULF SANDIN@SOO JEFF SANDS@OGO LAWRENCE K SANDS@IV HAROLD SATTERFIELD@
WILLIAM SCHAEPE@MKO MICHAEL SCHALLI@MFR MIKE SCHMIDT@LAO RALPH SCHMOLLER@IVO
STEVEN SCHOLZ@SYO CHIP SCHOOLER@CWO ROSS SCHUBARTH@OFO DALE SCHUETT@WRO
JUDY KAY SCOTT@WRO CLARK SEARLE@CYO JACK SEE@DYO BOB SEIFERT@MKO
STANLEY SHAREK@TMO STAN SHAREK@TMO RANDY SHARP@MAO GRAHAME SHAW@UBO
VIC SHELTON@ZBO SHEL SHERMAN@LAO PAMELA SHIELDS@PHH DALE SHILLING@PBF
TOM SHORT@HSO PETE SIKAITIS@FHO GREG SIRBU@LAO CLAUDIA SKELTON@BWA
BILL SLEZAK@DCO TOM SLIVA@FMT TROY SMITH@ACI KEVIN SMITH@LIO
PAUL SMITH@SEO PEYTON SMITH@SEO MIKE SNYDER@CWO NED SOMERVILLE@DCA
LUAN SOTO@CWO MALCOLM SPENCE@STO STACY SPENCE@SEO LARRY STAHL@LAO
JIM STANFILL@SEO PHILIPP STEINER@FOO LINDA STONE@LAO HARVEY STORMS@SEO
DENNIS STRAMIELLO@L LEN STRICKLER@HVO SUSAN SUTHERLAND@LA STORM SWENDSBOE@HVO
BOB TASSONE@SEO JIM TEAYS@SEO ALLEN THOMAS@WRO MARILYN THOMPSON@WR
ALAN THOMSON@WIO DOUG THORNBURG@IVO THOMAS TORLONE@CYO JAMES TRACY@STO
ED TREMBLAY@SEO LAURA TUCKER@LAO MEL TUCKFIELD@MEL TOM UNDERDOWN@ORO
LENNY VAIRO@OFO WALTER VALENTINE@DC WILLIAM VANGURP@WRO DALE VAUGHAN@LAO
MARY VERHAGE@MRO GIL VILLALOBOS@IVO JOHN VOLLERS@LIO RICK WAGNER@IVO
MARTY WAITE@SEO KEVIN WALSH@TTB J PAUL WANNINGER@SE NEIL WARDEN@OLO
JERRY WASSEM@DYO BOB WATERS@LAO BOB WATTS@FOO DAVE WATTS@SEO
DOROTHY WELLER@WOO MARY ELLEN WHIDDON@ RAYMOND WICKERT@DCO DICK WILLIAMS@IVO
ANDY WILLINGER@MRO PHIL WILSON@MRO STEVE WITTENBERG@LA HELEN WOOD@EWO
ROBERT WOODBINE@OFO DAVE WORKMAN@FZO TOM WRIGHT@FZO STEWART WRIGHT@SLO
DON WYNNE@JMO CHARLES YANUS@SYO GARY YOSHIZUMI@LAO GEORGE ZENZEROVICH@
ROBERT ZIESE@KYO MIKE ZIMMER@SEO MARK ZIPKIN@IVO
|
| 20.126 | 09/30, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Oct 11 1991 15:40 | 508 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 005750
Date: 10-Oct-1991 11:10pm EDT
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 09/30, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of September 30, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1991
GENERAL:
BRITISH AEROSPACE CHAIRMAN RESIGNS
BRITISH AEROSPACE BEGINS DEMONSTRATING NEW SIGNAL ANALYZER
IBM TO PROVIDE SPACE STATION CONTROL CENTER COMPUTERS
INTEGRAL PERIPHERALS DEVELOPS SUBMINIATURE HARD DISK DRIVE
KAMAN SCIENCES TO WORK ON AIR FORCE COMPUTERS
UNISYS MOVES TO SPIN OFF DEFENSE BUSINESS THROUGH STOCK OFFERING
WESTINGHOUSE IN VENTURE TO EXPAND TECHNOLOGY BASE OF MOROCCO
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE ACCEPTS FIRST OPERATIONAL C-27 A
FURTHER HERMES DELAYS STRETCH PROJECT'S LIMITS
HIGHER-THRUST F110
INTEGRATED F-22 DESIGN
NARROW MARGIN OF SENATE VOTE SIGNALS WEAKENING SUPPORT FOR B-2
TEXTRON TEST COMPONENTS TO BE USED ON NASP
YAK RETURNS
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE SEEKS SOURCES FOR MINIATURE TACTICAL WEAPON GUIDANCE SYSTEM
BOEING GROUP TO IMPROVE BOMBER MISSION SOFTWARE
GEC AVIONICS RECEIVES EUROFIGHTER AWARD
MISSILES:
AIR FORCE PURSUES WIDER ATTACK ROLE IN MISSILE DEFENSE
RAYTHEON RECEIVES CONTRACTS TO UPGRADE PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM
SAAB COMPUTERS TO GUIDE FIRST SERIES OF ARIANE 5S
SECOND TEST OF ASRM NOZZLE MATERIALS COMPLETED AT MSFC
SRAM II CANCELED FOR CAUSE
SATELLITES:
ASIASAT SEEKS BIDDERS
FIRST MILSTAR SPACECRAFT PASSES IMPORTANT TEST
INDIA'S SECOND REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE ON LINE
MOBILE UNIT KEEPS DETAINEES IN TOUCH
SECOND ANIK AT HOME IN SPACE
SOVIETS LAUNCH SIX SATELLITES WITH ONE BOOSTER
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CONGRESS HITS NEW PROJECTS, SAVES STATION
GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY DISCOVERIES SHAKE OLD THEORIES
NO MORE CRACKED SEALS FOUND ON ATLANTIS; COLUMBIA CLEAR
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BRITISH AEROSPACE CHAIRMAN RESIGNS
Sir Roland Smith resigned under pressure as chairman of British
Aerospace after mounting criticism of the company's recent and expected
financial performance. Effective Oct. 7, Smith will be replaced
temporarily by Sir Grahm Day, chairman of British Aerospace's Rover
Group, while a search for a permanent chairman takes place. Smith,
chairman of BA since 1987, came under growing attack from both within
the company and the outside financial community by seeking to raise
funds in a public stock offering while the company was reporting
sharply lower first-half profits and predicting a bleaker second half.
He was also criticized for the failures of the company's
diversification program.
BRITISH AEROSPACE BEGINS DEMONSTRATING NEW SIGNAL ANALYZER
British Aerospace Systems and Equipment has begun demonstrating a new
signal analyzer designed to provide electronic support measures
capability in affordable PC equipment. Called Minerva, the system can
acquire signals by using an oscilloscope display, by tuning the
receiver to a target frequency or when a capture is triggered by
detection of a signal of given characteristics stored in the system.
Minerva, which can be tailored to a user's needs, will isolate the
characteristics of the signal and emitter, correlate the signal with
library data and tell the operator the percentage match with other
signals in storage.
IBM TO PROVIDE SPACE STATION CONTROL CENTER COMPUTERS
IBM Federal Sector Div., Houston, TX, won a Johnson Space Center 13-
year firm-fixed price contract worth approximately $191 million to
supply as many as 48 mainframe computer systems, NASA reported. The
mission operations computer systems will be used in the Space Station
mission control center and its training facility, NASA said, adding
that the computers also may be used for unspecified future programs at
other NASA centers.
INTEGRAL PERIPHERALS DEVELOPS SUBMINIATURE HARD DISK DRIVE
Integral Peripherals of Boulder, CO, is developing a commercial 1.8
inch subminiature hard disk drive for hand-held computers. The first
drives will go to Japanese manufacturers in 1992 to build "palmtop"
computers that weigh about 2.5 lb. The machines will be powered by AA-
size batteries and have a keyboard interface. Other types using the
1.8 inch drive are "pen-based" computers without keyboards.
KAMAN SCIENCES TO WORK ON AIR FORCE COMPUTERS
Kaman Sciences Corp. has won a $10.4 million contract for maintenance
and modifications to computer systems at the U.S. Air Force Space
Command's underground command center in Cheyenne Mountain Air Force
Base, CO. The contract, which includes several options that could
increase its value to $69 million over the next five years, was awarded
September 13 by Air Force Space Command. Kaman Sciences is based at
Colorado Springs, CO.
UNISYS MOVES TO SPIN OFF DEFENSE BUSINESS THROUGH STOCK OFFERING
Unisys Corp. began its long-expected move to spin off its defense
business, reporting that it hopes to raise as much as $500 million by
creating a separate defense company called Paramax, Inc., and selling
its common stock for as much as $25 a share. The company's
registration statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, isn't yet effective, and shares of the new company (under
the symbol PX) won't be traded on the New York Stock Exchange until all
the regulatory approvals are secured. Unisys is burdened with some
$3.8 billion in debt, and thinks its initial public offering of 20
million Paramax shares could help retire anywhere from $440 million to
$500 million of that debt.
WESTINGHOUSE IN VENTURE TO EXPAND TECHNOLOGY BASE OF MOROCCO
Westinghouse Electronic Systems Co. and the Othman Benjelloun Group of
Morocco formed a joint venture company intended to expand Morocco's
technology base and speed the introduction of high-tech products and
services throughout the region. Market potential of the joint venture
will be between $500 million and $1 billion over the next ten years.
President of the Westinghouse unit, said the joint venture will allow
transfer of technology in the fields of automation, information
management, electronics manufacture and transportation. He anticipated
in the next six months somewhere between $150 million and $200 million
worth of projects under the operation.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE ACCEPTS FIRST OPERATIONAL C-27 A
First operational C-27 A intra-theater airlifter was accepted Sept. 26
by Air Force officials in a ceremony at Chrysler Technologies Airborne
Systems Inc. in Waco, TX. The Air Force, an a $330 million program,
will buy 10 of the twin-turboprop C-27s for use by the U.S. Southern
Command. The C-27 is a G-222 aircraft manufactured by Alenia of Italy.
Chrysler provides the integration mission system avionics to meet AF
requirements. The No. 1 C-27 was flown by MAC pilots for 45 days in a
series of qualification operational test and evaluation missions that
preceded the delivery ceremony.
FURTHER HERMES DELAYS STRETCH PROJECT'S LIMITS
Postponing the first flight of Europe's Hermes space plane to 2002 will
add at least 5 percent to its already bloated budget, according to
government and industry officials. That translates to an additional
$415 million that would be piled on to the cost of the plane which, at
an estimated $8.3 billion, already is 33 percent over budget. Beyond
the added costs, Hermes program managers said, stretching development
over more than a decade may encourage attrition among engineering teams
whose integrate is seen as crucial. The 13-nation European Space
Agency has proposed the Hermes plane fly once in 2002, once in 2003 and
be launched on its first operational mission, with a crews of three, in
2004. The original Hermes schedule called for a first flight in 1998.
HIGHER-THRUST F110
General Electric is planning to run a modified F110 engine in late
October or early November with the goal of demonstrating 36,000-lb.
thrust, about 1,000 lb. more than had been anticipated. The engine,
designated the F110X, will be equipped with a conventional afterburner
and a high airflow fan based on the unit from the B-2's F118
powerplant. Future GE plans also envision a still-higher-thrust F110XX
by mid-decade. It probably would be fitted with a new core that might
include variable cycle technology, according to company officials. The
latest production F110, the F110-129 powerplant, is rated at 29,000-lb.
thrust.
INTEGRATED F-22 DESIGN
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. will use an integrated product
development (IPD) process in designing the F-22. IPD integrates
engineering, product support, quality assurance, tooling and
manufacturing functions under combined design teams. Design data bases
on IBM mainframe computers will keep all team members up to date on the
latest design requirements. The majority of calculation intensive
operations such as aerodynamic and structural analysis will be
completed on Hewlett-Packard, Digital and some IBM workstations. The
data from these analyses will be stored on the IBM mainframe data
bases. IBM/Dassault CATIA software will be used to create electronic
mockups in lieu of physical models.
NARROW MARGIN OF SENATE VOTE SIGNALS WEAKENING SUPPORT FOR B-2
The U.S. Air Force's B-2 bomber survived another Senate vote but the
margin was so narrow that the aircraft's prospects in the upcoming
congressional showdown for Fiscal 1992 were weakened. The Senate voted
51-48 against an amendment to drop $3.2 billion B-2 production funds
from the $269.7 billion Fiscal 1992 military appropriations bill. Less
than two months ago, acting on the authorization bill, the Senate
defeated essentially the same amendment, 57-42.
TEXTRON TEST COMPONENTS TO BE USED ON NASP
Textron Specialty Materials has won an $8.6 million contract to improve
composite materials manufacturing techniques and to build test
components for Phase II-D of the National Aerospace Plane. Textron
Speciality Materials, Lowell, MA, which will be a subcontractor to St.
Louis-based McDonnell Douglas Corp., will be working on titanium matrix
composite materials that will be used for the external structure and
internal supports of the aircraft.
YAK RETURNS
The Russian aviation ministry has decided not to cancel outright the
Yakovlev-141 supersonic Vertical/short-takeoff and landing (VSTOL), but
is limiting the program to continued testing and prototype development,
according to sources who observe the Russian aviation industry. The
plane, now code-named "Freestyle" by NATO, was thought to be a victim
of Russian budget cuts in late summer.
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE SEEKS SOURCES FOR MINIATURE TACTICAL WEAPON GUIDANCE SYSTEM
The U.S. Air Force's Wright Laboratory is seeking sources to develop a
high antijam (120-dB. jam/signal) miniature tactical weapon guidance
system. It would consist of a Global Positioning System with conformal
antenna and receiver coupled to an inexpensive inertial measurement
unit (IMU) with a single Kalman filter. The Air Force would like an
IMU drift rate of 1 deg./hr., but would accept up to 30 deg./hr. for an
inexpensive IMU. The Air Force wants system volume to be less than 80
cu. in., and guidance system cost of less than $10,000.
BOEING GROUP TO IMPROVE BOMBER MISSION SOFTWARE
Boeing Defense & Science Group in Wichita, KA, has been awarded a $6.7
million, one-year extension to its Nuclear Mission Planning and
Preparation System contract by the U.S. Air Force. Under the contract,
Boeing will study possible hardware improvements, and improve the
systems' software, which is used to plan combat missions for long-range
bombers such as the B-52 and B-1B, and nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.
Currently, operators must perform manual calculations, enter the data
in computers and refer to paper copies of maps to plan attack missions.
GEC AVIONICS RECEIVES EUROFIGHTER AWARD
Eurofighter has awarded GEC Avionics a contract to provide its High
Level Bus Analyzers (HLBA) for the European fighter aircraft. The test
equipment will be used to integrate the utilities control system with
the airframe. That system connects the aircraft's fuel computers,
landing gear computers, flight control system, computer signal
generators and power generators. HLBA provide data bus testing for
systems with both standards used on the Eurofighter - the U.S. Mil-Std-
1553 and NATO STANAG 3910. GEC Avionics will deliver two systems, one
each to British Aerospace and Alenia, by December.
MISSILES:
AIR FORCE PURSUES WIDER ATTACK ROLE IN MISSILE DEFENSE
The U.S. Air Force is launching a broad-based development and
procurement program to better position itself as the primary authority
for detecting and destroying enemy tactical ballistic missiles. The
development and procurement program, led by Air Force Systems Command
with principal direction from Tactical Air Command, marks an attempt by
the service to establish a greater role in the Theater Missile Defense
mission. According to Air Force officials at Langley Air Force Base,
VA, the service intends to expand its traditional counterair
interdiction role to include the targeting and destruction of enemy
ballistic missiles before, during and even after launch.
RAYTHEON RECEIVES CONTRACTS TO UPGRADE PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM
Raytheon received a series of Army contracts totaling $115 million for
upgrading the Patriot missile system's radar, launcher and multimode
seeker. The improvements are expected to enlarge the ground area which
the system can protect, increase its mobility, decrease reload time and
boost the missile's ability to track targets. Under a $51.7 million
Army Missile Command contract, Raytheon will enhance the Patriot's
radar system through the addition of a low noise exciter and a dual
travelling wave tube transmitter. The upgraded radar will increase the
footprint the Patriot system will be able to defend. It also received
a $43.1 million contract to redesign and test improvements to the
launcher which would make the system more mobile and reduce reload time
by 80%. The third award is a $20.6 million contract to increase the
ability of the multimode seeker to track targets. These contracts
follow a &17 million award in May for improving the system's radar and
for software modifications.
SAAB COMPUTERS TO GUIDE FIRST SERIES OF ARIANE 5S
Saab Space of Gothenburg, Sweden, will develop guidance and navigation
computers for the first series of Ariane 5 launchers. Matra Marconi
Space, Velizy, France, awarded the contract worth 100 million Swedish
crowns ($15.8 million) to develop the computers for Europe's new heavy
lift commercial launcher. Saab Space has supplied space computers to
Matra Espace for 15 years. It has equipped all versions of Ariane
launchers with guidance and navigation computers for use in the vehicle
equipment bay, which is built by Matra Marconi.
SECOND TEST OF ASRM NOZZLE MATERIALS COMPLETED AT MSFC
Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center have conducted the
second of five planned tests of a subscale solid rocket motor to
evaluate candidate materials for the nozzle on the Advanced Solid
Rocket Motor (ASRM). The 17.5 foot long, 48 inch diameter motor was
fired for about 30 seconds on September 26 to evaluate the performance
of a nozzle formed from low-density carbon phenolic and ablative
carbon-carbon phenolic materials. It was the second of five nozzle
tests at Marshall and the third of 10 tests overall in support of ASRM
development. Some 80 instruments were mounted to the 40,000 pound test
motor to measure temperatures, pressures and other parameters.
Aerojet's ASRM Division conducted the test at Marshall's East Test
Area. The next test firing is scheduled for December.
SRAM II CANCELED FOR CAUSE
The Short Range Attack Missile II (SRAM II) was canceled mostly for
technical reasons, not because it fit with the rest of President Bush's
unilateral nuclear arms initiative, and the requirement it was to fill
may still exist. The SRAM II, which was to equip B-1Bs and B-2As for
standoff nuclear attack, was to provide the foundation for the SRAM-T
(Tactical), a shorter-range nuclear weapon planned to be carried by F-
111s and F-15Es. The SRAM-T was to fill the Tactical Air-to-Surface
Missile (TASM) mission. The SRAM II, built by Boeing, has been having
technical problems, such as with its rocket motor, that have slowed the
program considerably over the last two years. It has not been decided
whether the TASM mission will still exist.
SATELLITES:
ASIASAT SEEKS BIDDERS
ASIASAT has issued a draft request for proposals to procure its second
broadcast satellite and is evaluating comments from suppliers. A final
RFP is scheduled to be issued by year-end, according to a chief
executive officer for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co., Ltd. The
company is studying a spacecraft with about 28 C-bank transponders.
Some Ku-bank capability is possible. A launch is anticipated in late
1994.
FIRST MILSTAR SPACECRAFT PASSES IMPORTANT TEST
The first Milstar communications spacecraft passed a key test, known as
a baseline integrated satellite test, on June 18, the satellite's
manufacturer recently announced. The integrated test of the entire
spacecraft included its communications payload, according to an
announcement by Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Sunnyvale, CA. The
company is the prime contractor to the U.S. Air Force Space Systems
Division, Los Angeles, for Milstar. Milstar, formally called the
Military Strategic and Tactical Relay system, is to consist of a
constellation of six communications satellites using extremely high
frequency wavelengths, which are relatively immune to jamming.
INDIA'S SECOND REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE ON LINE
India's second remote-sensing satellite, IRS-1B, launched by a Soviet
Vostok vehicle August 29 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, is
fully operational as of September 16. The satellite IRS-1B is a
virtual duplicate of IRS-1A, launched in March 1988. Each is in a
polar orbit at an altitude of about 900 kilometers (559 miles). Each
spacecraft orbits the Earth every 103 minutes and covers the whole of
India every 22 days. Two of the three on-board cameras have been
switched on and declared in good shape. Images from the satellite
indicate high quality, and will be used mainly to monitor agricultural
and forest phenomena in India.
MOBILE UNIT KEEPS DETAINEES IN TOUCH
United Nations' arms inspectors used a mobile satellite unit to keep in
constant contact with U.N. headquarters in New York throughout their
four-day forced detainment in a Baghdad parking lot. The unit, a TCS-
Lite made by Mobile Telesystems Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, is a suitcase-
sized satellite unit which transmits voice, facsimile and still video
via satellites operated by the International Maritime Satellite
Organization, London. U.N. spokesman confirmed that the team of 40
inspectors were using Inmarsat satellite link, but further information
was unavailable.
SECOND ANIK AT HOME IN SPACE
An Ariane 4 rocket with four solid strap-on boosters successfully
launched Canada's Anik E1 satellite on September 26 from Guiana Space
Center, Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket lofted the second and final
spacecraft in the Anik E series for Telesat Canada of Gloucester,
Ontario. The first satellite, launched by Arianespace in April,
experienced chronic problems deploying its C-bank antenna. That
spacecraft, called Anik E2, eventually was spun in space, freeing the
antenna on July 3. To avoid the problem again, modifications were made
to Anik E1's antenna structure in late July. The KU- and C-band
antennas on Anik E1 are scheduled for deployment in space on October 2.
SOVIETS LAUNCH SIX SATELLITES WITH ONE BOOSTER
The Soviet Union recently launched six tactical communications
satellites on a single booster. The military satellites, Cosmos 2157-
2162, are co-planar with six satellites of the same type, Cosmos 2143-
48, launched May 16. These six new ones, are most likely replacing six
others launched earlier into the plane - Cosmos 2090-95. In another
plane 90 degrees away are two groups of six of the same kind -
Cosmos2038-43, and Cosmos 2114-2119. At the moment, it is hard to be
sure which ones are actually working.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CONGRESS HITS NEW PROJECTS, SAVES STATION
NASA's 1992 budget emerged from a House and Senate conference September
26 with $1.4 billion less than the $15.7 billion requested by the
administration, but with the controversial space station program and
major ongoing science projects intact. The appropriations conferees,
however, rejected several new space efforts backed by the
administration, and cut the budget for space shuttle operations in the
$14.3 billion congressional plan. The National Aerospace Plane
program, meanwhile, escaped complete cancellation, but will get only a
small fraction of the amount requested in 1992. The overall 3 percent
increase over NASA's 1991 budget is slightly less than the rate of
inflation, and far less than the 13 percent jump proposed by the
administration.
GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY DISCOVERIES SHAKE OLD THEORIES
An instrument aboard NASA's Gamma Ray Observatory satellite has
debunked an existing scientific theory that random flashes of energy,
called gamma-ray bursts, originate from deep within the Milky Way
galaxy. Puzzled mission scientists were forced to speculate last week
that the as-yet-unexplained objects or processes producing the intense
bursts either surround the solar system in a relatively nearby cloud,
or they inhabit the fringe of the universe billions of light years
away. Discovered in 1973, these invisible gamma-ray eruptions last
just seconds, but during that time they shine brighter than all other
celestial sources of gamma radiation combined. Since then,
astrophysicists have believed that the bursts were caused by nuclear
explosions near the surface of aging neutron stars within the disc of
our galaxy.
NO MORE CRACKED SEALS FOUND ON ATLANTIS; COLUMBIA CLEAR
Technicians at Kennedy Space Center found only eight cracked reinforced
carbon-carbon (RCC) T-seals on the Space Shuttle Atlantis after
removing all 44 of the heat-protection devices on the Orbiter.
Reinspection of T-seals removed from the Shuttle Columbia at Palmdale,
CA, where it is undergoing a scheduled overhaul, turned up no cracks at
all. Discovery, which returned from a five-day orbital mission two
weeks ago, will receive a little earlier than usual the normal
inspection that turned up the cracks on Atlantis. Engineers had not
determined the cause of the cracks on September 30, which were found in
a row of eight T-seals near the tip of Atlantis' left wing. The eight
cracked seals were returned to LTV in Dallas for analysis, and NASA
still was holding to its schedule for Atlantis' upcoming DOD mission.
|
| 20.127 | YES | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Oct 17 1991 22:36 | 540 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 005926
Date: 17-Oct-1991 04:16pm EDT
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 10/07, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 07, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 7, 1991
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE SELECTS RACAL FOR HAND-HELD RADIOS
ARMY SELECTS BOEING TO PROVIDE DATA SYSTEM
EC BLOCKS CONSORTIUM'S BID TO PURCHASE DE HAVILLAND
GTE IN CONTRACT TO PROVIDE CONTINUED INTELLIGENCE PROCESSING SUPPORT
LOGICON UNIT TO SUPPORT AIR FORCE SOFTWARE WORK
NASA SELECTS NEW CENTERS FOR LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH
NAVY PLANS TO RELY ON COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ALL NIPPON SELECTS PRATT & WHITNEY TO POWER FLEET OF BOEING 777s
BRITISH SHIFT ON TRIGAT BUILDS HOPE FOR APACHE
EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT
SIKORSKY MODIFYING S-76 SAR FOR POSSIBLE SALE TO JAPAN
US AIR DELAYS 737 DELIVERIES, SETS 757-200 ACQUISITIONS
AVIONICS:
AAI CORP. WILL UPGRADE NAVY COPTER SIMULATORS
AEL DEFENSE TO PRODUCE ARMY HEADS UP DISPLAYS
ILYUSHIN GIVES COLLINS OK OVER HONEYWELL FOR IL-96M AVIONICS
REFLECTONE TO GIVE NAVY FLIGHT TRAINER INSTRUCTION
MISSILES:
AEROSPATIALE AND SNPE MERGE MISSILE ACTIVITIES
ANTIJAMMING GPS ANTENNA
COMPUTER BLAMED IN SDI FAILURE
GENERAL DYNAMICS NETS AF ATLAS LAUNCH FOR 1994
LTV WINS $13.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MLRS LAUNCHER PART PRODUCTION
NEW HARPOON HITS TARGET
RAYTHEON FINISHES DEVELOPING TAIL-CONTROLLED SIDEWINDER
SATELLITES:
HUGHES CLOSES DEAL TO BUILD THAI COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SYSTEM
INMARSAT SATELLITE PLACES ITS FIRST COMMERCIAL CALL
MALAYSIA ENTERS SATELLITE MARKET
MATRA WINS CONTRACT FOR RAF GROUND STATION
NASA PICKS ADVANCED SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS CCDSs
NEW TDRS OPERATIONAL OVER PACIFIC, BOOSTING SYSTEM CAPACITY
ORBITAL MAKES AGREEMENT WITH TELESAT CANADA ON ORBCOMM
SPACE SYSTEMS:
DESPITE VOTE OF FAITH, BUDGETS ARE TIGHT FOR SHUTTLE, STATION
SOVIET COSMONAUTS RETURN TO EARTH
SOVIET REPUBLICS TO UNITE ON SPACE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE SELECTS RACAL FOR HAND-HELD RADIOS
The U.S. Air Force announced Sept. 23 that it had awarded Racal
Communications Inc., Rockville, MD, a contract worth up to $120 million
for the supply of hand-held radios to be used by security police,
reserve units and medical personnel. The Scope Shield II contract
includes an initial two-year, low-rate production contract worth $12.6
million. Additional radios will be ordered as they are needed under
the contract that specifies no definite quantity. First deliveries are
scheduled for 1993.
ARMY SELECTS BOEING TO PROVIDE DATA SYSTEM
The U.S. Army has selected Boeing over Computer Sciences Corp. to
provide the $1.6 billion reserve component automation system, an
integrated information network to support Army National Guard and
Reserve units. Under the 11-year contract, Boeing Computer Services
and its subcontractors are to establish and manage RCAS, which is being
designed to provide routine administrative support of guard and reserve
units in peacetime and facilitate rapid mobilization during
emergencies. This capability is to be provided at about 4,700
locations throughout the nation. The RCAS effort will be based in the
Washington area, with offices in Sacramento, CA, and Atlanta. Some 700
employees of Boeing and its nine subcontractors will be involved in
RCAS during the first year.
BRITISH SHIFT ON TRIGAT BUILDS HOPE FOR APACHE
British Defense Ministry intentions to withdraw from the three-nation
long-range Trigat missile program indicates that the United Kingdom
favors the U.S. built Apache helicopter over the Franco-German Tiger to
meet its future attack helicopter needs. The Defense Ministry
announced it had told France and Germany that it intends to pull out of
the long-range Trigat project in March after the United Kingdom, France
and Germany had spent more that half the funds needed to develop the
weapon system. The six month notice is required by the September 1988
memorandum of understanding that launched the estimated $1.1 billion
development program.
EC BLOCKS CONSORTIUM'S BID TO PURCHASE DE HAVILLAND
The European Community has blocked the planned acquisition of Boeing's
de Havilland subsidiary by a French/Italian aircraft consortium. The
controversial decision on antitrust grounds could hinder future
international aircraft alliances. By invoking its year-old antitrust
power, for the first time, the European Community Commission stopped
the ATR consortium's plan to acquire the financially troubled de
Havilland and expand its product and market penetration. The
competition commissioner said the purchase would give ATR , a joint
company of France's Aerospatiale and Italy's Alenia, a powerful and
unassailable dominant position in the world market for turboprop
aircraft.
GTE IN CONTRACT TO PROVIDE CONTINUED INTELLIGENCE PROCESSING SUPPORT
GTE Government Systems Corp. received a contract for continued computer
maintenance support to agencies of the Defense Department which process
intelligence information. Total estimated value of the contract is
more than $600 million if all options are exercised over the life of
the ten-year agreement. Base year value is $75 million. The contract
was awarded by the Air Force's Warner Robins Air Logistics Center,
Robins AFB, GA, to Contel Federal Systems, now part of GTE Government
Systems. Work will be performed by the company's Services Sector. It
is the fifth in a series of computer maintenance awards initially made
in 1975. Under terms of the contract, GTE will provide total
contractor logistic support for intelligence processing computer system
currently used by DOD at domestic and overseas locations.
LOGICON UNIT TO SUPPORT AIR FORCE SOFTWARE WORK
The U.S. Air Force will retain a subsidiary of Torrence, CA-based
Logicon Inc. to support and enhance its Case Management Control System
(CMCS), a sophisticated software system used to support the service's
$75 billion Foreign Military Sales program. Under terms of the new
contract, whose potential value company officials said is $23.1
million, Logicon Fourth Generation Technology will continue to support
and enhance the existing CMCS, develop new subsystems and provide
training and technical assistance.
NASA SELECTS NEW CENTERS FOR LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH
NASA selected the University of California, San Diego, and Lawrence
Berkeley Laboratories, Berkeley, CA, as the sites for two new
Specialized Centers of Research and Training where life science
research will be conducted. The centers will receive approximately $1
million a year for five years to conduct research and analysis on
either exiobiology or radiation health issues. An additional center
will be located at the University of Giessen if the German government
agrees to endorse and fund such an effort. NASA selects foreign
institutions for participation in space science programs, but does not
directly fund them.
NAVY PLANS TO RELY ON COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT
The Navy intends to avoid traditionally high computer hardware
development costs by ending the practice of building all new military
telecommunications systems from the ground up. Using its Copernicus
architecture and investment strategy, the service instead will make
better use of existing communications and computer equipment through
buying improved desktop computers and improving data processing and
management instead. The often quoted price tag of $14.5 billion for
Copernicus reflects not the price of implementing the architecture but
rather preliminary Office of the Chief of Naval Operations projection
of expenditures for C3I through the year 2000, Space and Naval Warfare
Systems Command officials said. The Navy plans to eliminate low-return
investments. Savings would then be applied to more promising
technologies. Details of equipment types and their costs still are
being calculated.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ALL NIPPON SELECTS PRATT & WHITNEY TO POWER FLEET OF BOEING 777s
All Nippon Airways has chosen Pratt & Whitney engines over those of its
traditional wide-body aircraft powerplant supplier, General Electric,
for the carrier's projected fleet of 25 Boeing 777 twinjet transports.
The order for PW4000s marks the first new engine order ANA has placed
with Pratt & Whitney in more than a decade. GE and CFM International
have a total of about 500 installed engines powering aircraft in the
ANA fleet while Pratt & Whitney has only 28 installed engines on 14 ANA
Boeing 737s. Propulsion officials said the carrier's selection of the
PW4000 over the GE90 was influenced strongly by the demonstrated
reliability of the engine and the lower risk it offered in service
introduction.
EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT
The Air Force plans to award a contract in the second quarter of fiscal
year 1993 for seven long-range transport aircraft for use by the
cabinet and vice president. Each plane must be able to carry 60
passengers and 18 crewmembers, and be able to fly nonstop from
Frankfurt, Germany to Washington, D.C. Also required are a secure
voice communication system and an automatic system to defend against
shoulder-fired infrared missiles. First of the planes would be
delivered no later than fiscal 1998.
SIKORSKY MODIFYING S-76 SAR FOR POSSIBLE SALE TO JAPAN
Sikorsky Aircraft is spending $3.5 million to install folding rotor
blades on the S-76 search and rescue helicopter in hopes of selling it
to the Japanese Coast Guard when the time comes to replace 36 Bell
212s. Japan's Maritime Safety Agency (MSA), part of the Ministry of
Transportation, plans to issue a request for proposals before April
1993 for a search and rescue helicopter with the blade-fold feature for
easy shipboard transport and storage. Sikorsky is modifying its S-76
SAR to meet the blade-fold design requirement, and it will be the first
civil helicopter with an automatic hover system to receive FAA
certification. Bell Helicopter also is expected to respond to the RFP
with its 412 model and Arianespace plans to compete with its 365-N2.
US AIR DELAYS 737 DELIVERIES, SETS 757-200 ACQUISITIONS
USAir, embarking on a cost-reduction program to save several hundred
million dollars next year, has revised its fleet plan, delaying
delivery of Boeing 737s and acquiring Boeing 757-200s instead. The
first 10 191-seat Boeing 757-200s, formerly operated by Eastern
Airlines and powered by Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 engines, will be leased
from General Electric Capital Corp. The carrier plans to acquire the
next 15 from Boeing in 1993-94 and take 15 options for delivery in
1996-97. USAir will reschedule delivery of 15 737s from Boeing from
1993-94 to 1995-97. As part of the fleet plan, GE Capital has agreed
to purchase 15 737-300s from USAir for $330 million, and to lease them
back to the carrier for 14 years.
AVIONICS:
AAI CORP. WILL UPGRADE NAVY COPTER SIMULATORS
AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, MD, has won a $44 million contract to upgrade
10 U.S. Navy helicopter flight simulators over the next four years.
The improvements to strengthen antisubmarine warfare training will
include three-dimensional ocean simulation, weapon effects and
steerable searchlights.
AEL DEFENSE TO PRODUCE ARMY HEADS UP DISPLAYS
Lessons from the Persian Gulf war have led the Army to award AEL
Defense Corp., Alpharetta, GA, a $10.5 million contract to produce 320
heads up displays that will show critical engine and flight instrument
information on video images seen by helicopter pilots using the AN/AVS-
6 Aviator's Night Vision Imaging System, or ANVIS. The ANVIS heads up
display promises to decrease pilot workload while increasing efficiency
and safety in night flight operations. The display eliminates the need
for pilots to divert attention from night vision goggle flight, a
requirement the Army deems critical to low-terrain flight operations.
The contract with AEL Corp. contains an option for an additional 500
systems as part of a five-year multiyear procurement plan.
ILYUSHIN GIVES COLLINS OK OVER HONEYWELL FOR IL-96M AVIONICS
The Soviet Ilyushin jetliner design bureau chose Rockwell
International's Collins Avionics unit to supply a complete avionics
suite for the Il-96M widebody transport, marking the first use of
Western avionics on a Soviet plane, Rockwell reported. Collins spent
more than a year competing against Honeywell for the business, which
involves serving as total systems integrator as well as supplier for
the entire package. Collins declined to say how much the business was
worth or even if the company is being paid for its efforts. Il-96M
engine supplier Pratt & Whitney is supplying the first four engines for
the prototype aircraft in anticipation of a production run.
REFLECTONE TO GIVE NAVY FLIGHT TRAINER INSTRUCTION
Reflectone Training Systems, Tampa, FL, has been awarded a five-year,
$18 million contract to provide flight simulator instruction for the
U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet and Marine Corps training bases. Under
terms of the Sept. 17 contract, Reflectone will operate training sites
at eight Navy and Marine Corps air stations and provide instruction to
pilots of A-6E, AV-8B, F-14A, E-2C and F/A-18 aircraft as well as SH-2,
SH-3 and SH-60B helicopters.
MISSILES:
AEROSPATIALE AND SNPE MERGE MISSILE ACTIVITIES
France's Aerospatiale and SNPE will merge their tactical and cruise
missile propulsion activities to create a new organization equal in
size to the largest U.S. companies in the solid propellant field. The
goal of the new organization, called Celerg, will be to compete for
solid-propellant rocket motor business at the same level as U.S. firms
such as Thiokol and Hercules.
ANTIJAMMING GPS ANTENNA
Harris Corp. has received a $1.2 million Air Force contract to develop
a small, lightweight Global Positioning System antenna to protect GPS
receivers from jamming. Officials of the Wright Laboratory at Eglin
AFB, FL, hope to use the antenna for a number of weapons that rely on
GPS navigation, including cruise missiles, smart bombs, unmanned air
vehicles and other standoff weapons. Harris plans to use directional
and frequency filtering for the antijam antenna.
COMPUTER BLAMED IN SDI FAILURE
An on-board computer has been implicated in the September 23 explosion
of a rocket-borne Strategic Defense Initiative experiment. However,
researchers have not yet ascertained what caused the malfunction, in
which the computer activated the rocket's self-destruct mechanism less
than a second after launch at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Analysis
of telemetry from the rocket showed that the computer transmitted
several erroneous commands to both the self-destruct system and the
sensor payload aboard the rocket shortly after launch, said the project
manager for the High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor (HEDI) on
behalf of the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative Organization.
GENERAL DYNAMICS NETS AF ATLAS LAUNCH FOR 1994
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, has awarded $42
million to General Dynamics Space Launch Systems, San Diego, for a 1994
launch of an Atlas 2 booster. The Atlas 2 is to be launched from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, and carry a Defense Satellite
Communications System (DSCS) spacecraft to geostationary orbit. Ten
Atlas boosters are to replenish an aging constellation of DSCS
satellites by the mid-1990s. The first replenishment launch is
expected in late 1991.
LTV WINS $13.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MLRS LAUNCHER PART PRODUCTION
LTV Aerospace and Defense won a $13.5 million Army Missile Command
contract to produce 376 Payload Interface Modules, electronic devices
which allow Multiple Launch Rocket System launchers to fire smart
weapons such as the Army Tactical Missile System. LTV will deliver the
first PIMs in September with contract completion expected in early
1994. The contract will boost LTV's PIM production from 11 to 30 a
month, and this increase will preserve jobs at the company's Camden,
AK, plant as MLRS production winds down. The MLRS system, including
rockets and launchers, is produced at that location.
NEW HARPOON HITS TARGET
An improved Harpoon antiship missile was flown at the Pacific Missile
Center at Point Mugu, CA. The Harpoon, with Block 1D system
improvements, was fired from an A-6E and flew 50 naut. mi. to strike a
target ship. The improvements include guidance software changes that
allow the missile to fly cloverleaf search patterns if it does not
acquire the target on the first run. The modified Harpoon, produced by
McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co., also has a 2-ft. fuel tank
extension that about doubles the range of the current missile. The
test flight was the first of five scheduled for completion by the end
of the year.
RAYTHEON FINISHES DEVELOPING TAIL-CONTROLLED SIDEWINDER
The Raytheon Missile Systems Division has completed a three-year effort
to develop a tail-controlled Sidewinder, in a U.S. Air Force project
that included eight firings from an F-16 at White Sands Missile Range,
N.M. Many details of the feasibility demonstration program remain
classified. However, the airframe is based on the standard 5-in.-dia.
body of current-generation Sidewinders and is a candidate for the AIM-
9X Sidewinder project to be developed jointly by the Navy and Air
Force. The AIM-9M, which Raytheon and Loral now are producing, has
movable double delta canards and large tail fins with rollerons for
roll damping. The new missile has no canards, but includes movable
tail fins with smaller surfaces.
SATELLITES:
HUGHES CLOSES DEAL TO BUILD THAI COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SYSTEM
Hughes Aircraft finalized a $100 million deal with Shinawatra Computer
and Communications Co. of Bangkok to develop Thailand's first
communications satellite system. Shinawatra selected Hughes
Communications International Inc., and Advanced Electronic Systems
International, both subsidiaries of Hughes Aircraft Co., in July to
provide two satellites, ground equipment and training for the project.
The companies plan to provide two lightweight versions of the HS376
satellite equipped with 10 C-band and two Ku-band channels.
INMARSAT SATELLITE PLACES ITS FIRST COMMERCIAL CALL
A passenger traveling on board a Singapore Airline Boeing 747,
September 25, made the first commercial telephone call using satellites
owned and operated by the International Maritime Satellite Organization
of London. British Telecom is one of the three European Post,
Telephone & Telegraph agencies making up the Skyphone consortium. Its
partners are Norwegian Telecom and Singapore Telecom. This particular
Singapore Airline aircraft is equipped with six public telephones. A
call costs the passenger approximately 9 British pounds ($15.50) per
minute. Passengers pay using a credit card.
MALAYSIA ENTERS SATELLITE MARKET
Malaysia is in the market for its own satellite. Malaysia is
negotiating with satellite builders and launch service providers in the
United States and the People's Republic of China. Each year Malaysia
spends approximately $30 million leasing satellite transponder space on
the Indonesian Palapa satellite system and those owned by the
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, Washington.
MATRA WINS CONTRACT FOR RAF GROUND STATION
The British Ministry of Defence awarded a contract to Matra Marconi
Space of Velizy, France, for a military satellite communications ground
station. The contract is valued at one to two million pounds ($1.7
million to $3.4 million). The terminal is designed to operate with
Skynet 4, Britain's military communications satellites. The terminal,
expected to be delivered in 18 months, will consist of a seven-meter
(23-foot) diameter antenna, which will be installed at the Royal Air
Force base in Hampshire, United Kingdom. The communications payload
for the Skynet 4 satellites was designed and manufactured by Matra
Marconi Space.
NASA PICKS ADVANCED SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS CCDSs
Florida Atlantic University and the University of Maryland will promote
commercial spinoffs from NASA's upcoming Advanced Communications
Technology Satellite as the space agency's newest Centers for the
Commercial Development of Space (CCDSs). Meanwhile, the Center for
Space Processing of Engineering Materials at Vanderbilt University in
Nashville has dropped out of the CCDS program for want of industry
funding. The space agency said it received 10 proposals in response to
a solicitation for the new CCDSs, and selected the Center for the
Commercial Development of Space in Satellite and Hybrid Communications
Networks at Maryland's Systems Research Center, College Park, MD, and
the Space Communications Technology Center, Florida Atlantic University
Research Corp., Boca Raton, FL.
NEW TDRS OPERATIONAL OVER PACIFIC, BOOSTING SYSTEM CAPACITY
NASA has activated its newest Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-
5) over the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific, boosting capacity of the
network by the equivalent of half a satellite as demands for network
services grow. The new satellite, launched from the Space Shuttle
Atlantis Aug. 2, completed checkout at 150 degrees West longitude and
was moved to 174 degrees West, over the Gilberts south of Hawaii. It
joins TDRS-1 at the western location, replacing TDRS-3. A spokeswoman
for the Goddard Space Flight Center said that because of anomalies with
spacecraft equipment TDRS-1 and TDRS-3 combined had the relay capacity
of a satellite and a half. With TDRS-5 on station that has been
increased to the planned capacity of two spacecraft.
ORBITAL MAKES AGREEMENT WITH TELESAT CANADA ON ORBCOMM
Telesat Canada will offer Orbital Communications Corp.'s low-Earth
orbit satellite data and positioning service in Canada under a
memorandum of understanding announced by Orbital Sciences Corp., owner
of Orbital Communications. Orbital said the Canadian firm reserved the
right to become sole service licensee in Canada for the "Orbcomm"
service, which will be provided to low-cost, pocket-size terminals
through a network of as many as 24 small satellites. Telesat Canada
will also support Orbital's efforts to obtain spectrum for the system
at the upcoming World Administrative Radio Conference. Canada is the
fourth nation with an Orbcomm agreement, and negotiations are pending
in two others. The two-way, real-time messaging service has
applications in search and rescue, remote asset monitoring and animal
tracking, among others, Orbital said.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
DESPITE VOTE OF FAITH, BUDGETS ARE TIGHT FOR SHUTTLE, STATION
NASA's space shuttle and space station will face funding constraints in
1992 and 1993, despite a congressional vote of confidence this summer
for programs involving humans in space. The space shuttle program
faces a cut in its operations budget in 1992 that could force the
agency to trim the number of workers required to operate the fleet or
postpone a shuttle flight. Space station managers, meanwhile, will
have to cope with slightly less money in 1993 than they had
anticipated. Congress capped space station funding for 1993 at $2.25
billion, about 10 percent more than the $2.03 billion approved for
1992, which was also the administration's full request. To meet this
budget limit, Congress called on NASA to find savings in the program's
management and support areas.
SOVIET COSMONAUTS RETURN TO EARTH
Members of the first Soviet cosmonaut crew launched since the breakup
of the USSR are to soon return to Earth following an eight-day stay on
board the Mir space station. Soyuz TM-13 was launched from Baikonur at
7:59 a.m. Oct. 2.
SOVIET REPUBLICS TO UNITE ON SPACE
In drafting a plan that calls for continued funding of the Soviet space
program by most or all of the Soviet republics, Soviet political
leaders had to acknowledge the fact that no single republic could
operate a space program on its own, according to Western analysts. The
Kettering Group in England, which monitors Soviet space activity, noted
that much Soviet space hardware is built in the nation's Russian
republic, while the Baikonur Cosmodrome, one of the two principal
spaceports, is in the republic of Kazakhstan. It would cost the
Russians a fortune if they had to replicate the launch facilities at
Baikonur. The Baikonur site is used for piloted launches and is
particularly valuable for its ability to launch payloads into
geostationary orbits.
|
| 20.128 | 10/14, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Oct 21 1991 23:16 | 519 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 005949
Date: 21-Oct-1991 04:10pm EDT
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 10/14, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 14, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OCTOBER 14, 1991
GENERAL:
ALLIED-SIGNAL POSTS $880 MILLION WRITEOFF, SLASHES THOUSANDS OF JOBS
ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE LAN FOR U.S. AIR FORCE
GENERAL DYNAMICS PLANS DIVESTITURE OF CESSNA DIVISION
LORAL, QUALCOMM FORM NEW FIRM
NAVSTAR ELECTRONICS INTRODUCES GPS RECEIVER MOUNTED IN PC
THOMSON-CST ACQUIRES THE ALSYS GROUP
UTC LAUNCHES MORE JOB CUTS, CAPPING WEEK OF INDUSTRY DOWNSIZING
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVES $5 MILLION AF/ARMY CONTRACT FOR REPAIR SYSTEMS
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING-SIKORSKY READY TO FINALIZE COMANCHE MOLDLINE
F-15E PROBLEMS REVEALED IN WAR, SLOWLY BEING WORKED OUT
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CH-47D
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DELIVERS KUWAIT'S FIRST F/A-18 HORNET
SIKORSKY SAYS IMPROVED UH-60L WOULD MEET UH-XX REQUIREMENT
UNIT COST OF TOP 36 B-2 PARTS ROSE AN AVERAGE 55%
AVIONICS:
BENDIX FLIGHT SYSTEMS DELIVERS DIGITAL MAP DISPLAY GENERATORS TO IBM
HONEYWELL/RACAL AVIONICS WORKS WITH SINGAPORE BOEING 747-400 AIRCRAFT
ILYUSHIN SELECTS COLLINS AVIONICS SUITE FOR IL-96M
SIMULATOR BUY
MISSILES:
JAPANESE H-2 BOOSTER JOINS THE BIDDING FOR INMARSAT LAUNCH
ORBITAL SCIENCES WINS DEAL FOR SDI SENSOR PROGRAM
OSC LAUNCHES SECOND ARIES ROCKET IN SDIO RED TIGRESS PROGRAM
RAYTHEON PROVIDES JAPAN WITH SYSTEMS FOR SPARROW MISSILES
SOVIETS CONSIDER AIR-LAUNCH ICBM TO PLACE CIVIL SATELLITES IN ORBIT
SATELLITES:
FIVE FIRMS BID TO LAUNCH INMARSAT-3 SATELLITES
IRIDIUM TAKES WASHINGTON ADDRESS
NASA SELECTS BDM INTERNATIONAL TO SUPPORT EOS WORK
SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA CREATING VSAT STATION FOR TORONTO
TRW CHOSEN FOR EOS WIDE BAND DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM CONTRACT
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COMPLETE INSPECTION FINDS ONLY ONE CRACKED T-SEAL ON DISCOVERY
ESA PROPOSES DELAYING HERMES
SOVIETS REDUCE MARS PLANS BY HALF
----------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
ALLIED-SIGNAL POSTS $880 MILLION WRITEOFF, SLASHES THOUSANDS OF JOBS
Allied-Signal's new chief executive officer has started a major
restructuring of the aerospace, automotive and materials company that
involves cutting 5,500 salaried jobs, including 2,300 in the aerospace
sector. The reductions are part of a plan to remove layers of
management to make the company more flexible and responsive, Allied
Officials said. They estimated 3,000-3,300 hourly jobs also will be
cut. The company is posting an $880 million pretax writeoff in the
third quarter to cover its actions, which will result in a loss for
Fiscal 1991. Two aerospace operations, the Endevco sensors unit in San
Juan Capistrano, CA, and Airsupply parts distribution division in
Torrance, CA, will be sold.
ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE LAN FOR U.S. AIR FORCE
Electronic Data Systems will provide local area network (LAN)
engineering for the U.S. Air Force under a contract that could last for
up to five years. The first year's contract is for $13.7 million.
Under the Local Area Network Systems Engineering Integration
Installation contract, an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity pact,
EDS will install LANs at Air Force sites wherever needed. The Air
Force Communications Command Communication Systems Center will be a
single source for integrating government hardware and software bought
under other contracts.
GENERAL DYNAMICS PLANS DIVESTITURE OF CESSNA DIVISION
General Dynamics Corp. announced its intention to divest itself of its
profitable Cessna commercial aircraft division. The St. Louis company
said it hired Morgan Stanley & Co. and Salomon Inc. to assist in the
disposition of Cessna through a sale, an initial public offering, a
spinoff to shareholders or some other means. Analysts valued Cessna,
which accounts for nearly 25% of General Dynamic's operating profit, at
anywhere from $500 million to $700 million, depending on the type of
transaction involved. In late New York Stock Exchange trading October
17, General Dynamics shares surged to $49.75, up $2.375.
LORAL, QUALCOMM FORM NEW FIRM
Loral Corp. of New York and Qualcomm Inc. of San Diego last week
announced the formation of a company to launch a network of satellites
to provide worldwide mobile communications from hand-held telephones.
The new company. Loral Qualcomm Satellite Services Inc. of Palo Alto,
CA, expects to use the expertise of Space Systems/Loral in the
construction of the satellites and the related ground installations.
Space/Systems/Loral, also of Palo Alto, is 51 percent owned by Loral;
the other 49 percent is split equally among Aerospatiale and Alcatel,
both of France, and Alenia Spazio of Rome. Neither Space Systems/Loral
nor the European firms would have an ownership stake in the new
company.
NAVSTAR ELECTRONICS INTRODUCES GPS RECEIVER MOUNTED IN PC
Navstar Electronics announced a low-cost GPS receiver that can be
mounted inside a personal computer, occupying one full-sized expansion
slot. The receiver provides an output of 1 pulse per sec. to the
computer aligned to GPS time. Tests of the XR4-PC receiver at the
National Physical Laboratory and Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope
Observatory in the U.K. and Los Alamos National Laboratory in the U.S.
show less than 20 nanosec. rms difference compared with the Universal
Time Coordinated standard. Applications could include time references
for frequency-agile communications, accurate identification of the time
of receipt of computer transactions, and correlation of signals from
distant radio stars, received at two or more observatories.
THOMSON-CSF ACQUIRES THE ALSYS GROUP
Thomson-CSF, Inc., has acquired the Alsys Group, which sells tools and
services used to develop Ada computer programs. The group includes
Alysys, Inc., in Burlington, MA, along with units in France, the United
Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and Japan. Thomson has used Alsys tools for
Ada development and is interested in expanding its business in the U.S.
Alsys was founded in 1980. Alsys Ada compilers are being used by IBM
for the NASA space station program, which may require 10 million lines
of Ada code within 10 years. Ariane 5 software also will be developed
using Alsys products.
UTC LAUNCHES MORE JOB CUTS, CAPPING WEEK OF INDUSTRY DOWNSIZING
United Technologies Corp. recently became the latest in a string of
aerospace conglomerates to announce major restructurings, pledging to
cut its corporate staff by at least a quarter right away and probably
more later on. The company has 670 corporate employees at the
company's headquarters in Hartford, CT, plus about 330 others in the
United States and abroad, and hopes to cut 250 workers through
voluntary separation. These job reductions are expected to save UTC $1
billion a year beginning in 1993.
WESTINGHOUSE RECEIVES $5 MILLION AF/ARMY CONTRACT FOR REPAIR SYSTEMS
Westinghouse Electric Science & Technology Center in Pittsburgh has
received $5 million under a U.S. Air Force/Army project to develop and
produce two highly automated repair systems for printed circuit boards
that are too complex to repair manually. The Air Force will put its
system at Warner Robbins Air Logistics Center, GA, and the Army will
locate its system at Tobyhanna Army Depot, PA. Boards on which bad
components have been identified will be put on a conveyer and moved
through six stations, where the defective parts will be removed and
replaced with new ones. Westinghouse has two years to complete the
project, followed by a 21-month system verification and production
validation effort.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING-SIKORSKY READY TO FINALIZE COMANCHE MOLDLINE
The Boeing-Sikorsky Comanche helicopter team will finalize the outer
moldline of the stealthy aircraft within days. The deputy director of
the Boeing-Sikorsky Joint Program Office reported that the outer
molklines of the reconnaissance-attack helicopter, which must be
precise to achieve low radar cross section, are within a day of being
finalized. He also said that the team is conducting a series of
reviews leading to the weapon system preliminary design review (PDR) in
January, and that in one of these sessions, the moldline will be
frozen.
F-15E PROBLEMS REVEALED IN WAR, SLOWLY BEING WORKED OUT
Combat in the Gulf war helped reveal many problems with the Air Force's
F-15E strike plane. These problems are slowly being eliminated through
software and other changes. Crews participating in the AF's recent
"Gunsmoke '91" gunnery competition at Nellis AFB, Nevada said Operation
Desert Storm forced work-arounds and improvisations with the F-15E,
which they consider to be a relatively new system, still in its
infancy. These resulted in changes that could only be developed from
combat experience. The F-15E will undergo its fourth software
modification in January after being introduced to initial service just
two years ago.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CH-47D
Boeing Defense & Space Group's helicopter division recently delivered
to Spain the first CH-47D transport helicopter for an international
customer. Boeing is remanufacturing nine Spanish Chinooks to the newer
configuration. Remaining deliveries of CH-47Ds, which are the army's
primary combat support movers, are scheduled for completion by mid-
1993. Besides Spain's nine CH-47s, Boeing is modernizing 472 Chinooks
for the U.S. Army and more than 30 for the British Royal Air Force.
The helicopter upgrade program is valued at more than $2.25 billion.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DELIVERS KUWAIT'S FIRST F/A-18 HORNET
McDonnell Douglas recently delivered to Kuwait the first of the
emirate's 40 F/A-18 Hornets. The aircraft, an F/A-18D, is also the
first Hornet to be equipped with General Electric F404-GE-402 enhanced
performance engines (EPE), a powerplant that can develop about 20% more
thrust than previous F404s. In addition to powering the Kuwaiti
aircraft, the F404 EPE is to become the standard engine for U.S. Navy/
Marine Corps F/A-18s in 1992.
SIKORSKY SAYS IMPROVED UH-60L WOULD MEET UH-XX REQUIREMENT
Sikorsky Aircraft plans to improve the UH-60L helicopter so that it
will be the only candidate for the Army's UH-XX advanced utility
aircraft requirement. Company officials also announced in a briefing
at the Association of the U.S. Army convention in Washington that the
UH-60L can fill the service's future command and control and medical
evacuation requirements. The UH-XX is one of four new aircraft planned
by the Army for the next decade. The others are an attack type, a
cargo model and a special electronic mission aircraft.
UNIT COST OF TOP 36 B-2 PARTS ROSE AN AVERAGE 55%
The 36 most-costly B-2 bomber components rose an average 55% over their
original firm fixed price, and several components either tripled or
quadrupled in price, the General Accounting Office reported. Auditors
tabulated the unit price increases as part of a study on the extent to
which Northrop Corp. had acquired components for aircraft the Air Force
doesn't plan to procure for several years. The components are all
being bought under firm fixed-price subcontracts, supporting Northrop's
fixed-price plus incentive fee low-rate initial production contract for
the B-2. Under the arrangement, Northrop and the Air Force share costs
over the target price up to a ceiling price equal to 135% of the
target, and then Northrop must absorb the rest. However subcontractors
must absorb all costs above the target for their own component, unless
it can be proved that the designs of the components have to be changed,
which may be necessary.
AVIONICS:
BENDIX FLIGHT SYSTEMS DELIVERS DIGITAL MAP DISPLAY GENERATORS TO IBM
Bendix Flight Systems Division of Allied-Signal Aerospace has delivered
the first of 22 production digital map display generators to IBM for
use in the Army's Special Operations Force MH-60K and MH-47E
helicopters. Bendix is also supplying color CRT displays and
processors. The digital map display unit is contained in a single box
that stores map and terrain information on a solid-state memory
cartridge.
HONEYWELL/RACAL AVIONICS WORKS WITH SINGAPORE BOEING 747-400 AIRCRAFT
Honeywell/Racal Avionics satellite communications systems have been
certified and are entering revenue service on Singapore Airlines Boeing
747-400 aircraft. Initially each aircraft will have three SATFONE
sets, each a full-duplex, single-channel, digital system operating at
21,000 bits per sec. The companies say this should provide high-
quality telephone service regardless of weather. With three sets there
will be two telephone lines available, and one data channel for
Automatic Dependent Surveillance trials. The Honeywell/Racal SATFONE
is already in service on a number of business and executive aircraft,
but the Singapore installation will be the first high-gain system for
commercial airlines. Twenty of the airline's 747s are scheduled to
receive SATFONE in the first quarter of 1993.
ILYUSHIN SELECTS COLLINS AVIONICS SUITE FOR IL-96M
The Ilyushin Design Bureau in Moscow has selected a Rockwell Collins
digital avionics suite for its two-man cockpit, Ilyushin-96M passenger
transport now under development. The cockpit equipment will include
Collins Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS), an Engine
Instrument and Crew Advisory System (EICAS) and a digital autopilot
flight control system designed for Category 3 automatic landings. The
Collins Air Transport Div. of Rockwell International will perform all
of the avionics integration required and work with Ilyushin to achieve
Soviet certification in 1994 and FAA certification in 1995. Rockwell
Collins engineers will specify products made by other avionics firms in
some cases, such as flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
SIMULATOR BUY
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has ordered a MD-11 full flight simulator from
CAE Electronics, Ltd., of Montreal. The simulator, which will cost
about $12 million ($10.6 million), will be delivered to KLM's flight
training center at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam by the fall of 1993.
The carrier has 10 MD-11s on firm order as well as 10 on option. The
first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in December, 1993.
MISSILES:
JAPANESE H-2 BOOSTER JOINS THE BIDDING FOR INMARSAT LAUNCH
Five launch vehicle manufacturers have submitted bids to launch the
Inmarsat 3 satellites, beginning in 1994. Among them is the new Rocket
Systems Co. of Japan, which is proposing to use its future H-2 booster.
The 64-nation International Maritime Satellite (Inmarsat) Organization
of London plans to select its launch vehicles by next spring. The four
Inmarsat 3 satellites are expected to be lofted into orbit beginning in
November 1994, with the liftoffs occurring at four-month intervals and
ending in November 1995. The Inmarsat 3 bid is one of the first
attempts by Japan to market the Japanese H-2 vehicle. The H-2 program,
which will produce Japan's first homegrown launch vehicle, has been
dogged by development problems relating to the LE-7 engine, which will
power the vehicle's central stage.
ORBITAL SCIENCES WINS DEAL FOR SDI SENSOR PROGRAM
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., San Diego, has chosen Orbital
Sciences Corp., Fairfax, VA, to build three boosters for suborbital
experiments as part of the Ground-based Surveillance and Tracking
System (GSTS). The subcontract is valued at $24 million. McDonnell
Douglas is performing the GSTS program under contract to the U.S. Army
Strategic Defense Command, Washington. The Army agency manages the
program on behalf of the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization.
OSC LAUNCHES SECOND ARIES ROCKET IN SDIO RED TIGRESS PROGRAM
Orbital Sciences Corp. recently launched the second Aries rocket in the
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's Red tigress program from
Cape Canaveral AFS, FL. The flight lasted approximately 10 minutes and
followed its planned east-northest trajectory. The launch was delayed
Sept. 2 when OSC discovered that the rocket's telemetry system was not
working properly. After receiving a weak telemetry signal 90 minutes
prior to launch, OSC technicians examined the vehicle and found a
problem with the encoder that translates in-flight performance data
before it is transmitted to the ground. Prior to the Sept. 2 launch
attempt, investigators discovered that a part had been installed on the
booster "backward" which would have caused it to veer off course.
RAYTHEON PROVIDES JAPAN WITH SYSTEMS FOR SPARROW MISSILES
Raytheon recently announced that it will provide Japan with 320
guidance and control systems for Sparrow missiles under a $53.8 million
Foreign Military Sales contract awarded by the Navy. Deliveries are
scheduled to begin next month.
SOVIETS CONSIDER AIR-LAUNCH ICBM TO PLACE CIVIL SATELLITES IN ORBIT
Soviet engineers are developing a new space launch system that would
use a heavy jet transport to drop parachute-equipped intercontinental
ballistic missiles that in turn would ignite in mid-air to propel
satellite payloads into orbit. The Soviets also are studying the
conversion of a large antiship missile into a satellite booster that
would be air-launched from the belly of a Backfire bomber. The plans
are part of several new Soviet space developments discussed at the
International Astronautical Federation Congress in Montreal. One
fallout from the Soviet fragmentation is an effort by the aerospace
design bureaus to develop new commercial endeavors.
SATELLITES:
FIVE FIRMS BID TO LAUNCH INMARSAT-3 SATELLITES
Inmarsat will review bids from five companies before awarding a
contract in April for the launch of its third generation satellites.
Arianespace, China Great Wall Industry Corp., General Dynamics
Commercial Launch Services, Rocket Systems Corp. and VVO Licensintorg
submitted bids. GE Astro-Space and Matra Marconi are building the
Inmarsat-3 satellites for a first launch in 1994. The satellites will
be 20 times more powerful than its first generation and eight times
more powerful than its second generation satellites.
IRIDIUM TAKES WASHINGTON ADDRESS
As part of its ambitious effort to translate into reality the concept
of 77 small satellites providing worldwide cellular telephone service,
Motorola Inc. of Schaumburg, IL, has created a subsidiary in Washington
to manage the program. Iridium Inc. will own and operate the satellite
constellation, which is planned for launch between 1994 and 1996. It
is selling shares of its common stock to telecommunications firms
worldwide, including Motorola. These firms will become the consortium
members. Motorola Satellite Communications, Chandler, AZ, is leading
the effort to construct the spacecraft.
NASA SELECTS BDM INTERNATIONAL TO SUPPORT EOS WORK
BDM International, McLean, VA, was awarded an eight-year NASA contract,
potentially worth $30.8 million, to supply technical and management
assistance for NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS). BDM said it will
assist NASA with program control; program status tracing and reporting;
program science, and reliability, safety and quality assurance. NASA
recently announced a decision to break the EOS polar satellites into
smaller platforms which will carry a variety of Earth sensing
instruments to collect data on global climate change.
SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA CREATING VSAT STATION FOR TORONTO
Scientific-Atlanta Inc. of Georgia, will build a $1.5 million satellite
hub, or master station, in the outskirts of Toronto. The hub will
serve the company's Canadian very small aperture terminal (VSAT)
customers. Installation is scheduled to be completed by the end of
November. VSATs are small satellite dishes measuring as little as
three feet in diameter. One of the hub's largest users will be
Volkswagen Canada, which has approximately 181 dealerships throughout
the country. Each dealership will be connected via satellite with
Volkswagen Canada's central office in Scarborough, a Toronto suburb,
for a variety of communications between branches.
TRW CHOSEN FOR EOS WIDE BAND DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM CONTRACT
NASA has chosen the Electronic Systems Group of TRW Inc. to negotiate a
contract for the Wide Band Data Collection System (WBDCS) component of
the first Earth Observing System (EOS) platform. TRW estimated the
cost of the cost-plus-award-fee contract at $16.4 million, which covers
one space segment, one ground segment and storage, testing and field
support from spacecraft integration through 90 days after launch, NASA
said. The WBDCS is designed to collect seismic and other geologic data
from a network of ground stations around the globe. The data will be
relayed to the EOS Data and Information System (EOSDIS) via the
orbiting platform and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.
Typically separated by 1,200 miles, the ground stations will gather
seismic data for tomographic mapping of the earth's interior that can
be used for earthquake prediction.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COMPLETE INSPECTION FINDS ONLY ONE CRACKED T-SEAL ON DISCOVERY
Technicians at Kennedy Space Center found no more cracked reinforced
carbon-carbon T-seals on the wind leading edges of the shuttle orbiter
Discovery and the way is clear for Atlantis to meet its scheduled Nov
19 launch date on a DOD mission. No decision on whether to inspect the
T-seals on the new orbited Endeavour had been made yesterday, but an
Endeavour spokesman said the seals may be examined before its scheduled
first flight in May 1992. The T-seals separate the reinforced carbon-
carbon panels that protect the wing leading edges from the heat of
reentry, allowing the panels to flex in flight and ground operations.
ESA PROPOSES DELAYING HERMES
The European Space Agency is proposing new delays for its Hermes manned
spaceplane program as the organization struggles to meet demands by
member states to control spending. The new proposal pushes back the
first unmanned mission for Hermes to 2002, while the initial manned
mission is targeted for 2003. ESA's revised scenario for Hermes
represents the latest change in program planning as the agency nears
decisions on key elements of its long-term space plan. ESA's
management council is to review the latest Hermes proposals at an
upcomming meeting, after which the final proposal documents will be
forwarded to member governments. Ministers of ESA member states will
make the decisions at a meeting in Munich Nov. 18-20.
SOVIETS REDUCE MARS PLANS BY HALF
The Soviet Union has reduced the scale of its mid-1990s Mars
exploration program, effectively cutting it in half from the original
plans and spreading it over separate flights that would begin in 1994
and 1996. This new plan calls for launch of one spacecraft in 1994
equipped with small Martian landers and surface penetrators. Launch of
a second spacecraft that is to carry a Martian balloon and rover
vehicle would follow in 1996. Soviet managers outlined the revised
Mars mission planning at an annual French-USSR space cooperation
meeting in the city of Tours. France is one of the international
participants in the Mars mission, and will be involved in several
experiments and systems.
SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER TO ADD STATION MOCKUP
Future visitors to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL, in
1993 should be able to view a seven-story-high replica of the planned
international space station. Boeing Defense and Space Group,
Huntsville, is contributing $300,000 toward the $3 million cost of the
project, the single largest monetary gift received during the Space and
Rocket Center's 10-year expansion program. Boeing is building the two
large U.S. pressurized modules for the space station under contract to
NASA.
|
| 20.129 | 10/21, AEROSPACE NEWS | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Oct 29 1991 23:55 | 582 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 006066
Date: 28-Oct-1991 07:32pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 10/21, AEROSPACE NEWS
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 21, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 21, 1991
GENERAL:
AEROSPACE CORP. WINS $410 MILLION AF CONTRACT
BRUNSWICK AWARDED MONEY FOR ITALD QUALIFICATION
CRAY REPORTS 18 ORDERS FOR NEW, LOW-COST SUPERCOMPUTER
LINKUP OF AMADEUS AND AMERICAN AIRLINES' SABRE CANCELLED
NEW ANTENNA TEST SITE BRINGS TRYOUTS INDOORS
NEW BUSINESS BOOSTS FINANCIAL STATUS OR ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP.
NORDEN TO CUT WORKFORCE ANOTHER 25% BY END OF 1992
TI TO PRODUCE M1A2 IR IMAGING SYSTEMS, CENTRAL PROCESSORS
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
DOUGLAS MOVING AHEAD WITH PLANS FOR COMMERCIAL CARGO C-17
DOUGLAS PLANS TO OFFER LONGER-RANGE DERIVATIVE OF MD-90
NORTHROP JOINS GENERAL DYNAMICS/MCDONNELL ON A-X
777 ENGINE TESTS
AVIONICS:
ADVANCED SPECIAL RECEIVER TO IMPROVE RADAR WARNINGS
CAE-LINK WINS $24.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR COMANCHE TRAINING DEVICES
HARRIS CORP. TEAM TO PROVIDE TEST EQUIPMENT FOR AUSTRALIAN F-111s
LORAL OFFERS BOTH ACTIVE, PASSIVE SYSTEMS FOR MAWS ROLE
RAH-66 EW SYSTEM TO USE USAF's INEWS TECHNOLOGY
TRACOR COUNTERMEASURES DISPENSER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT WITH AIR FORCE
MISSILES:
AF TESTS FIRST MISSILE USING AUTONOMOUSLY GUIDED IR SEEKER KIT
ARMY CANCELS TSIP AS COSTS SOAR AND FUNDS FALL SHORT
BRAZIL PICKS PEGASUS TO LAUNCH REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE
CONSORT 4 LAUNCH SCHEDULED NOVEMBER 13
LTV OFFERS AIR-LAUNCHED TACTICAL MISSILE AS ALTERNATIVE TO TSSAM
PENTAGON NOT INTERESTED IN BUYING SOVIET MIG-29s
TELEKOM SELECTS DELTA OVER ARIANE
SATELLITES:
BRAZILIAN SATELLITE TO FLY ON PEGASUS
GE AMERICOM TO REPLACE SATCOM-4 SATELLITE
GTE SPACENET OFFERS U.S. CUSTOMERS ACCESS TO EUROPEAN NEWS
SOLAR-A X-RAY TELESCOPE GIVES NEW DETAIL OF CORONA
SPACE SYSTEMS:
GALILEO SETS ITS SIGHTS ON ASTEROID FOR FLYBY
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVES $17.9 MILLION STATION CONTRACT MOD
NASA AWARDS CONTRACT TO FIX COSTAR, DESIGNED TO FIX HUBBLE OPTICS
THIOKOL TO DEDICATE NEW SHUTTLE SOLID ROCKET MOTOR FACILITY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AEROSPACE CORP. WINS $410 MILLION AF CONTRACT
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, has awarded
$410 million to The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA, for support
services for the division in 1992. The corporation provides technical
and engineering advice to Space Systems Division, which develops and
procures satellites, boosters and other space-related equipment for the
Air Force. The Aerospace Corp. has provided support services to the
Air Force since 1960. The U.S. Defense Department has designated the
private, non-profit firm as a federally funded research and development
center.
BRUNSWICK WINS MONEY FOR ITALD QUALIFICATION
Brunswick Defense was awarded a $23.7 million contract to qualify its
Improved Tactical Air Launched Decoy (ITALD) for the Navy, a first step
in a program company officials hope will prove the decoy's usefulness
for the other services. The Navy recently awarded the money as a
modification to the company's existing contract, implementing an
engineering change proposal to the basic TALD to add an air scoop,
turbojet engine, fuel tank and radio altimeter for low-level
navigation. Brunswick's Costa Mesa, CA, plant will produce 25 units
during a three-year period for various tests. Itald should make its
first flight in 18 months, and final qualification is expected in two
years.
CRAY REPORTS 18 ORDERS FOR NEW, LOW-COST SUPERCOMPUTER
Cray Research Inc. said recently that it has received 18 orders for a
new, low-cost supercomputer it is offering to commercial customers
around the world. Cray, whose large supercomputers have been used in
the U.S. since the early 1970s for highly complex and often classified
functions such as design of the stealthy B-2 bomber, said deliveries of
the new smaller model start this quarter. Among customers placing
orders for the Cray Y-MP EL, are British Aerospace, a French
engineering school and Nikon, Japan's camera and optics company. The
system is available, with one to four central processing units and up
to one gigabyte of central memory, at prices from under $300,000 to
about $1 million. The largest model reportedly sells for about $25
million.
LINKUP OF AMADEUS AND AMERICAN AIRLINES' SABRE CANCELLED
The planned linkup of Amadeus - Europe's largest computer reservation
system - and American Airlines' Sabre has been abandoned after
negotiations to complete the deal broke off. The proposed cooperation
had received European Community approval, but the effort was abandoned
because of fundamental differences in corporate philosophy and
strategy, according to Amadeus president and chief executive officer.
NEW ANTENNA TEST SITE BRINGS TRYOUTS INDOORS
Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, CA, has invested between $6 million
and $7 million to build a new facility for satellite testing and
antenna development. The new facility, a range designed by MBB of
Munich, will allow the company to move its satellite testing indoors.
Space Systems/Loral is using the new range, which is 102 feet long, 65
feet wide and 43 feet high, to test antennas on the telecommunications
satellites it is building for the International Telecommunications
Satellite Organization of Washington. The testing range includes a
computer that takes 5,000 measurements per second to determine
transponder performance and signal strength.
NEW BUSINESS BOOSTS FINANCIAL STATUS OF ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP.
Orbital Sciences Corp. posted strong sales and earnings gains for the
third quarter, as contracts awarded earlier this year began
contributing to the bottom line. Revenues jumped 41% to $37 million
and earnings increased 54% to %773,000 after taxes, which the company
said partially reflects two major contracts awarded by NASA and the Air
Force for the Pegasus launch vehicle. Spacecraft products also
contributed to the revenue increase through contracts with NASA for its
SeaStar environmental monitoring satellite and with the Air Force for
its APEX project. Earnings totaled $502,000 in the third quarter of
1990 and revenues were $26.3 million. During the first nine months of
this year, revenues reached $96.5 million and earnings totaled $1.8
million.
NORDEN TO CUT WORKFORCE ANOTHER 25% BY END OF 1992
United Technologies' Norden Systems unit plans to cut its workforce by
another 25% by the end of next year, eliminating 600 jobs and shrinking
the unit's total employment to less than 2,000 workers. Norden has
been steadily shrinking since the mid-1980s, when it had some 5,000
employes on its payroll. A series of problems with fixed-price
development contracts helped accelerate its need to find budget savings
during the last 18 months. To help encourage voluntary separations the
company sweetened its Voluntary Retirement plan for about 190 employes,
automatically adding five years of credited service and five years to
age for purposes of calculating the retirement benefit for workers who
accept the offer by December 9 and leave the company by the end of the
year.
TI TO PRODUCE M1A2 IR IMAGING SYSTEMS, CENTRAL PROCESSORS
Texas Instruments received an 18-month, $119 million contract from
General Dynamics Land Systems Div. to produce infrared imaging systems
and electronics for the M1A2 tank. TI's Defense Systems & Electronics
Group, Dallas, will supply 377 Commander's Independent Thermal Viewers
(CITV) and 775 Hull and Turret Electronics Units (H/TEU) for use aboard
U.S. and Saudi Arabian Tanks.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
DOUGLAS MOVING AHEAD WITH PLANS FOR COMMERCIAL CARGO C-17
McDonnell Douglas' Douglas Aircraft Co. is moving forward with plans to
market a commercial version of the Air Force C-17 airlifter aimed at
small-package carriers such as Federal Express and united Parcel
Service. Engineers hope to reach a $100 million (unit) cost goal by
taking out much of the military-unique equipment that won't be needed
for commercial operators. Some military systems will remain; part of
the company's marketing strategy is based on the assumption that the
small-package carriers will continue to have considerable Civil Reserve
Air Fleet (CRAF) responsibilities. Federal Express is believed to have
made the largest single CRAF contribution during the war with Iraq, but
even UPS contributed some 30 aircraft.
DOUGLAS PLANS TO OFFER LONGER-RANGE DERIVATIVE OF MD-90
Douglas Aircraft Co. plans to offer a longer-range version of the MD-90
called the MD-90-50, with a designed range of 3,000-naut. miles and a
maximum gross takeoff weight of 172,500 lb. The only model of the MD-
90 series the company currently is developing is the MD-90-30, which
has a range of 2,300-naut. miles and a maximum gross takeoff weight of
156,000 lb. The first MD-90-30 is scheduled for delivery in October,
1994. Both aircraft, which are MD-80 derivatives, are to be powered by
International Aero Engines (IAE) turbofans. The Dash-50 would have a
V2528 engine with a thrust of 28,000 lb., while the Dash-30 will have a
V2525 engine with 25,000-lb. of thrust, with an option for 28,000 lb.
The Series 50 also would have a strengthened fuselage, wings, landing
gear and additional auxiliary fuel tanks.
NORTHROP JOINS GENERAL DYNAMICS/MCDONNELL ON A-X
Northrop just joined the General Dynamics-led team bidding to build the
A-X attack plane for the Navy, and will have a 20% share of the
project. The move marks a course reversal for Northrop, which had
planned to enter the competition solo, eyeing possible teaming
arrangements later in the concept exploration and definition (CE&D)
phase. A Northrop official said the GD-led effort represents their
only participation in the A-X, and that it will neither join another
team or offer its own proposal. Northrop was brought into the effort
because of its experience in large-scale composite materials and the
techniques used to make them, as well as its overall knowledge of
stealthy techniques and design.
777 ENGINE TESTS
Arnold Engineering Development Center of Tullahoma, TN, and Pratt &
extensive, simulated high-altitude testing of the Pratt & Whitney
PW4084 Turbofan engine under development for the Boeing 777 transport.
Plans call for the Arnold facility to begin testing the powerplant in
its high-altitude chambers next summer. The full complement of tests
is projected to last about four years.
AVIONICS:
ADVANCED SPECIAL RECEIVER TO IMPROVE RADAR WARNINGS
Hughes Radar Systems Group is progressing in development of the ALR-67
Advanced Special Receiver for the U.S. Navy, which will improve radar
warning performance several times over that of the standard Litton ALR-
67 now in use. Hughes officials see the ASR as the first building
block in a family of electronic warfare equipment. It has greater
selectivity than other radar warning receivers and has perhaps the
highest performance per pound.
CAE-LINK WINS $24.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR COMANCHE TRAINING DEVICES
CAE-Link Corp, Binghamton, N.Y. was awarded a $24.5 million contract
from the Boeing-Sikorsky Comanche team for analysis and design of
aircrew and maintenance training devices for the Army's RAH-66 Comanche
helicopter. The company is responsible for updating training device
specifications for the RAH-66 Integrated Training System (ITS). CAE-
Link also will develop engineering designs for combat mission
simulators (CMS) and team/combined arms trainers (T/CAT) as well as
several maintenance trainers. In addition it will design systems for
supporting training hardware, software and courseware.
HARRIS CORP. TEAM TO PROVIDE TEST EQUIPMENT FOR AUSTRALIAN F-111s
Harris Corp. won a $33 million contract to lead a team of contractors
in supplying automatic test equipment and software for the Royal
Australian Airforce's F-111 aircraft. The team's automatic test
equipment replacement (ATE-R) systems are expected to increase the
aircraft's mission readiness and reduce support costs by providing
intermediate-level test support for existing avionics and the new
digital avionics which are scheduled to be integrated with the older
ones. Other team members include Harris Pty. Ltd., Melbourne,
Australia; Philips Defence Systems Pty. Ltd., Moorebank, Australia;
Mintec Systems Pty. Ltd., Melbourne; and Rockwell Systems Pty. Ltd.,
Sydney, Australia.
LORAL OFFERS BOTH ACTIVE, PASSIVE SYSTEMS FOR MAWS ROLE
Loral's ALQ-199 Doppler radar-type Missile Approach Warning System,
adapted from a system developed by Israel's Elta, gives Loral a
contender in both the active and passive MAWS camps. The original Elta
system, designed to provide protective coverage only to the rear of the
aircraft, has been expanded by Loral to provide full 360-deg. azimuth
coverage. This was accomplished by adding a second transmitter and two
forward-looking antennas, raising system weight to approximately 84 lb.
and volume to about 1.25 cu. ft. Loral's studies indicate that if
installed in an F-16C/D, the aft-coverage transmitter could be located
in the space originally planned for the aft jamming transmitter of the
ALQ-165 airborne self-protection jamming system.
RAH-66 EW SYSTEM TO USE USAF' INEWS TECHNOLOGY
The electronic warfare system for the Army's new RAH-66 Comanche
helicopter is being developed by the team of TRW and Westinghouse,
using advanced technology developed under the USAF's Integrated
Electronic Warfare System (INEWS) program. The EW system, which the
Army calls Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), initially will
include these elements: Radar-warning receiver, to alert the crew when
the RAH-66 is being illuminated by an enemy radar. Radio Frequency
Interferometer, to enable the crew to pinpoint the location of an enemy
emitter. Laser-warning receiver, to alert the crew when the RAH-66 is
being illuminated by a laser designator and to indicate the direction
of the threat.
TRACOR COUNTERMEASURES DISPENSER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT WITH AIR FORCE
The Tracor Aerospace AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser system is
undergoing tests by the U.S. Air Force and Navy. First flight of the
Air Force version was completed last month. The services plan to
install the new equipment on new production F-16s and F/A-18s. Tracor
is also a major producer of chaff and flares that will be used by the
system. The vice president of Tracor Expendables Division said the
company is striving to reduce the cost of its expendable decoys to
allow them to be used in training. Chaff in particular must be
released in the right place so a radar-guided missile will attack it
instead of the aircraft. Flares must produce the correct infrared
signature to lure missiles, and Tracor has a continuing research
program to find the correct chemical compound to do that.
MISSILES:
AF TESTS FIRST MISSILE USING AUTONOMOUSLY GUIDED IR SEEKER KIT
Air Force Systems Command said it has completed the first of six
planned test flights of an autonomously guided air-to-surface missile
which employs an imaging infrared seeker kit. The test, conducted
October 3, under the Autonomous Guidance for Conventional Weapons
(AGCW) program, was performed to see if the missile could be properly
launched and if the infrared seeker eye would open following release.
The first test missile did not contain an infrared detector, but future
missiles in the series will have them.
ARMY CANCELS TSIP AS COSTS SOAR AND FUNDS FALL SHORT
The Army recently announced that it has canceled the TWO Sight
Improvement Program (TSIP), admitting that it was already short $120
million on the $600 million effort, and projecting still higher costs
to come. The Army had planned to spend $159 million in fiscal year
1991, 92, and 93, but this was $40 million beneath requirements of
approximately $199 million in each of those years. The service
declined to say how many vehicles could have been equipped with the
TSIP for the available funding. They had spent $1.2 million in FY 90
and $5 million in FY 91 on the project.
BRAZIL PICKS PEGASUS TO LAUNCH REMOTE SENSING SATELLITE
The Brazilian government selected Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Pegasus
booster to launch the SCD-1 environmental remote sensing and data relay
satellite, marking the first time the vehicle will be used to launch a
satellite for an international customer. Pegasus was chosen over the
Soviet Union's Cosmos booster and LTV Corp.'s Scout vehicle for an
$11.5 million contract which calls for launch no later than September
1992. The SCD-1 program is being conducted by the Brazilian Complete
Space Mission, a federal government project coordinated by the
interminsterial Commission for Space Activities. The commission's
objective is to promote the advancement of space technology in Brazil
through the development of small space systems, including two types of
experimental satellites for low-Earth orbit applications.
CONSORT 4 LAUNCH SCHEDULED NOVEMBER 13
NASA's Consortium for Materials Development in Space has scheduled the
next launch in its Consort series of suborbital flights November 13
from White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Consort 4 Consort 4 will contain
nine microgravity experiments aboard a Starfire two-stage sounding
rocket provided by the Space Services Div. of EER Systems Corp. They
will be lifted to an altitude of 200 miles for between seven and eight
minutes of microgravity. The sponsoring consortium is a NASA Center
for the Commercial Development of Space at the University of Alabama in
Huntsville.
LTV OFFERS AIR-LAUNCHED TACTICAL MISSILE AS ALTERNATIVE TO TSSAM
LTV Corp. has offered the U.S. Air Force and air-launched version of
the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for B-52 bombers as a low-
risk, alternative stand-off weapon in case the new Tri-Service Standoff
Attack Missile (TSSAM) runs into significant technical or financial
problems. A global positioning system receiver would be added to
increase its accuracy. Minor software changes also would be necessary,
along with changes in some design details to convert the surface-to-
surface missile into an air-to-surface weapon. Each B-52G could carry
up to 11 ATACMS, six on underwing pylons and four or five internally.
The missile could also be carried by F-15E, F-111 and Tornado aircraft.
Maximum range of the supersonic missile, when launched from a B-52 at
high altitude, would be about 200 naut. mi. The air-launched version
of TSSAM will have a range of about 300 naut. mi.
PENTAGON NOT INTERESTED IN BUYING SOVIET MIG-29s
The Pentagon isn't interested in buying Soviet MiG-29s for intelligence
purposes or for use as an adversary training aircraft. This was the
recent response to an offer of MiG-29s from the Soviet ELF-90 Co.
through its U.S. representative, International Technical Expertise.
The MiGs were offered at a price of $25 million each.
TELEKOM SELECTS DELTA OVER ARIANE
Germany's state-owned Telekom organization announced recently that it
had chosen a McDonnell Douglas Delta booster over Arianespace's Ariane
vehicle for the launch of its DFS-3 communications spacecraft in the
fall of 1992. Telekom officials said the decision was made on economic
grounds, and that they were not influenced by political considerations.
McDonnell Douglas and U.S. government officials had alleged that the
French government pressured Telekom, which is owned by the German
government, to choose Europe's Ariane vehicle. U.S. government
officials subsequently urged the German government to judge the bids
solely on their merits.
SATELLITES:
BRAZILIAN SATELLITE TO FLY ON PEGASUS
Brazil's first domestically built satellite is slated for a September
1992 launch aboard the Pegasus vehicle, built by Orbital Sciences Corp.
(OSC) of Fairfax, VA. The deputy director of research and development
at Brazil's Astronautics Ministry said that the government will pay
$11.5 million for the launch on the Pegasus, which rides under the wing
of a B-52 bomber before being released at a high altitude. OSC
competitors for the hotly contested contract included LTV Corp. of
Dallas, which proposed launching the satellite on its small Scout
launcher, and the Soviet Union's space agency Glavkosmos, which
proposed using its Cosmos rocket for the mission. Other Brazilian
officials said the higher Soviet price and the political problems
associated with the technology transfer dissuaded the Brazilian
government from accepting the Soviet offer.
GE AMERICOM TO REPLACE SATCOM-4 SATELLITE
GE American Communications Inc., Princeton, N.J., plans to replace its
Satcom-4 satellite with an improved spacecraft. Recently, the company
experienced technical difficulties with the satellite's telemetry, but
gave no specific reasons for the replacement decision. Satcom-4 was
launched in 1982. GE filed an application with the Federal
Communications Commission to temporarily replace Satcom-4 with Telesat
Canada's Anik-D2, which will be moved to Satcom-4's current position at
82 degrees West longitude and which will be used until launch of GE's
C-3 and C-4 replacement satellites late next year.
GTE SPACENET OFFERS U.S. CUSTOMERS ACCESS TO EUROPEAN NEWS
GTE Spacenet is offering U.S. customers access to satellite news
gathering services in Europe through an agreement with Germany's
Deutsche Bundespost Telekom. According to the arrangement, DBP Telecom
will notify GTE Spacenet when one of its transportable facilities has
been deployed to a breaking news site. GTE then will offer U.S.
broadcasters access to this equipment. The companies have not released
the cost of such services.
SOLAR-A X-RAY TELESCOPE GIVES NEW DETAIL OF CORONA
A joint U.S.-Japanese X-ray telescope aboard a small Japanese astronomy
satellite has taken one of the most detailed images ever of the
intricate, fiery corona that surrounds the sun. The Soft X-ray
Telescope aboard the Solar-A satellite is able to image the sun's
corona with 10 to 100 times more sharpness than a similar instrument
aboard the orbiting U.S. Skylab workshop of the early 1970s. The
mirror is a cylinder with a slight internal curvature, which gently
deflects incoming X-rays toward the telescope's camera as they graze
its surface, similar to much larger mirrors being developed for NASA's
Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
GALILEO SETS ITS SIGHTS ON ASTEROID FOR FLYBY
Though hampered slightly by its stuck high-gain antenna, NASA's Galileo
Jupiter probe is approaching its first unique scientific achievement:
humankind's first close-up look at an asteroid. After a final brief
puff of its onboard thrusters, scheduled for October 24, Galileo should
pass within 1,000 miles of asteroid Gaspra on October 29. Only eight
miles across, Gaspra is an elongated lump of rocks and minerals now
roughly 300 million miles from Earth. It is located near the inner
edge of the ring of asteroids, known as the main belt, located midway
between Mars and Jupiter, 200 million miles from the sun.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RECEIVES $17.9 MILLION STATION CONTRACT MOD
Johnson Space Center awarded a $17,939,000 contract modification to
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. for extending its Space Station
program integration support contract through December 2001. NASA said
the extension reflects the congressionally mandated restructuring of
the Station project, which pushed the date for permanent manned
capability from July 1997 to September 1999. The modification also
included an option for additional work hours valued at $9,537,000.
NASA AWARDS CONTRACT TO COMPLETE COSTAR, DESIGNED TO FIX HUBBLE OPTICS
The Ball Corp. has won the final installment of a $30.4 million NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center contract to complete development of the
Costar optical package designed to help correct Hubble Space Telescope
optics. Ball, Boulder CO, was given a letter contract last February to
begin work on the Costar package; the formal award commits the company
to complete fabrication of the unit. The final NASA approval to
install the system on Hubble will not be given until the corrective
optics have undergone testing in 1992-93. The shuttle mission to
repair hubble is set for launch as early as November, 1993, but could
slip into 1994.
THIOKOL TO DEDICATE NEW SHUTTLE SOLID ROCKET MOTOR FACILITY
Thiokol Corp.'s Space Operations unit will dedicate a $13 million
building near Brigham City, Utah, that will be used to manufacture
Space Shuttle solid rocket motors. The 38,000 square foot Space
Shuttle Final Assembly Building was designed as part of a quality
improvement program.
|
| 20.130 | Given your interests, you may want to sign up for t | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Nov 05 1991 19:14 | 592 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 05-Nov-1991 01:12pm EST
From: Patrick Roach @MRO
ROACH.PATRICK
Dept: AI Technology Center
Tel No: 296-5231
TO: Remote Addressee ( McCormack @lmoadm @vaxmail )
Subject: Given your interests, you may want to sign up for this
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 04-Nov-1991 04:56pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 10/28, AEROSPACE NEWS
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of October 28, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 28, 1991
GENERAL:
BOEING POSTS INCREASES FOR THIRD QUARTER
EARNINGS AT MARTIN DECREASE IN QUARTER
EGYPT TAKES DELIVERY OF F-16 FIGHTER BATCH
GTE GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS WINS SUPPORT AWARD
INTEGRAL SYSTEMS TALLIES THREE DEALS FOR SUPPORT
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPS RECEIVES FIRST TALON II
DOUGLAS GETS APPROVAL TO BEGIN OFFERING MD-12
FENCO ENGINEERS WINS CANADIAN NAVY CONTRACT
FIFTH GRIPEN PROTOTYPE FLIES, CLEARING WAY FOR STEPPED-UP TESTING
KOREAN FIGHTER PROGRAM FINALIZED
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TESTS IMPROVED VERSION OF U.S. NAVY'S SLAM
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE WILL PURCHASE LOW-COST DATALINK
DUTCH PICK LITTON TO UPGRADE F-16 AVIONICS WITH LASER GYROS
ISRAELI FIRMS EYE ADVANCED AVIONICS TECHNOLOGIES
KORRY ELECTRONICS TO MAKE OH-58D COCKPIT PANELS
THOMSON, GEC TEAM ON AIRBORNE RADARS
TURKEY CHOOSES GE OVER MARCONI FOR AIR DEFENSE RADARS
MISSILES:
ARIANESPACE WINS HUGHES LAUNCH
BLOCK 1D HARPOON COMPLETES FIRST SHIP-LAUNCHED TEST
LORAL TESTS SRAW MISSILE AGAINST MOVING TARGET
MCDONNELL CONTINUES TOMAHAWK ENGINEERING, INTEGRATION ROLE
MCDONNELL SELECTS ORBITAL FOR LAUNCH VEHICLE WORK
ROCKETDYNE DEMONSTRATES STORABLE PROPELLANT ROCKET ENGINE
SATELLITES:
GE BUYS ANIK-D2 TO REPLACE AILING SATCOM 4 SATELLITE
HUGHES RECEIVES NAVY FUNDS FOR UHF SATELLITE LEASING
IBM WINS SATELLITE COMMAND AND DATA PROCESSING CONTRACT
LORAL WINS SUPPORT WORK FOR AF SATELLITE NETWORK
WESTERN EUROPEAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS DISCUSS CREATING SATELLITE SYSTEM
SPACE SYSTEMS:
GALILEO TO RECORD FIRST CLOSEUP IMAGES OF ASTEROID DURING FLYBY
LIST OF HUBBLE REPAIRS GROWN
NASA MANAGERS WILL REVIEW WORK NEEDED TO PREPARE ENDEAVOUR FOR FLIGHT
ROCKWELL, KRUG TEAM FOR JSC SCIENCE PAYLOADS BID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BOEING POSTS INCREASES FOR THIRD QUARTER
Boeing Co. said recently that its sales and earnings were up for the
third quarter and first nine months of 1991, and attributed the
performance to increases in commercial aircraft sales and lower space
and defense business operating losses. For the first nine months,
Boeing said, sales were $21.561 billion and earnings were $1.164
billion, or $3.39 per share. For the same period last year, sales were
$20.580 billion on earnings of $1.067 billion or $3.09 per share.
EARNINGS AT MARTIN DECREASE IN QUARTER
Martin Marietta Corp. posted net earnings of $100.1 million, or $2 a
share, for the third quarter of 1991 on sales of $1.44 billion. The
Bethesda, MD based company made $108.8 million, or $2.16 a share, on
$1.49 billion in sales during the same quarter of 1990. The backlog as
of September 30 stood at $11.8 billion compared with $11.7 billion a
year earlier. While quarterly net earnings were down, Martin's net
income for the first nine months of 1991 rose to $257.8 million in
1990.
EGYPT TAKES DELIVERY OF F-16 FIGHTER BATCH
The government of Egypt received its first batch of F-16 C and D
aircraft associated with the Peace Vector III deal, a 47-airplane
package coordinated by the U.S. Air Force and Fort Worth, Texas based
General Dynamics. The Oct. 24 deliveries will continue throughout
1992, after which General Dynamics will begin work on a 46-aircraft
Peace Vector IV package estimated at $1.54 billion.
GTE GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS WINS SUPPORT AWARD
GTE Government Systems has won a contract worth $75 million for
maintenance of computer facilities used in intelligence processing at
Defense Department facilities. The contract could grow to $600 million
over the next 10 years.
INTEGRAL SYSTEMS TALLIES THREE DEALS FOR SUPPORT
Integral Systems Inc., Lanham, MD, has been awarded three contracts
worth in total about $2 million to provide computer systems for a
variety of applications involving the development and tracking of
satellites. The Earth Observation Satellite Co. (Eosat) of Lanham, MD,
will use a compact computer system as part of a ground station in
Kiruna, Sweden, to provide backup tracking for the future Landsat 6
remote-sensing spacecraft. The system will be operational by mid-1992.
GE Astro Space, East Windsor, N.J., will use computer components for
its Mission Analysis System, which is being built for AT & T of
Bedminster, N.J. The ground-based computer will assist in orbit
determination, stationkeeping and other functions for the future
Telstar 4 satellites, which are being built by GE Astro Space for the
U.S. telecommunications provider. The first spacecraft is planned for
launch in 1993.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPS RECEIVES FIRST TALON II
Air Force Special Operations Command received its first four production
Combat Talon II MC-130H aircraft in an Oct. 17 ceremony at Hurlburt
Field, FL. The aircraft, the first four of a $1.9 billion, 24-aircraft
program, is intended to deliver military personnel and equipment by
day, night or in adverse weather. A modified C-130H built by Marietta,
GA based Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co., the Combat Talon II
includes in-flight refueling equipment, updated cockpits, advanced
avionics and a terrain-following and terrain-avoidance AN/APQ-170
radar. Deliveries are expected to continue through 1993.
DOUGLAS GETS APPROVAL TO BEGIN OFFERING MD-12
McDonnell Douglas' board of directors authorized its Douglas Aircraft
unit to begin offering the next-generation MD-12 airliner to the
world's airlines. The move was the first step leading to production of
the plane, which would carry up to 520 passengers over routes as long
as 9,200 statute miles. Next steps in the program include final
arrangements with MD-12 investment partners, selection of a final
assembly site, and authority of the board of directors to launch when
sufficient orders have been received. Launch is expected in 1992.
Final assembly will be at a new location. McDonnell Douglas is
evaluating nine communities in eight states for the work. A decision
is expected in early 1992.
FENCO ENGINEERS WINS CANADIAN NAVY CONTRACT
Fenco Engineers Inc. of Willowdale, Ontario, Canada, will serve as
prime contractor in a $500 million program to provide 12 Maritime
Coastal Defense Vessels for the Canadian Navy. Terms of the contract
call for design, construction and outfitting of the 12 vessels, as well
as the provision of onboard electronic and navigation systems and
computer-based training packages and spare parts.
FIFTH GRIPEN PROTOTYPE FLIES, CLEARING WAY FOR STEPPED-UP TESTING
The fifth prototype JAS-39 Gripen aircraft flew recently from Saab
Aircraft's field in Linkoping, Sweden, clearing the way for a stepped-
up test program. The flight, which lasted 47 minutes, was the 216th in
the program to test the multi-role combat aircraft. The fifth
prototype, equipped with a more advanced flight control system and
updated avionics, will be used to test weapons, radar, communications,
reconnaissance and warning systems, as well as hydraulics. The test
program, which a Saab Aircraft spokesman said is proceeding without a
hitch, now consists of four aircraft and nine pilots, allowing for
accelerated testing. The No. 1 prototype was lost in a crash that was
caused by a fault in the flight control system.
KOREAN FIGHTER PROGRAM FINALIZED
The U.S. Department of Defense and the Korean government signed an
agreement that clears the way for the $5 billion Korean Fighter Program
to begin, General Dynamics recently announced. General Dynamics plans
to start delivering 12 F-16s in 1994, followed by 36 in kit form. The
remaining 72 aircraft called for in the deal will be produced by
Samsung in Korea under license. General Dynamic work accounts for $1.4
billion of the United States' $3.81 billion share in the program.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TESTS IMPROVED VERSION OF U.S. NAVY'S SLAM
McDonnell Douglas officials have successfully tested an improved
version of the Navy's Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM), which will
increase the types of targets the missile can attack. In an October 18
test of the improved missile at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M., a
Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter scored a direct hit on a simulated enemy
command post. Consisting primarily of enhancements to the missile's
computer software, the updated SLAM will be able to hit ground-based
targets at higher altitudes and higher temperatures than currently
possible.
ROCKWELL JOINS AX RACE
Rockwell Corp.'s North American Aircraft division, Los Angeles, plans
to submit a proposal for a new aircraft design in the competition to
develop the U.S. Navy's AX attack aircraft. Rockwell joins a list of
U.S. aerospace companies competing for up to five $20 million concept
exploration contracts the Navy intends to award for AX early next year.
The company still is assessing the possibility of inviting other
companies to team with it.
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE WILL PURCHASE LOW-COST DATALINK
Faced with pressure from Congress and the Department of Defense to
deploy sophisticated datalinks in fighter aircraft, Air Force officials
will buy a low-cost datalink for close air support aircraft. The
Improved Data Modem (IDM), being developed by the Naval Research
Laboratory in Washington, is to be added to the U.S. Air Force's F-16s
and A-10s as well as the U.S. Army's scout and attack helicopters. The
low-cost datalink will allow ground units to transmit some basic target
information to a pilot's cockpit display, improving cooperation by the
Air Force and the Army. The datalink relies on aircraft radios,
including the ARC-164 and the URC-126.
DUTCH PICK LITTON TO UPGRADE F-16 AVIONICS WITH LASER GYROS
The Royal Netherlands Air Force has picked Litton's Guidance and
Control Systems Division to upgrade the avionics on its F-16 fighters
with new laser gyros. The Woodland Hills, CA based Litton unit will
supply 190 LN-93 laser gyro inertial navigation units for The
Netherlands' avionics retrofit program. The units have been installed
in F-16s flown by the U.S., Pakistan, Portugal, Indonesia, South Korea
and Israel.
ISRAELI FIRMS EYE ADVANCED AVIONICS TECHNOLOGIES
In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf war, Israeli defense industries
are developing advanced radar and avionics technologies to be prepared
for the next battlefield saturated with high-tech missile threats and
electronic warfare. Elta Electronics Industries Ltd., as Ashdod-based
subsidiary of Israel Aircraft Industries, is developing an electronic
surveillance and intelligence gathering system called the EL/M-2075
Phalcon airborne early warning system. The aircraft is being promoted
by Israel Aircraft Industries as an alternative to the U.S. Air Force
E-3 AWACS and the U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye systems. Instead of using a
rotating saucer-like radar mounted on top of the plane, the Phalcon's
monitoring covers 360 degrees by using six conformal phased array
antennas.
KORRY ELECTRONICS TO MAKE OH-58D COCKPIT PANELS
Honeywell Inc.'s Defense Avionics Systems Division, Albuquerque, N.M.,
has awarded a contract to Korry Electronics Co., Seattle, to build
cockpit supply control panels for the U.S. Army's OH-58D scout
helicopter. Honeywell is a subcontractor to Bell Helicopter Textron,
Fort Worth, Texas, which is upgrading 243 helicopters under the Army
Helicopter Improvement Program. Panel quantities and the dollar amount
of the contract were not disclosed. Korry will build three different
Chromarry 496 panels. The panels are backlighted with
electroluminescent lamps, with filters to accommodate military night
vision equipment.
THOMSON, GEC TEAM ON AIRBORNE RADARS
Although they continue to separately develop radars for the next
generation of European combat aircraft, the European Fighter Aircraft
and the Rafale, Europe's two largest manufacturers of airborne radars
will cooperate to develop the next generation of fighter radars. In
May, Paris-based Thomson-CSF and Britain's GEC-Marconi announced they
had agreed that, because of huge development costs, they would pool
their resources to develop radars for the next generation of fighters.
The company, GEC-Thomson Airborne Radars (GTAR), to develop and market
the active array antennas that will be required for future radars.
TURKEY CHOOSES GE OVER MARCONI FOR AIR DEFENSE RADARS
Turkey's Ministry of Defense has selected General Electric Aerospace
AN/FPS-117 solid state radars for air defense in a NATO procurement
deal valued at $15 million. Turkey selected GE over the U.S.'s Marconi
for a contract that calls for delivery of one radar in late 1993 and
options for two more, GE said. Turkey will become the eighth NATO
member to purchase GE radars. The FPS-117 is the most common version
in the GE family of ground based air defense and surveillance radars.
The solid-state, L-band radar has a phased-array antenna that transmits
a pencil-beam signal to produce highly accurate distance, direction and
altitude data at ranges of over 200 miles.
MISSILES:
ARIANESPACE WINS HUGHES LAUNCH
Hughes Communications Inc. has selected the European launch provider
Arianespace of Evry, France, to launch its first direct broadcast
satellite. The launch on an Ariane 4 rocket is planned for December
1993 from Guiana Space Center, Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite,
under construction by Hughes Space and Communications Group of Los
Angeles, will provide high-powered television programming to U.S.
households equipped with small receiver dishes. Transmission capacity
will be used by Hughes Communications of El Segundo, CA, and U.S.
Satellite Broadcasting Inc., a direct-to-home broadcast venture led by
Hubbard Broadcasting Inc. of St. Paul, MN.
BLOCK 1D HARPOON COMPLETES FIRST SHIP-LAUNCHED TEST
A Block 1D Harpoon anti-ship missile completed its first ship-launched
test flight from a guided missile cruiser Oct. 21 at the Pacific
Missile Test Center. The missile was launched from the U.S.S. Jouett,
which is equipped with the newest version of the Harpoon ship command
and launch control system. The missile executed one pre-planned
waypoint maneuver before approaching a small target. The Block 1D
improvements include guidance software changes that will allow the
Harpoon to reattack a target by flying a cloverleaf-shaped pattern if
the missile does not hit the target on the first approach. The Navy
plans to test two more Block 1D Harpoons before the end of the year.
LORAL TESTS SRAW MISSILE AGAINST MOVING TARGET
Loral Corp.'s Aeronautic Division tested the Short Range Anti-tank
Weapon (SRAW) missile against a moving target last Thursday at the
Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA, the company recently announced.
The flight was conducted to test the missile's launch and flight
sequence, kinematic performance, control force margins, flight
vibration, autopilot stability and sensor performance against a moving
target. SRAW has completed two flight tests against a stationary
target and Loral said it is planning six more tests by next February.
MCDONNELL CONTINUES TOMAHAWK ENGINEERING, INTEGRATION ROLE
McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co. received a $14.7 million contract
from the Navy to continue as the system engineering and integration
agent for the Tomahawk cruise missile program, a role it has performed
since 1983. As the Tomahawk Weapons System System Engineering and
Integration Agent (TWSSEIA), McDonnell Douglas ensures performance and
design compatibility for all elements of the weapon system - including
the missile itself, the fire control system, weapon control system,
launch platform integration, flight software and mission planning.
MCDONNELL SELECTS ORBITAL FOR LAUNCH VEHICLE WORK
McDonnell Douglas Corp. has awarded Orbital Sciences Corp. a $24
million contract to provide three suborbital launch vehicles and
related equipment and services for the Ground-based Surveillance and
Tracking System (GSTS). Fairfax, VA based Orbital Sciences' Space Data
Division in Chandler, AZ, will support St. Louis based McDonnell
Douglas in the validation experiment program for the GSTS. The GSTS, a
ground-based pop-up sensor, is being developed by the U.S. Army
Strategic Defense Command for the Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization.
ROCKETDYNE DEMONSTRATES STORABLE PROPELLANT ROCKET ENGINE
Rockwell International's Rocketdyne Div. has completed a 100-second
demonstration test of its XLR-132 storable propellant rocket engine,
which will have applications for future space missions. The XLR--132,
a turbopump-fed, gas-generator cycle engine, produces 3,750 pounds of
thrust using nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) and monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) as
propellants. The engine test was conducted at Rocketdyne's Advanced
Propulsion Test Facility (APTF) at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.
Future sea-level tests are planned to take place at APTF and under
simulated altitude conditions at the Air Force's Phillips Laboratory at
Edwards AFB.
SATELLITES:
GE BUYS ANIK-D2 TO REPLACE AILING SATCOM 4 SATELLITE
Telesat Canada of Ottawa, Ontario, has agreed to sell its Anik-D2
satellite to GE American Communications Inc. of Princeton, N.J., to
take over cable television transmissions that currently are carried on
an ailing GE satellite. GE American Communications, also known as GE
Americom, reported that its Satcom 4 communications satellite ran into
technical difficulties October 12 when it stopped sending telemetry to
ground controllers. While the company is continuing its efforts to
identify and correct the problem, all efforts have so far been
unsuccessful. To ensure uninterrupted service to its customers, GE
Americom is buying the Canadian satellite for an undisclosed price.
HUGHES RECEIVES NAVY FUNDS FOR UHF SATELLITE LEASING
The U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Washington,
has awarded $40 million to Hughes Communications Services, Los Angeles,
to lease four communications satellites in 1992. The Leased Satellite,
or Leasat, system provides UHF satellite communications for the Navy
fleet. Hughes owns the satellites and leases them to the Navy. The
Leasat spacecraft supplement the Navy's Fleet Satellite Communications
spacecraft, which also provide UHF communications for the fleet.
IBM WINS SATELLITE COMMAND AND DATA PROCESSING CONTRACT
IBM Corp. won an Air Force contract for support of a portion of the Air
Force Satellite Control Network. The five-year Command and Data
Processing (C&DP) contract, awarded recently by the AF Space Systems
Div. and worth $38.3 million for the first year, calls for IBM to
provide systems engineering, software and database development and
maintenance, test and integration, operations support and future
architecture design for the Command and Control Segment (CCS) of the
Air Force's Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) at Sunnyvale, CA. IBM's
work on the upgrade and modernization of the AFSCN began in 1980 with
AF award of the Data System Modernization contract. In 1986, the
company won the Air Force's Command and Control Sustaining Engineering
contract, which has one six-month option remaining before contract
completion.
LORAL WINS SUPPORT WORK FOR AF SATELLITE NETWORK
The U.S. Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, CO, has
awarded $46.4 million contract to Loral Space and Range Systems,
Sunnyvale, CA, for support services in operating the Air Force's
satellite control network in 1992. The network consists of control
centers at Onizuka Air Force Base, CA, and Falcon Air Force Base, CO,
as well as communications stations around the globe, which relay
instructions to satellites and receive broadcasts from satellites as
they pass overhead. The Air Force depends heavily on Loral's personnel
to operate and maintain both the control centers and the communications
stations.
WESTERN EUROPEAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS DISCUSS CREATING SATELLITE SYSTEM
Defense ministry representatives of five countries will discuss
creation of a multinational military satellite telecommunications
system for Western Europe, during a meeting in Paris early this month.
The delegates from France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain will
review the possibility of forming a cooperative network that could
become operational early in the next century. Such a system would
provide a follow-on to the U.S.'s Skynet military satellites and to the
French Syracuse network that uses military communications payloads
carried on the country's Telecom 1/2 series of civil telecommunications
spacecraft. Industry officials said funding for studies of the
multinational military satellite concept could begin next year.
Service with the satellites could begin in the early 2000s.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
GALILEO TO RECORD FIRST CLOSEUP IMAGES OF ASTEROID DURING FLYBY
Galileo will become the first spacecraft to encounter an asteroid when
it passes within 1,000 mi. of Gaspra on October 29. The encounter is
expected to result in 16 images of the 6 x 7 x 11 mi. asteroid, with
the closest giving about 300 ft. resolution over 250 pixels. One image
will be in color. Gaspra was chosen because it is near Galileo's
circuitous path to Jupiter, and because it seems to be a representative
main belt asteroid. In addition, measurements will be made with all of
Galileo's science instruments: infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers,
a photopolarimeter-radiometer, dust and atomic particle detectors, a
magnetometer, and plasma instruments.
LIST OF HUBBLE REPAIRS GROWS
Although NASA has overcome many technical faults in the orbiting Hubble
space telescope, which has begun producing unique astronomy data,
Hubble program managers continue to juggle a half-dozen items on their
list of repairs to the observatory to be made during an early 1994
space shuttle mission. The latest addition to the list is a faulty
electrical power supply inside one of Hubble's scientific spectographs
that needs repair. As part of a continuing effort to keep all repair
options funded with a limited budget, Hubble managers have decided to
reduce from eight to four the number of image detectors within the
telescope's replacement Wide-Field and Planetary Camera. As a result,
the $90 million camera, which is considered the principal instrument on
Hubble, will be about 10 percent less efficient. However, none of its
primary scientific capabilities will be lost.
NASA MANAGERS WILL REVIEW WORK NEEDED TO PREPARE ENDEAVOUR FOR FLIGHT
NASA managers will meet at Kennedy Space Center November 8 to review
the uncompleted work remaining on the Endeavour and determine the
agency's ability to keep the new orbiter on schedule for its maiden
flight next April or May. The mission is designed to rescue an
Intelsat spacecraft from a useless low orbit. In-house estimates place
Endeavour preparations four to nine weeks behind schedule because of
about 1,400 problems that must be fixed before the vehicle can be
cleared for flight. They range from damaged fluid lines, poorly fitted
tiles and trash in compartments to loose wires and dirty propellant
feeds. Most of the problems were documented before Endeavour was
shipped here from the Rockwell International assembly site in Palmdale
on May 7. But new problems are being discovered every day. As a
result, NASA probably will not have a good schedule estimate until
January.
ROCKWELL, KRUG TEAM FOR JSC SCIENCE PAYLOADS BID
Rockwell International's Space Systems Div. has teamed with KRUG Life
Sciences of Houston to bid for the Science Payloads Development,
Engineering and Operations (SPDEO) contract with NASA's Johnson Space
Center. Rockwell said the team will combine Rockwell's payload
integration and mission management experience with KRUG's experience in
life sciences and biomedical research. The SPDEO contract involves
support for life sciences payloads on man-tended, pressurized
spacecraft including the Space Shuttle, Spacelab and planned Space
Station.
|
| 20.131 | 11/04, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Nov 14 1991 15:43 | 531 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 006427
Date: 13-Nov-1991 01:06pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 11/04, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of November 4, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 4, 1991
GENERAL:
EDS COMPLETES MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SYSTEMS INTEGRATION BUY
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO RESTRUCTURE ITS SERVICES CO.
IBM WINS SUBCONTRACT FOR ARMY TRUCK PROGRAM
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MISSILES EXPECTS JOB CUTS THIS YEAR
MTU BUYS SHARE IN RTM322 HELICOPTER ENGINE PROGRAM
ORBITAL SCIENCES SHOWS GAINS IN THIRD QUARTER
UNISYS SET TO SPIN-OFF DEFENSE UNITS
UNISYS TO SUPPLY NAVY WITH SPECIALIZED COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
FINLAND COMPLETES HORNET TESTS
KAWASAKI WINS PRIME CONTRACTOR'S ROLE ON OH-X HELICOPTER DEVELOPMENT
KOREA, U.S., SIGN F-16 DEAL
NEW TECHNIQUE FOR OSPREY
SAUDIS ASK FOR 72 MORE F-15s
YF-22 RESUMES FLIGHT TESTING
AVIONICS:
CITATIONJET SIMULATOR
HUGHES AIRCRAFT TO PRODUCE MORE UYQ-21 DISPLAYS
LOCKHEED TO SUPPLY ARMY WITH AIRCRAFT ATIRCM
MISSILES:
ADVANCED ROCKET ENGINE TEST SCORES FOR ROCKETDYNE
ARROW TEST FALLS SHORT
FIRST FLIGHT OF ATLAS 5 BOOSTER DELAYED
GD/MCDONNELL TO RESUME ADVANCED CRUISE MISSILE DELIVERIES
TITAN-CENTAUR DEBUT FROM CAPE DELAYED
SATELLITES:
BENDIX-UNISYS TEAM IN AF SATELLITE CONTROL NETWORK CONTRACT
INTELSAT 6 F-1 LAUNCHED ON ARIANE 4
KOREA PICKS GE, BAe AS FINAL SATELLITE BIDDERS
LASER DIODE COULD ADVANCE INTERSATELLITE DIALOGUE LINKS
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS TO SUPPLY NEC WITH PARTS FOR MUSES-B SATELLITE
SDIO'S ALTAIR SATELLITE PROGRAM READY FOR NEXT DESIGN PHASE
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FIRST SPY IN SPACE COMING UP
MAGELLAN REVEALS VENUE AFTER FULL YEAR OF RADAR MAPPING
QUICK START SEEN FOR GLOBAL CELLULAR SYSTEM
UNISYS JOINS IBM IN WORK ON SHUTTLE REFLIGHT SYSTEM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
EDS COMPLETES MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SYSTEMS INTEGRATION BUY
Electronic Data Systems (EDS) completed its acquisition of McDonnell
Douglas' Systems Integration computer unit, in the process gaining 4.7%
of the $10.5 billion annual computer-aided design market and entering
the aerospace business. The deal adds MDSI's Unigraphics computer-
aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system to EDS' product line,
and EDS said it will distribute and support Unigraphics and other MDSI
products through EDS international business operations. Included in
the MDSI buy are Shape Data, a solids-modeling research, development
and engineering company in Cambridge, England, and Graphics Design
System, another CAD product used in architectural design and
engineering.
GENERAL DYNAMICS TO RESTRUCTURE ITS SERVICES CO.
General Dynamics announced that it plans to restructure its St. Louis-
based Services Co. by reassigning its functions to separate operations
within the Land Systems, Fort Worth Aircraft and Space Systems
operations. The move continues GD's efforts to couple its operating
assets and units more closely with customer needs. The new structure
aligns technical services with the products they support. By
eliminating the need for customers to deal with more than one General
Dynamics entity, both the customer and GD save time and money.
IBM WINS SUBCONTRACT FOR ARMY TRUCK PROGRAM
IBM Federal Sector Division, Owego, N.Y., will design a sophisticated
management information system and develop parts of the manufacturing
process for the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV)
truck program. The Army tapped Stewart and Stevenson Services Inc.,
Houston, on Oct. 11, to be prime contractor on the $20.4 billion
program. IBM announced Oct. 15 that it will share in the value of the
FMTV program by designing a management information system that will
track and monitor the flow of materials and processes on the factory
floor and providing scheduling services, logistics engineering and data
bank support.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MISSILES EXPECTS JOB CUTS THIS YEAR
McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co., projecting flat or slightly
declining missile systems business for the next few years, warned
employes that job cuts will probably be needed to help save money. Job
cuts, along with various other cuts in operating expenses will be
required. Layoffs will likely come at Missile Systems plants in
Florida and Missouri, but will be significantly less than the 700 cut a
year ago. Some 6,200 now work for the missile company. During the
third quarter McDonnell Douglas had to take a $14 million writeoff to
cover losses on its Unmanned Air Vehicle program, and overall the
missile unit's performance, especially in earnings, falls well short of
their own standards and plan commitments.
MTU BUYS SHARE IN RTM322 HELICOPTER ENGINE PROGRAM
Rolls-Royce and Turbomecca have broadened the manufacturing base, and
the national appeal, of the RTM322 engine program by bringing Germany's
Motoren-und Turbinen-Union into the partnership. Under a new
agreement, Rolls-Royce, Turbomeca and Italy's Rinaldo Piaggio each sold
MTU 15% of their interest in the program, which has cost 1.5 billion
French francs ($260 million) in development cost thus far. The French
and British companies have borne about 70% of the development costs
since they began the program in 1980. Their governments, which joined
four years later, have borne the rest.
ORBITAL SCIENCES SHOWS GAINS IN THIRD QUARTER
Orbital Sciences Corp. of Fairfax, VA, generated revenues of $37.1
million between July 1 and September 30, an increase of 41 percent over
the same three month period in 1990. Earnings were $773,000, an
increase of 54 percent. The growth in revenues reflects payments on
several major contracts, including air-launched Pegasus rockets for
NASA and the U.S. Air Force. The company also received payments for a
range of spacecraft, including the Seastar environmental monitoring
satellite for NASA. For the first nine months, Orbital Sciences
generated revenues of $96.5 million, an increase of $20.6 million from
the same period in 1990.
UNISYS SET TO SPIN-OFF DEFENSE UNITS
Unisys is ready to spin-off its defense business in the third week of
November, offering shares of a newly formed Paramax Inc. to investors
at between $22 and $25 each. Investment bankers underwriting the issue
of some 20 million shares of the new stand-alone company recently began
their presentations on Paramax and issued prospectuses for investors, a
process known in financial circles as the "road show." The road show
will travel to Europe next week to tell the investment community there
about the spin-off. U.S. underwriters, Lehman Bros., First Boston and
Lazard Freres & Co., will offer about 16 million shares, while another
4 million shares will be made available overseas in a concurrent
offering by international managers.
UNISYS TO SUPPLY NAVY WITH SPECIALIZED COMMUNICATIONS TERMINALS
Unisys Defense Systems Inc.'s Communication Systems Div. won a contract
from the Navy's Space and Warfare Systems Command for development and
production of specialized surface communications terminals that link
carriers with aircraft in flight. The initial award is $19.2 million,
with options of $7.5 million for development of the communications
terminals. With follow-on production, the program is expected to
extend through 2003. The Common High Bandwidth Data Link Surface
Terminals will be mounted on aircraft carriers and are the latest
evolution of the Modular Interoperable Surface Terminals used for
ground applications.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
FINLAND COMPLETES HORNET TESTS
Finnish Air Force officials have completed flight evaluations of
McDonnell Douglas; F/A-18 Hornet as part of Finland's program to
procure 67 new fighter aircraft. Sixteen flight tests using the F/A-18
were completed Oct. 23 at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro,
CA. These included tests of the aircraft's radar and sensor systems in
addition to assessing its flying performance. In addition to the F/A-
18, the General Dynamics F-16, the French Mirage 2000-5 and the Swedish
Gripen are being considered by Finland to replace its aging fleet of
Soviet-built MiG-21 and Swedish J-35 Draken aircraft. Finnish
officials are expected to choose an aircraft by April.
KAWASAKI WINS PRIME CONTRACTOR'S ROLE ON OH-X HELICOPTER DEVELOPMENT
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has been selected by the Technical Research
and Development Institute of Japan's Defense Agency as prime contractor
for development of the next-generation OH-X light observation/scout
helicopter. The firm will develop the OH-X airframe along with
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries. Kawasaki will
be responsible for half of the airframe with Mitsubishi and Fuji each
sharing a quarter of the work. Mitsubishi has already been selected to
develop an 800-shp.-class turboshaft engine for the OH-X. The firm
will develop the engine in cooperation with Kawasaki and Ishikawajima-
Harima Heavy Industries. The current schedule calls for OH-X
development to begin in 1992 with delivery of the first production
aircraft in 1999.
KOREA, U.S., SIGN F-16 DEAL
The Republic of Korea's $5 billion purchase of 120 F-16 aircraft has
been finalized. On Oct. 24, in Washington, U.S. and South Korean
government officials signed the letter of offer and acceptance that
formally closed the deal. In Seoul the following day, executives of
General Dynamics, St. Louis, and Samsung Aerospace Co., Seoul, prime
contractor for the project, signed an agreement formalizing their
cooperation in the venture. Under the arrangement made under the U.S.
foreign military sales program, 12 complete aircraft will be delivered
to Korea, followed by 36 kits assembled by the Koreans and finally 72
aircraft will be produced under license in Korea using some Korean-made
parts.
NEW TECHNIQUE FOR OSPREY
Bell Boeing expects to design, fabricate and bench test a new means for
mating the V-22 Osprey's wing and fuselage, by the end of the year.
The new attachment, dubbed a flexring, would reduce the complexity of
the current wing-fuselage interconnect and save weight. Bell Boeing
estimates the improved design could cut about 300 lb. from the V-22 and
the reduced manufacturing complexity would save about $300,000 per
aircraft.
SAUDIS ASK FOR 72 MORE F-15s
Saudi Arabis has asked the U.S. for 72 more F-15s, and if they get them
McDonnell Douglas could get a $4 billion shot in the arm and save some
7,000 jobs in St. Louis. If the U.S. government approves the sale it
would extend F-15 production another two years. Moreover, other sales
could follow if production of the F-15 doesn't end in 1993, as it will
with the company's existing orders. The Pentagon has no immediate
comment on the potential sale, although privately some officials said
they were surprised that MDC would go public with details of the
Saudis' desires so soon. Most arms sale experts believe the
Administration won't be in a position to offer Congress formal
notification of a proposed sale until the spring.
YF-22 RESUMES FLIGHT TESTING
The YF-22 resumed flight testing October 30 at Edwards AFB, CA, with a
2-hour hop that included an in-flight refueling. It was the first
flight since late December. Tests included checking aircraft handling
qualities, collecting aerodynamic load data and performing throttle
transient trials with the aircraft's two YF-119 engines. It was the
first flight in a 100-flight-hour test program. Data will be used to
generate precise information for detailed design of the final
configuration of the aircraft.
AVIONICS:
CITATIONJET SIMULATOR
FlightSafety International will install the first CitationJet flight
simulator at its Citation Learning Center in Wichita, Kansas, early in
1993. The Level C simulator is being built at the company's Simulation
Systems Division in Tulsa, OK. FlightSafety is using data from the
CitationJet flight test program in developing the simulator. Data
acquisition should be completed by next April
HUGHES AIRCRAFT TO PRODUCE MORE UYQ-21 DISPLAYS
Hughes Aircraft Co. recently received a three-year, $400 million Navy
contract for production of AN/UYQ-21 command and control displays for
U.S., Japanese and Spanish warships. Hughes has been producing the
UYQ-21 since the late 1970s. It is the Navy standard display system
for integrated command and decision systems. Hughes has developed new
full-color technology that will enter production under the new
contract.
LOCKHEED TO SUPPLY ARMY WITH AIRCRAFT ATIRCM
Lockheed Sanders, Nashua, N.H., will supply the U.S. Army with infrared
countermeasures for helicopters and aircraft under an $18 million
contract. The contract calls for the Advanced Threat Infrared
Countermeasure Systems (ATIRCM) to protect several thousand scout and
attack helicopters and aircraft against infrared missile threats.
ATIRCM represents the next generation of integrated missile warning,
infrared jamming and dispensing technology. The advanced development
program calls for supplying three systems, spares, data, flight test
support and aircraft refurbishment. Work is expected to be completed
by September 1994.
MISSILES:
ADVANCED ROCKET ENGINE TEST SCORES FOR ROCKETDYNE
Rockwell International's Rocketdyne Division, Canoga Park, CA, has
completed a successful demonstration test of an advanced rocket engine
with potential applications in the exploration of the moon and Mars.
The XLR-132 rocket engine was fired for 100 seconds on September 12 at
Rocketdyne's Advanced Propulsion Test Facility at the Santa Susana
Field Laboratory, under sea-level atmospheric conditions. Further
testing at simulated altitudes will be done at the U.S. Air Force's
Phillips Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, CA.
ARROW TEST FALLS SHORT
Israeli and U.S. officials say a recent test of the Arrow missile
interceptor was less than a complete success. According to a statement
by the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, the Arrow was
launched against a ballistic missile fired over the Mediterranean.
After flying according to plan in the initial powered phase, the
interceptor developed a malfunction and deviated from its planned
course. Israeli officials said while the test fell short, it was
useful in expanding the data base. The Arrow, being developed in a
joint U.S. Israeli program, is designed to intercept medium-range
ballistic missiles such as the Scud missile targeted on Israel during
the Persian Gulf war.
FIRST FLIGHT OF ATLAS II BOOSTER DELAYED
The first flight of General Dynamics' Atlas II booster, originally
scheduled for a Nov. 14 mission to orbit the Eutelsat II
telecommunications satellite, will be delayed by six to eight weeks due
to faulty transistors in the power supply of the inertial navigation
unit (INU) in the Centaur upper stage. The transistors, manufactured
by Honeywell Space Systems Group, failed to meet GD's specifications
during recent factory testing. The problem also will delay the launch
of an Air Force Defense Systems Communications Satellite (DSCS) atop a
second Atlas II booster at Cape Canaveral. The extent of that delay
isn't known since the AF doesn't announce launch times.
GD/MCDONNELL TO RESUME ADVANCED CRUISE MISSILE DELIVERIES
General Dynamics Convair Div. and McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co.
have been authorized to resume deliveries of the AGM-129A Advanced
Cruise Missile. Deliveries of the GD missile to K.I. Sawyer AFB,
Mich.-the first base to go operational with the weapon on the B-52
bomber-has begun and McDonnell will resume deliveries in December. The
resumption follows the conclusion of a troubleshooting program
undertaken over the first year of operational use of the weapon.
Deliveries were halted in the spring because of problems with fuel/
vapor leaks, wing deployment actuators, water intrusion and checkout
procedures.
TITAN-CENTAUR DEBUT FROM CAPE DELAYED
The U.S. Air Force will be unable to launch Titan 4 boosters equipped
with Centaur upper states from Florida before the end of 1991 as
planned, because of a string of glitches in ground equipment and
Centaur hardware. The service will wait until early 1992 to begin
Titan-Centaur launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. The
Titan to be used in that launch has been delivered to Cape Canaveral's
Launch Complex 41. It has been undergoing prelaunch integration tests
with a Centaur installed inside its 86-foot-long payload fairing.
Martin Marietta Astronautics Group, Denver is the Air Force's prime
contractor for the Titan 4.
SATELLITES:
BENDIX-UNISYS TEAM IN AF SATELLITE CONTROL NETWORK CONTRACT
A Bendix-Unisys team was selected by the Air Force to maintain ground
stations for the AF Satellite Control Network. The team received a
$240 million contract, beating out Loral, the incumbent supplier, and
teams headed by Lockheed and Contel. The contract is the Bendix-Unisys
team's third, and its first in the military arena. The companies are
also collaborating on the Space Shuttle and Space Station Operations
contracts. Work on the three-year Depot Support Contract (DSC) for the
Air Force began Oct. 1, and is being performed at a Bendix facility
near Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO. Unisys said it will supply
prime contractor Bendix with software products and services for heavily
used segments of the network's communications and other related
components.
INTELSAT 6 F-1 LAUNCHED ON ARIANE 4
Intelsat 6 F-1, the fifth and last of a series of powerful
communications satellites was launched October 29 on an Ariane 4,
bringing the number of working spacecraft owned by the International
Telecommunications Satellite Organization to 17. But as this was
taking place, the 121-nation cooperative was facing enormous change.
Intelsat does not have a permanent chief executive and revenues have
declined. Moreover, Intelsat has intense competition from terrestrial
technologies and, for the first time in the 26-year history of the
world's largest space telecom system, other commercial satellite
systems.
KOREA PICKS GE, BAe AS FINAL SATELLITE BIDDERS
Korea Telecom rejected bids by two major U.S. spacecraft manufacturers
to build the country's first communications satellites, narrowing the
field to two competing bids from GE Astro Space and British Aerospace,
and their respective Korean partners. The state-owned organization
will choose a contractor in mid-December to construct a satellite for
launch in April 1995, followed by launch in October 1995 of an inorbit
spare. The procurement will provide South Korea with advanced
telephone, television and mobile communications, and mark the country's
entrance as a major Asian player into the telecommunications market.
The two satellites and ground control facilities will total about $140
million.
LASER DIODE COULD ADVANCE INTERSATELLITE DIALOGUE LINKS
TRW Space and Technology Group of Redondo Beach, CA, announced that it
has built a tiny laser device, called a coherent laser diode array,
that is about the size of a grain of sand but could be used to provide
communication links between satellites in orbit. TRW's Applied
Technology Division built the device under a $2.2 million contract from
the U.S. Air Force Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
Phillips is the Air Force's central laboratory for space-related
research. The coherent laser diode array consists of 20 small diode
lasers yoked together to act in unison as a single laser. The
resulting laser beam travels great distances without spreading
appreciably. The device could be used for intersatellite
communications because of its small weight and size.
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS TO SUPPLY NEC WITH PARTS FOR MUSES-B SATELLITE
Schaeffer Magnetics, Chatsworth, CA, will supply Nippon Electric Co.
with the solar array drive and antenna positioning mechanism for
Japan's MUSES-B satellite, in a deal worth close to $1 million. The
Japanese satellite, scheduled for launch in 1995, will be put into high
Earth orbit to determine the position of quasars and other radio
sources in remote space. Schaeffer plans to deliver the flight
hardware next year. Schaeffer's solar array drive system is used on
many U.S. satellites, including Magellan.
SDIO'S ALTAIR SATELLITE PROGRAM READY FOR NEXT DESIGN PHASE
Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. has completed conceptual design
of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's Altair satellite and
will move forward with the preliminary design phase in February.
Altair, a free-flying satellite scheduled for launch in 1995, is
expected to provide SDIO with data needed to field a directed-energy
weapon system. The Altair payload consists of a telescope, optical
sensors, illuminator and marker lasers, and track and experiment
processors. The Altair experiment will attempt to acquire and track a
rocket in the boost stage, then accurately point and stabalize a low-
power laser on the rocket body. An additional objective is to gather
plume and background data. The work involves techniques for designing
future sensors, processors and track algorithms.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FIRST SPY IN SPACE COMING UP
The upcoming flight of the space shuttle Atlantis for the U.S. Defense
Department will include attempts by an intelligence analyst aboard to
monitor military forces on the Earth below. The experiment, part of
the Pentagon's Military Man in Space program, is a secondary aspect of
the mission. The primary objective is deployment of a Defense Support
Program satellite, which will scan the Earth for launches of foreign
missiles. Shuttle takeoff is scheduled for November 19.
MAGELLAN REVEALS VENUE AFTER FULL YEAR OF RADAR MAPPING
Scientists recently unveiled the results of more than a year of mapping
the planet Venus using NASA's $450 million Magellan probe. The
orbiting spacecraft has transmitted thousands of radar images that
reveal the planet's craggy features with a degree of clarity that far
surpasses any previous pictures. Magellan mission scientists also
disclosed a major discovery from the satellite data. After years of
speculation and months of searching, they have found evidence of an
active volcano on Venus. Magellan has completed more than 3,000 orbits
of Venus since it began mapping the planet in September 1990. The
spacecraft's radar has surveyed 93 percent of the planet's cloud-
covered surface.
QUICK START SEEN FOR GLOBAL CELLULAR SYSTEM
The Iridium worldwide cellular telephone system, a constellation of 77
small satellites planned for launch between 1994 and 1996, is expected
to attract two million subscribers by 2001. With projected growth
rates of 15 to 20 percent each year, the telecommunications network,
which will enable users with hand-held telephones to call anywhere in
the world, is expected to serve nearly four million people by 2010.
Motorola Satellite Communications, Chandler, AZ, is the leader of the
$2.3 billion Iridium effort. It is managing the design and launch of
the constellation and creation of an international consortium that will
pay for and operate the system.
UNISYS JOINS IBM IN WORK ON SHUTTLE REFLIGHT SYSTEM
The Space Systems Division of Unisys Defense Systems Inc. will work
with prime contractor IBM Federal Sector Division of Houston to modify,
operate and maintain a computer system used in space shuttle reflight
evaluations by NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. Unisys will
provide software products and services for an information management
system used by Johnson to asses whether shuttle flight systems are
ready for use.
|
| 20.132 | 11/11, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Nov 19 1991 19:14 | 542 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 006535
Date: 19-Nov-1991 11:41am EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 11/11, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of November 11, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 11, 1991
GENERAL:
DARPA SEEKS TECHNOLOGY FOR ADVANCED COMPUTING SYSTEMS
DoD SEEKS DATALINK STANDARDS TO BOOST SERVICE COORDINATION
IBM LEADS CONTRACT TEAM FOR AF SATELLITE CONTROL
MDC STOCK SOARS FOLLOWING DECISION TO KEEP FINANCE UNIT
PRODUCTION FACILITY, FINANCE COSTS DAUNT U.S. CHIP MAKERS
RAYTHEON STOCK SWELLED BY POSSIBLE PATRIOT SALE TO SAUDIS
THIOKOL POSTS RISE IN QUARTERLY INCOME
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BEECH IN CONTRACT TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF MILITARIZED KING AIRS
LOCKHEED DELIVERS NEW KC-130T-30 AIRCRAFT
LONGBOW APACHE PASSES CRITICAL REVIEW; PRODUCTION PLANNING NEXT
NORTHROP ASSURED OF B-2 PROFIT EVEN IF PROGRAM HELD TO 15 AIRCRAFT
SLINGSBY, NORTHROP TEAM FOR AIR FORCE'S EFS BUY
TURKEY SEEKS MORE F-16s WITH ARAB, U.S. FUNDS
AVIONICS:
HUGHES VISION SYSTEM BOOSTS TARGET DETECTION
ITT, UNISYS-TRW COMPETE IN INTRA-FLIGHT DATA LINK PROGRAM
SILICON GRAPHICS UNVEILS GEAR
U.K. TAPS MARCONI UNIT FOR SUPPLY OF DRFD
WALTON RADAR SYSTEMS DEVELOPS VOICE DATA INTERFACE
MISSILES:
AEROSPATIALE AS30L MISSILE TO BE QUALIFIED ON F-16
AIR FORCE LAUNCHES CLASSIFIED PAYLOAD ON TITAN IV
CENTAUR TRANSISTOR CONCERNS HOLD ATLAS 2
FIBERTEK TO SUPPORT ERINT-1 FLIGHT TESTS
LORAL'S SRAW HITS TARGET FOR FIRST TIME IN TESTS
TWO FIRMS SIGN CONTRACT FOR NEW LAUNCH VEHICLE
SATELLITES:
EC BREAKS COMMUNICATIONS MONOPOLIES
ESA TURNS TO SATELLITES TO MONITOR AFRICAN ENVIRONS
JAPAN BIDS TO ENTER COMMERCIAL LAUNCH MARKET
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS WINS MUSES B CONTRACTS
SERVICES SAY INTEREST HIGH FOR LIGHTWEIGHT SATELLITES
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ATLANTIS CREW WILL TEST SPACE STATION BIOREACTOR THIS MONTH
MDC'S SPACE SYSTEMS UNITS WINS FREEDOM CONTRACT MOD
SHUTTLE TRIP GIVES BEVY OF SDIO DATA
SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ENGINE FAILS RECERTIFICATION TEST
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
DARPA SEEKS TECHNOLOGY FOR ADVANCED COMPUTING SYSTEMS
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting
research proposals to develop technologies for advanced computing
systems. Proposals are sought that investigate innovative ideas about
methods to create and manage large knowledge bases, integrate
knowledge-based systems with heterogeneous software systems, extend and
integrate approached to automated reasoning, and facilitate the
automated acquisition of knowledge. Proposals can include small-scale
theoretical efforts, medium-scale hardware/software experiments and
prototypes, and larger-scale integrated system efforts which include
industrial cooperation and cost sharing. Collaboration and teaming is
encouraged and large-scale proposals are expected to involve multiple
research groups. Proposals abstracts are due by Dec. 16 and proposals
must be submitted by Feb. 18.
DoD SEEKS DATALINK STANDARDS TO BOOST SERVICE COORDINATION
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) officials plan to develop a standard
set of datalink technologies for use by Pentagon program managers to
improve interservice coordination and slow the proliferation of
specialized datalinks. The standard set of datalink technologies is
being selected by the Joint Tactical Command, Control and
Communications Agency (JTC3A), Reston, VA, as part of the Corporate
Information Management initiative. Datalinks exchange information from
one computer to another. The standards will cover datalinks designed
to exchange information within weapon systems or through extended
intelligence networks.
IBM LEADS CONTRACT TEAM FOR AF SATELLITE CONTROL
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, has awarded a
$38.3 million contract to a group of companies to maintain and improve
computer systems used in the Air Force's satellite control network.
IBM Federal Sector Services Corp., Bethesda, MD, leads the team. Other
members include Unisys Defense Systems, McLean, VA; Litton Industries,
Beverly Hills, CA; Harris Corp., Melbourne, FL; Computer Sciences
Corp., El Segundo, CA; and TRW, Cleveland. The initial $38.8 million
covers the first year of the five-year contract, which also has four
one-year options.
MDC STOCK SOARS FOLLOWING DECISION TO KEEP FINANCE UNIT
McDonnell Douglas became one of the biggest winners on Wall Street
recently, soaring nearly $5 as investors reacted positively to the
company's plans to hold on to its finance unit. MDC said it had
decided against plans announced earlier this year to divest its
McDonnell Douglas Finance Corp. subsidiary. This, combined with
Goldman Sachs' move to put MDC on its Buy list, helped the company's
stock gain $4.62 to close at $77 a share on November 12th. The company
stressed that the finance unit will still shrink, and plans to spin-off
selected assets remain unchanged. But MDFC will be retained as an
ongoing business, the company said, focusing on aircraft financing and
commercial equipment leasing as two core businesses.
PRODUCTION FACILITY, FINANCE COSTS DAUNT U.S. CHIP MAKERS
The soaring cost of new production facilities and a lack of investment
capital needed to build them are forcing U.S. chip makers to look at
new approaches for making advanced electronics for the military. U.S.
officials and industry experts at a military electronics conference in
Orlando, FL, recently said that the cost of state-of-the-art chip
facilities for making critical devices like memory chips could top $1
billion by the end of the decade. During the same period, the life
span of costly chip manufacturing equipment will shrink to just three
years.
RAYTHEON STOCK SWELLED BY POSSIBLE PATRIOT SALE TO SAUDIS
Raytheon Co. stock continued a strong surge begun the 12th as word of
the Administration's imminent formal notice to Congress to sell more
Patriots to Saudi Arabia reached the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange. Raytheon gained another $1.75 to close at $81.25 on the
13th, after rising $1.50 on the 11th trading to $79.50. Analysts
agreed that Patriot news was driving investors' enthusiasm for the
issue, more than 300,000 shares changed hands on the 12th, but were
nonetheless puzzled because it wasn't entirely unexpected. Raytheon
itself predicted late last year that more Patriot sales would come in
the Middle East, and U.S. officials acknowledged in September that
Washington would honor Riyadh's request for more Patriots following
Iraq's firing on United Nations inspection aircraft.
THIOKOL POSTS RISE IN QUARTERLY INCOME
Income at Thiokol Corp. jumped 14 percent to $13.2 million for the
first quarter ending Sept. 30, compared with $11.5 million for the same
period one year ago. Sales at the Ogden, Utah-based company fell
slightly to $289.5 million for the quarter, from $292.5 million last
year. Sales of strategic systems jumped 25 percent to $77.6 million,
from $62 million last year, as the company increased deliveries of
motors for the MX Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. Sales related to
the Trident missile and Small Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
program also increased slightly.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BEECH IN CONTRACT TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF MILITARIZED KING AIRS
Beech Aircraft Corp. received a one-year, $128.4 million contract to
provide worldwide logistics support for 467 military versions of its
King Air Turboprop aircraft used by the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Under the contract, which was jointly awarded by the three services,
the company's Beech Aerospace Services Inc. (BASI) unit in Madison, MI,
will support C-12 and U-21 airplanes located at 212 sites around the
world. Four one-year options bring the contract's value to $668.2
million and additional options for supplemental support make it worth
approximately $726 million. BASI has been maintaining the aircraft
since 1974.
LOCKHEED DELIVERS NEW KC-130T-30 AIRCRAFT
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. delivered the first of two stretched
aerial refueling C-130s to the Marine Corp. on Oct. 29. Called the KC-
130T-30, the aircraft are 15 feet longer than the standard C-130
transport aircraft. In action, the aircraft will be used to refuel
helicopters and attack jets such as the F/A-18 and the AV-8B. Lockheed
Aeronautical Systems Co. is based in Marietta, GA.
LONGBOW APACHE PASSES CRITICAL REVIEW; PRODUCTION PLANNING NEXT
The radar-equipped Longbow Apache program passed a critical design
review (CDR) in late October, clearing the way for production planning
by McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co. The CDR capped a five-month series
of "mini-reviews" to clear 126 of 130 formal design issues regarding
the Longbow upgrade. Successful completion of the CDR demonstrates
confidence in the design, the Army asserted.
NORTHROP ASSURED OF B-2 PROFIT EVEN IF PROGRAM HELD TO 15 AIRCRAFT
Northrop's B-2 development and production programs will be profitable
regardless of how many of the bombers are built, according to senior
company officials. If the program is curtailed at 15 operational
aircraft, the contract allows renegotiation, ensuring that the
company's earnings rate approximates what it would be for 75-aircraft
production run. When the B-2 contract was awarded to Northrop in 1981,
the Air Force anticipated building 132 bombers. As a result, the
company structured its facilities, tooling and personnel planning to
support a large, long-term, capital-intensive program.
SLINGSBY, NORTHROP TEAM FOR AIR FORCE'S EFS BUY
The U.K.'s Slingsby Aviation and Northrop teamed to compete for the Air
Force's Enhanced Flight Screener (EFS) aircraft procurement. Under the
agreement, Slingsby will act as prime contractor for both the aircraft
supply and the support contract, making the airframes in the U.K.
Northrop World Aircraft Services will perform final assembly, test and
delivery of the planes to the Air Force. Slingsby will offer its basic
T-67 Firefly trainer aircraft for the 125-plane program, but with a
bigger engine to accommodate the service's tougher requirements. The
Air Force wants to buy an off-the-shelf propeller-driven acrobatic-
certified aircraft with a stick and side-by-side seating to replace
aging T-41s.
TURKEY SEEKS MORE F-16s WITH ARAB, U.S. FUNDS
Three Persian Gulf countries and the United States will fund the bulk
of a major Turkish project to acquire a second batch of 80 F-16 fighter
aircraft under a joint program with General Dynamics. Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are set to extend $1 billion each
and the United States will contribute a further $500 million for the
Turkish deal, scheduled to start after 1994. The Turkish contribution
to the $4 billion fund would be $500 million. Under a joint program
with General Dynamics of Fort Worth, Texas, Turkish Aerospace Industry
(TAI) has already produced more than 75 F-16s out of a planned 152 to
be constructed by 1994 for the Turkish Air Force. The United States
has delivered eight fully operational F-16s to Turkey as part of this
first $4.5 billion consignment of 160 planes.
AVIONICS:
HUGHES VISION SYSTEM BOOSTS TARGET DETECTION
Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Electro-Optical and Data Systems Group, El
Segundo, CA, has developed a high-performance helicopter night vision
system that promises to improve the ability of pilots to detect targets
at longer ranges. The system, dubbed Hi-Mag, would provide pilots with
high-magnification capability required for long-range target
identification and a wide field of view to allow safe flying at night
or in poor weather. It is an internally funded upgrade to the AAQ-16B
Hughes Night Vision System, which has been in production since 1984.
The Hughes Night Vision System will be deployed on the V-22 Osprey
tilt-rotor aircraft.
ITT, UNISYS-TRW COMPETE IN INTRA-FLIGHT DATA LINK PROGRAM
Competing in the development phase of the Air Force's Intra-Flight Data
Link (IFDL) program are ITT Avionics and a team on Unisys and TRW. One
of the competitors will be chosen late next year to proceed with
development and production of the system, which is intended to provide
new capabilities to transfer data from one aircraft to another. ITT
and Unisys-TRW received their contracts Sept. 9 from the AF's Avionics
Lab, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. ITT got $19.6 million and Unisys got
$14.4 million. Unisys said its contract marks evolution of data link
technology into a new communication application to be used on current
and next-generation tactical aircraft.
SILICON GRAPHICS UNVEILS GEAR
Silicon Graphics Inc. unveiled recently a new family of computer
graphics work stations designed for a variety of military and
commercial simulation tasks. The graphics computers, called
POWERVision VGXT, are based on technology developed for the company's
SkyWriter image generators. SkyWriter, introduced last April, is an
image generator that Silicon Graphics hopes to offer for the U.S.
Army's Close Combat Tactical Trainer program, a potential multibillion-
dollar effort to develop a network of simulators for artillery, tanks
and eventually helicopters. With the POWERVision work stations just
announced, Silicon Graphics, Mountain View, CA, can offer entry-level
simulation systems for the relatively low cost of $79,000.
U.K. TAPS MARCONI UNIT FOR SUPPLY OF DRFD
The British Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract for the supply
of Demolition Remote Firing Devices (DRFD) by Marconi Radar and Control
Systems, Frimley, the United Kingdom. The quantity of devices was not
revealed by the company. The DRFD has been developed jointly by
Marconi Radar and Control Systems and Marine Air Systems, New Zealand.
Engineered to fit into standard British Army webbing and primarily for
use by engineers, the system consists of a handheld transmitter that
can activate demolition charges. This can be achieved at ranges up to
2 kilometers (1.25 miles) in the most difficult conditions and at
significantly greater distances in open terrain or from helicopters.
WALTON RADAR SYSTEMS DEVELOPS VOICE DATA INTERFACE
Walton Radar Systems of Hampshire, England, has developed a voice data
interface that will allow airports to integrate voice, radar and radar
console settings data on the same medium to benefit training, accident
and incident investigations. The data is recorded digitally on a
single 8-mm. Exabyte Corp. cassette, which can store more than 24 hr.
of data from 20 radar sites. The voice interface should work with any
standard analog system, according to the company. The interface was
designed to be compatible with the company's Hindsight air traffic
control radar recording system. The first Hindsight system with voice
recording option is to be installed at the Canadian Forces Base at
Goose Bay, Labrador.
MISSILES:
AEROSPATIALE AS30L MISSILE TO BE QUALIFIED ON F-16
Aerospatiale's AS30L laser-guided air-to-surface missile will be
qualified on the General Dynamics F-16, and discussions are under way
to fit it on other combat aircraft. This qualification will be an
important step in Aerospatiale's goal to widen the number of fighters
capable of delivering the solid-propellant missile. The French company
has been seeking manufacturers that would share the costs of qualifying
the AS30L on their aircraft. The AS30L is used primarily on aircraft
produced by France's Dassault Aviation, which has been unable to make a
major military export sale for several years. It flies at speeds of
about Mach 1.3, has a range of about 10 km. (6.2 miles) and maintains
its velocity up to the point of impact.
AIR FORCE LAUNCHES CLASSIFIED PAYLOAD ON TITAN IV
A Titan IV booster was successfully launched from Space Launch Complex-
4 East at Vandenberg AFB, CA, with a classified military payload. The
payload is believed to be a Lacrosse imaging radar intelligence
satellite. The classified satellite should be located at an altitude
of about 500 kilometers, but observers haven't determined its
inclination.
CENTAUR TRANSISTOR CONCERNS HOLD ATLAS 2
The venerable Centaur upper stage, used on 70 Atlas rockets launches to
data, experienced another setback last week when General Dynamics
delayed the first Atlas 2 launch because of concerns about electronics
in the Centaur's navigation system.
FIBERTEK TO SUPPORT ERINT-1 FLIGHT TESTS
Fibertek, a division of Alcoa Composites located in Springville, UT,
will support the ERINT-1 missile flight test program under terms of a
contract awarded by Dallas-based LTV Corp. The value of the contract
was not yet disclosed. Fibertek will develop, tool and fabricate
composite launch tubes for LTV's ERINT-1 missile, which is designed to
intercept and destroy tactical ballistic missiles. The square-shaped
launch tubes will be constructed primarily from a graphite/epoxy
material.
LORAL'S SRAW HITS TARGET FOR FIRST TIME IN TESTS
The U.S. Marine Corps' Short-Range Antitank Weapon (SRAW), a 15-pound
portable tank killer, successfully hit a moving target for the first
time. Conducted at the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA, the test
flight met all its objectives. These objectives were to test launch
and flight sequence, speed, control force margins, flight vibration,
autopilot stability and inertial sensor performance. Since last 1990,
the SRAW has successfully hit two stationary targets, and Loral plans
to fire six more missiles by February.
TWO FIRMS SIGN CONTRACT FOR NEW LAUNCH VEHICLE
International MicroSpace and Bristol Aerospace Ltd. have signed a
contract to begin development of the Orbital Express launch vehicle.
The Orbital Express, planned to make its first launch in mid-1993, is
intended to cut costs on microsatellite payloads of 400 pounds or less
for the U.S. Defense Department or other government and commercial
customers. International MicroSpace, headquartered in Herndon, VA, has
organized a team to develop the new launch vehicle that includes
Bristol Aerospace Ltd., Winnipeg, Canada; Thiokol Corp., Ogden, Utah;
and Saab Space, Linkoping, Sweden. Bristo Aerospace will service the
principal contract to International MicroSpace.
SATELLITES:
EC BREAKS COMMUNICATIONS MONOPOLIES
The European Community recently agreed to deregulate its satellite
communications industry by ending the monopoly status of the government
agencies that have long held a stranglehold on Europe's space-based
communications. European Community (EC) officials said the move likely
will result in a free market for national and international satellite
communications in Europe within two years. The satellite
communications industry, they said, will face fewer regulatory barriers
in Europe than in the United States, which for 20 years has been a
free-market beacon.
ESA TURNS TO SATELLITES TO MONITOR AFRICAN ENVIRONS
The European Space Agency (ESA) of Paris expects to be operating a
satellite communications network for environmental control in Africa in
February 1992. The information will be sent via an Intelsat satellite
and will be received by a very small aperture terminal with a 2.5-meter
(8.2-foot) dish. The system will be installed in Kenya, Zimbabwe and
Ghana. ESA's Direct Information Access Network for Africa, called
Diana, will transmit data on droughts, crop failures and desert locust
movement collected by the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization in Rome. The first Diana system will be commissioned at
the Earth station in Fucino, Italy, which is operated by Telespazio of
Rome for ESA. Telespazio will operate the Diana network.
JAPAN BIDS TO ENTER COMMERCIAL LAUNCH MARKET
Rocket Systems Corp. of Japan has entered the commercial launch
business with a bid to launch Inmarsat-3 satellites using Japan's yet-
to-fly H-2 booster. Industry analysts and satellite operating
companies welcomed the added competition but questioned whether Japan
could compete on price. They also predicted it would be difficult to
break an agreement that allows only two H-2 launches a year at Japan's
Tanegashima launch site.
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS WINS MUSES B CONTRACTS
Schaeffer Magnetics of Chatsworth, CA, will supply key pieces of
hardware for a Japanese scientific spacecraft that will monitor radio
sources in remote regions of the universe. The Institute of Space and
Astronautical Science is overseeing the project, which culminates in a
1995 launch of two Muses B spacecraft from southern Japan. Nippon
Electric Co. of Tokyo is the satellite prime contractor. Schaeffer
will build the solar array drive and the antenna positioning mechanism
for Muses B for delivery at the end of 1992. The total value of the
contracts is $1 million.
SERVICES SAY INTEREST HIGH FOR LIGHTWEIGHT SATELLITES
While the debate continues over the need for a new breed of small
satellites for military tactical users, several small research programs
are pushing the idea forward. The U.S. Marines provided a wartime test
of an experimental communications satellite during Desert Storm. The
same satellite also was used to restock supplies such as food, water,
medical supplies and fuel at McMurdo Station, a scientific base in
Antarctica, during the summer there. Another seven small military
communications satellites launched last summer are entering the test
phase and, despite their failure to achieve the desired orbit, they
have elicited considerable interest. The idea of small, lightweight
satellites that could be launched quickly in a crisis emerged a few
years ago, and was controversial from the start. Called lightsats by
proponents, the idea was to make satellites accessible to tactical
commanders without burdening the existing military constellations.
Opponents called them cheapsats and suggested that it was wasteful for
field commanders to expect to control their own space systems.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ATLANTIS CREW WILL TEST SPACE STATION BIOREACTOR THIS MONTH
Astronauts plan to test a biotechnology device that could dramatically
improve the ability of scientists to grow tissue for disease research
and replacement in the human body during a 10-day flight of the Space
Shuttle Atlantis this month. Although no biological material will be
included on STS-44, a DOD mission to deploy a Defense Support Program
early warning satellite and carry out a largely military program of
experiments, the crew will conduct 16 experiments with NASA's Slow-
Turning Lateral Vessel (STLV) to verify computer simulations of the
bioreactor's performance in microgravity.
MDC'S SPACE SYSTEMS UNIT WINS FREEDOM CONTRACT MOD
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. won a $46.25 million modification
to an existing Space Station Freedom contract with Johnson Space Center
covering software testing and several Ada compilers. The first part of
the modification, the Integration, Test and Verification Environment,
will test software in its target environment, control and execute
simulations during testing and control the test environment and data
analysis. Under the second part of the award, the company will provide
Ada compilers for the Space Station Data Management System, delivering
110 Standard Data Processor compilers and 17 multiplexer/demultiplexer
compilers. Both will be derived from commercially available systems.
SHUTTLE TRIP GIVES BEVY OF SDIO DATA
Strategic defense experiments conducted during a May flight of the
space shuttle Discovery made major contributions toward the designs of
sensors that could detect and track enemy nuclear missiles and
warheads. During an eight-day mission for the U.S. Defense Department,
Discovery's astronauts conducted an around-the-clock series of
experiments and observations. A set of instruments, temporarily set
loose in space, made detailed measurements of the shuttle's engines as
they fired. The astronauts also made observations of chemicals and
gases released into space. SDIO's experiments cost $97 million. The
U.S. Air Force also has a separate set of military space experiments
aboard the STS-39 mission.
SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ENGINE FAILS RECERTIFICATION TEST
The first production engine for the Space Shuttle Endeavour recently
failed a re-certification test firing after NASA technicians at Stennis
Space Center failed to properly reassemble part of the engine. The
failure is not expected to delay Endeavour's first flight set for next
May because the space agency has three other engines which are
certified and ready for installation into the Orbiter. However, the
incident leaves NASA without a spare main engine for the Orbiter until
it can be fixed and recertified, a process that should take at least
five weeks.
#
|
| 20.133 | 11/11, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Nov 19 1991 19:16 | 542 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 006535
Date: 19-Nov-1991 11:41am EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 11/11, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of November 11, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 11, 1991
GENERAL:
DARPA SEEKS TECHNOLOGY FOR ADVANCED COMPUTING SYSTEMS
DoD SEEKS DATALINK STANDARDS TO BOOST SERVICE COORDINATION
IBM LEADS CONTRACT TEAM FOR AF SATELLITE CONTROL
MDC STOCK SOARS FOLLOWING DECISION TO KEEP FINANCE UNIT
PRODUCTION FACILITY, FINANCE COSTS DAUNT U.S. CHIP MAKERS
RAYTHEON STOCK SWELLED BY POSSIBLE PATRIOT SALE TO SAUDIS
THIOKOL POSTS RISE IN QUARTERLY INCOME
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BEECH IN CONTRACT TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF MILITARIZED KING AIRS
LOCKHEED DELIVERS NEW KC-130T-30 AIRCRAFT
LONGBOW APACHE PASSES CRITICAL REVIEW; PRODUCTION PLANNING NEXT
NORTHROP ASSURED OF B-2 PROFIT EVEN IF PROGRAM HELD TO 15 AIRCRAFT
SLINGSBY, NORTHROP TEAM FOR AIR FORCE'S EFS BUY
TURKEY SEEKS MORE F-16s WITH ARAB, U.S. FUNDS
AVIONICS:
HUGHES VISION SYSTEM BOOSTS TARGET DETECTION
ITT, UNISYS-TRW COMPETE IN INTRA-FLIGHT DATA LINK PROGRAM
SILICON GRAPHICS UNVEILS GEAR
U.K. TAPS MARCONI UNIT FOR SUPPLY OF DRFD
WALTON RADAR SYSTEMS DEVELOPS VOICE DATA INTERFACE
MISSILES:
AEROSPATIALE AS30L MISSILE TO BE QUALIFIED ON F-16
AIR FORCE LAUNCHES CLASSIFIED PAYLOAD ON TITAN IV
CENTAUR TRANSISTOR CONCERNS HOLD ATLAS 2
FIBERTEK TO SUPPORT ERINT-1 FLIGHT TESTS
LORAL'S SRAW HITS TARGET FOR FIRST TIME IN TESTS
TWO FIRMS SIGN CONTRACT FOR NEW LAUNCH VEHICLE
SATELLITES:
EC BREAKS COMMUNICATIONS MONOPOLIES
ESA TURNS TO SATELLITES TO MONITOR AFRICAN ENVIRONS
JAPAN BIDS TO ENTER COMMERCIAL LAUNCH MARKET
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS WINS MUSES B CONTRACTS
SERVICES SAY INTEREST HIGH FOR LIGHTWEIGHT SATELLITES
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ATLANTIS CREW WILL TEST SPACE STATION BIOREACTOR THIS MONTH
MDC'S SPACE SYSTEMS UNITS WINS FREEDOM CONTRACT MOD
SHUTTLE TRIP GIVES BEVY OF SDIO DATA
SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ENGINE FAILS RECERTIFICATION TEST
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GENERAL:
DARPA SEEKS TECHNOLOGY FOR ADVANCED COMPUTING SYSTEMS
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting
research proposals to develop technologies for advanced computing
systems. Proposals are sought that investigate innovative ideas about
methods to create and manage large knowledge bases, integrate
knowledge-based systems with heterogeneous software systems, extend and
integrate approached to automated reasoning, and facilitate the
automated acquisition of knowledge. Proposals can include small-scale
theoretical efforts, medium-scale hardware/software experiments and
prototypes, and larger-scale integrated system efforts which include
industrial cooperation and cost sharing. Collaboration and teaming is
encouraged and large-scale proposals are expected to involve multiple
research groups. Proposals abstracts are due by Dec. 16 and proposals
must be submitted by Feb. 18.
DoD SEEKS DATALINK STANDARDS TO BOOST SERVICE COORDINATION
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) officials plan to develop a standard
set of datalink technologies for use by Pentagon program managers to
improve interservice coordination and slow the proliferation of
specialized datalinks. The standard set of datalink technologies is
being selected by the Joint Tactical Command, Control and
Communications Agency (JTC3A), Reston, VA, as part of the Corporate
Information Management initiative. Datalinks exchange information from
one computer to another. The standards will cover datalinks designed
to exchange information within weapon systems or through extended
intelligence networks.
IBM LEADS CONTRACT TEAM FOR AF SATELLITE CONTROL
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, has awarded a
$38.3 million contract to a group of companies to maintain and improve
computer systems used in the Air Force's satellite control network.
IBM Federal Sector Services Corp., Bethesda, MD, leads the team. Other
members include Unisys Defense Systems, McLean, VA; Litton Industries,
Beverly Hills, CA; Harris Corp., Melbourne, FL; Computer Sciences
Corp., El Segundo, CA; and TRW, Cleveland. The initial $38.8 million
covers the first year of the five-year contract, which also has four
one-year options.
MDC STOCK SOARS FOLLOWING DECISION TO KEEP FINANCE UNIT
McDonnell Douglas became one of the biggest winners on Wall Street
recently, soaring nearly $5 as investors reacted positively to the
company's plans to hold on to its finance unit. MDC said it had
decided against plans announced earlier this year to divest its
McDonnell Douglas Finance Corp. subsidiary. This, combined with
Goldman Sachs' move to put MDC on its Buy list, helped the company's
stock gain $4.62 to close at $77 a share on November 12th. The company
stressed that the finance unit will still shrink, and plans to spin-off
selected assets remain unchanged. But MDFC will be retained as an
ongoing business, the company said, focusing on aircraft financing and
commercial equipment leasing as two core businesses.
PRODUCTION FACILITY, FINANCE COSTS DAUNT U.S. CHIP MAKERS
The soaring cost of new production facilities and a lack of investment
capital needed to build them are forcing U.S. chip makers to look at
new approaches for making advanced electronics for the military. U.S.
officials and industry experts at a military electronics conference in
Orlando, FL, recently said that the cost of state-of-the-art chip
facilities for making critical devices like memory chips could top $1
billion by the end of the decade. During the same period, the life
span of costly chip manufacturing equipment will shrink to just three
years.
RAYTHEON STOCK SWELLED BY POSSIBLE PATRIOT SALE TO SAUDIS
Raytheon Co. stock continued a strong surge begun the 12th as word of
the Administration's imminent formal notice to Congress to sell more
Patriots to Saudi Arabia reached the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange. Raytheon gained another $1.75 to close at $81.25 on the
13th, after rising $1.50 on the 11th trading to $79.50. Analysts
agreed that Patriot news was driving investors' enthusiasm for the
issue, more than 300,000 shares changed hands on the 12th, but were
nonetheless puzzled because it wasn't entirely unexpected. Raytheon
itself predicted late last year that more Patriot sales would come in
the Middle East, and U.S. officials acknowledged in September that
Washington would honor Riyadh's request for more Patriots following
Iraq's firing on United Nations inspection aircraft.
THIOKOL POSTS RISE IN QUARTERLY INCOME
Income at Thiokol Corp. jumped 14 percent to $13.2 million for the
first quarter ending Sept. 30, compared with $11.5 million for the same
period one year ago. Sales at the Ogden, Utah-based company fell
slightly to $289.5 million for the quarter, from $292.5 million last
year. Sales of strategic systems jumped 25 percent to $77.6 million,
from $62 million last year, as the company increased deliveries of
motors for the MX Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. Sales related to
the Trident missile and Small Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
program also increased slightly.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BEECH IN CONTRACT TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF MILITARIZED KING AIRS
Beech Aircraft Corp. received a one-year, $128.4 million contract to
provide worldwide logistics support for 467 military versions of its
King Air Turboprop aircraft used by the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Under the contract, which was jointly awarded by the three services,
the company's Beech Aerospace Services Inc. (BASI) unit in Madison, MI,
will support C-12 and U-21 airplanes located at 212 sites around the
world. Four one-year options bring the contract's value to $668.2
million and additional options for supplemental support make it worth
approximately $726 million. BASI has been maintaining the aircraft
since 1974.
LOCKHEED DELIVERS NEW KC-130T-30 AIRCRAFT
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. delivered the first of two stretched
aerial refueling C-130s to the Marine Corp. on Oct. 29. Called the KC-
130T-30, the aircraft are 15 feet longer than the standard C-130
transport aircraft. In action, the aircraft will be used to refuel
helicopters and attack jets such as the F/A-18 and the AV-8B. Lockheed
Aeronautical Systems Co. is based in Marietta, GA.
LONGBOW APACHE PASSES CRITICAL REVIEW; PRODUCTION PLANNING NEXT
The radar-equipped Longbow Apache program passed a critical design
review (CDR) in late October, clearing the way for production planning
by McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co. The CDR capped a five-month series
of "mini-reviews" to clear 126 of 130 formal design issues regarding
the Longbow upgrade. Successful completion of the CDR demonstrates
confidence in the design, the Army asserted.
NORTHROP ASSURED OF B-2 PROFIT EVEN IF PROGRAM HELD TO 15 AIRCRAFT
Northrop's B-2 development and production programs will be profitable
regardless of how many of the bombers are built, according to senior
company officials. If the program is curtailed at 15 operational
aircraft, the contract allows renegotiation, ensuring that the
company's earnings rate approximates what it would be for 75-aircraft
production run. When the B-2 contract was awarded to Northrop in 1981,
the Air Force anticipated building 132 bombers. As a result, the
company structured its facilities, tooling and personnel planning to
support a large, long-term, capital-intensive program.
SLINGSBY, NORTHROP TEAM FOR AIR FORCE'S EFS BUY
The U.K.'s Slingsby Aviation and Northrop teamed to compete for the Air
Force's Enhanced Flight Screener (EFS) aircraft procurement. Under the
agreement, Slingsby will act as prime contractor for both the aircraft
supply and the support contract, making the airframes in the U.K.
Northrop World Aircraft Services will perform final assembly, test and
delivery of the planes to the Air Force. Slingsby will offer its basic
T-67 Firefly trainer aircraft for the 125-plane program, but with a
bigger engine to accommodate the service's tougher requirements. The
Air Force wants to buy an off-the-shelf propeller-driven acrobatic-
certified aircraft with a stick and side-by-side seating to replace
aging T-41s.
TURKEY SEEKS MORE F-16s WITH ARAB, U.S. FUNDS
Three Persian Gulf countries and the United States will fund the bulk
of a major Turkish project to acquire a second batch of 80 F-16 fighter
aircraft under a joint program with General Dynamics. Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are set to extend $1 billion each
and the United States will contribute a further $500 million for the
Turkish deal, scheduled to start after 1994. The Turkish contribution
to the $4 billion fund would be $500 million. Under a joint program
with General Dynamics of Fort Worth, Texas, Turkish Aerospace Industry
(TAI) has already produced more than 75 F-16s out of a planned 152 to
be constructed by 1994 for the Turkish Air Force. The United States
has delivered eight fully operational F-16s to Turkey as part of this
first $4.5 billion consignment of 160 planes.
AVIONICS:
HUGHES VISION SYSTEM BOOSTS TARGET DETECTION
Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Electro-Optical and Data Systems Group, El
Segundo, CA, has developed a high-performance helicopter night vision
system that promises to improve the ability of pilots to detect targets
at longer ranges. The system, dubbed Hi-Mag, would provide pilots with
high-magnification capability required for long-range target
identification and a wide field of view to allow safe flying at night
or in poor weather. It is an internally funded upgrade to the AAQ-16B
Hughes Night Vision System, which has been in production since 1984.
The Hughes Night Vision System will be deployed on the V-22 Osprey
tilt-rotor aircraft.
ITT, UNISYS-TRW COMPETE IN INTRA-FLIGHT DATA LINK PROGRAM
Competing in the development phase of the Air Force's Intra-Flight Data
Link (IFDL) program are ITT Avionics and a team on Unisys and TRW. One
of the competitors will be chosen late next year to proceed with
development and production of the system, which is intended to provide
new capabilities to transfer data from one aircraft to another. ITT
and Unisys-TRW received their contracts Sept. 9 from the AF's Avionics
Lab, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. ITT got $19.6 million and Unisys got
$14.4 million. Unisys said its contract marks evolution of data link
technology into a new communication application to be used on current
and next-generation tactical aircraft.
SILICON GRAPHICS UNVEILS GEAR
Silicon Graphics Inc. unveiled recently a new family of computer
graphics work stations designed for a variety of military and
commercial simulation tasks. The graphics computers, called
POWERVision VGXT, are based on technology developed for the company's
SkyWriter image generators. SkyWriter, introduced last April, is an
image generator that Silicon Graphics hopes to offer for the U.S.
Army's Close Combat Tactical Trainer program, a potential multibillion-
dollar effort to develop a network of simulators for artillery, tanks
and eventually helicopters. With the POWERVision work stations just
announced, Silicon Graphics, Mountain View, CA, can offer entry-level
simulation systems for the relatively low cost of $79,000.
U.K. TAPS MARCONI UNIT FOR SUPPLY OF DRFD
The British Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract for the supply
of Demolition Remote Firing Devices (DRFD) by Marconi Radar and Control
Systems, Frimley, the United Kingdom. The quantity of devices was not
revealed by the company. The DRFD has been developed jointly by
Marconi Radar and Control Systems and Marine Air Systems, New Zealand.
Engineered to fit into standard British Army webbing and primarily for
use by engineers, the system consists of a handheld transmitter that
can activate demolition charges. This can be achieved at ranges up to
2 kilometers (1.25 miles) in the most difficult conditions and at
significantly greater distances in open terrain or from helicopters.
WALTON RADAR SYSTEMS DEVELOPS VOICE DATA INTERFACE
Walton Radar Systems of Hampshire, England, has developed a voice data
interface that will allow airports to integrate voice, radar and radar
console settings data on the same medium to benefit training, accident
and incident investigations. The data is recorded digitally on a
single 8-mm. Exabyte Corp. cassette, which can store more than 24 hr.
of data from 20 radar sites. The voice interface should work with any
standard analog system, according to the company. The interface was
designed to be compatible with the company's Hindsight air traffic
control radar recording system. The first Hindsight system with voice
recording option is to be installed at the Canadian Forces Base at
Goose Bay, Labrador.
MISSILES:
AEROSPATIALE AS30L MISSILE TO BE QUALIFIED ON F-16
Aerospatiale's AS30L laser-guided air-to-surface missile will be
qualified on the General Dynamics F-16, and discussions are under way
to fit it on other combat aircraft. This qualification will be an
important step in Aerospatiale's goal to widen the number of fighters
capable of delivering the solid-propellant missile. The French company
has been seeking manufacturers that would share the costs of qualifying
the AS30L on their aircraft. The AS30L is used primarily on aircraft
produced by France's Dassault Aviation, which has been unable to make a
major military export sale for several years. It flies at speeds of
about Mach 1.3, has a range of about 10 km. (6.2 miles) and maintains
its velocity up to the point of impact.
AIR FORCE LAUNCHES CLASSIFIED PAYLOAD ON TITAN IV
A Titan IV booster was successfully launched from Space Launch Complex-
4 East at Vandenberg AFB, CA, with a classified military payload. The
payload is believed to be a Lacrosse imaging radar intelligence
satellite. The classified satellite should be located at an altitude
of about 500 kilometers, but observers haven't determined its
inclination.
CENTAUR TRANSISTOR CONCERNS HOLD ATLAS 2
The venerable Centaur upper stage, used on 70 Atlas rockets launches to
data, experienced another setback last week when General Dynamics
delayed the first Atlas 2 launch because of concerns about electronics
in the Centaur's navigation system.
FIBERTEK TO SUPPORT ERINT-1 FLIGHT TESTS
Fibertek, a division of Alcoa Composites located in Springville, UT,
will support the ERINT-1 missile flight test program under terms of a
contract awarded by Dallas-based LTV Corp. The value of the contract
was not yet disclosed. Fibertek will develop, tool and fabricate
composite launch tubes for LTV's ERINT-1 missile, which is designed to
intercept and destroy tactical ballistic missiles. The square-shaped
launch tubes will be constructed primarily from a graphite/epoxy
material.
LORAL'S SRAW HITS TARGET FOR FIRST TIME IN TESTS
The U.S. Marine Corps' Short-Range Antitank Weapon (SRAW), a 15-pound
portable tank killer, successfully hit a moving target for the first
time. Conducted at the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA, the test
flight met all its objectives. These objectives were to test launch
and flight sequence, speed, control force margins, flight vibration,
autopilot stability and inertial sensor performance. Since last 1990,
the SRAW has successfully hit two stationary targets, and Loral plans
to fire six more missiles by February.
TWO FIRMS SIGN CONTRACT FOR NEW LAUNCH VEHICLE
International MicroSpace and Bristol Aerospace Ltd. have signed a
contract to begin development of the Orbital Express launch vehicle.
The Orbital Express, planned to make its first launch in mid-1993, is
intended to cut costs on microsatellite payloads of 400 pounds or less
for the U.S. Defense Department or other government and commercial
customers. International MicroSpace, headquartered in Herndon, VA, has
organized a team to develop the new launch vehicle that includes
Bristol Aerospace Ltd., Winnipeg, Canada; Thiokol Corp., Ogden, Utah;
and Saab Space, Linkoping, Sweden. Bristo Aerospace will service the
principal contract to International MicroSpace.
SATELLITES:
EC BREAKS COMMUNICATIONS MONOPOLIES
The European Community recently agreed to deregulate its satellite
communications industry by ending the monopoly status of the government
agencies that have long held a stranglehold on Europe's space-based
communications. European Community (EC) officials said the move likely
will result in a free market for national and international satellite
communications in Europe within two years. The satellite
communications industry, they said, will face fewer regulatory barriers
in Europe than in the United States, which for 20 years has been a
free-market beacon.
ESA TURNS TO SATELLITES TO MONITOR AFRICAN ENVIRONS
The European Space Agency (ESA) of Paris expects to be operating a
satellite communications network for environmental control in Africa in
February 1992. The information will be sent via an Intelsat satellite
and will be received by a very small aperture terminal with a 2.5-meter
(8.2-foot) dish. The system will be installed in Kenya, Zimbabwe and
Ghana. ESA's Direct Information Access Network for Africa, called
Diana, will transmit data on droughts, crop failures and desert locust
movement collected by the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization in Rome. The first Diana system will be commissioned at
the Earth station in Fucino, Italy, which is operated by Telespazio of
Rome for ESA. Telespazio will operate the Diana network.
JAPAN BIDS TO ENTER COMMERCIAL LAUNCH MARKET
Rocket Systems Corp. of Japan has entered the commercial launch
business with a bid to launch Inmarsat-3 satellites using Japan's yet-
to-fly H-2 booster. Industry analysts and satellite operating
companies welcomed the added competition but questioned whether Japan
could compete on price. They also predicted it would be difficult to
break an agreement that allows only two H-2 launches a year at Japan's
Tanegashima launch site.
SCHAEFFER MAGNETICS WINS MUSES B CONTRACTS
Schaeffer Magnetics of Chatsworth, CA, will supply key pieces of
hardware for a Japanese scientific spacecraft that will monitor radio
sources in remote regions of the universe. The Institute of Space and
Astronautical Science is overseeing the project, which culminates in a
1995 launch of two Muses B spacecraft from southern Japan. Nippon
Electric Co. of Tokyo is the satellite prime contractor. Schaeffer
will build the solar array drive and the antenna positioning mechanism
for Muses B for delivery at the end of 1992. The total value of the
contracts is $1 million.
SERVICES SAY INTEREST HIGH FOR LIGHTWEIGHT SATELLITES
While the debate continues over the need for a new breed of small
satellites for military tactical users, several small research programs
are pushing the idea forward. The U.S. Marines provided a wartime test
of an experimental communications satellite during Desert Storm. The
same satellite also was used to restock supplies such as food, water,
medical supplies and fuel at McMurdo Station, a scientific base in
Antarctica, during the summer there. Another seven small military
communications satellites launched last summer are entering the test
phase and, despite their failure to achieve the desired orbit, they
have elicited considerable interest. The idea of small, lightweight
satellites that could be launched quickly in a crisis emerged a few
years ago, and was controversial from the start. Called lightsats by
proponents, the idea was to make satellites accessible to tactical
commanders without burdening the existing military constellations.
Opponents called them cheapsats and suggested that it was wasteful for
field commanders to expect to control their own space systems.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ATLANTIS CREW WILL TEST SPACE STATION BIOREACTOR THIS MONTH
Astronauts plan to test a biotechnology device that could dramatically
improve the ability of scientists to grow tissue for disease research
and replacement in the human body during a 10-day flight of the Space
Shuttle Atlantis this month. Although no biological material will be
included on STS-44, a DOD mission to deploy a Defense Support Program
early warning satellite and carry out a largely military program of
experiments, the crew will conduct 16 experiments with NASA's Slow-
Turning Lateral Vessel (STLV) to verify computer simulations of the
bioreactor's performance in microgravity.
MDC'S SPACE SYSTEMS UNIT WINS FREEDOM CONTRACT MOD
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. won a $46.25 million modification
to an existing Space Station Freedom contract with Johnson Space Center
covering software testing and several Ada compilers. The first part of
the modification, the Integration, Test and Verification Environment,
will test software in its target environment, control and execute
simulations during testing and control the test environment and data
analysis. Under the second part of the award, the company will provide
Ada compilers for the Space Station Data Management System, delivering
110 Standard Data Processor compilers and 17 multiplexer/demultiplexer
compilers. Both will be derived from commercially available systems.
SHUTTLE TRIP GIVES BEVY OF SDIO DATA
Strategic defense experiments conducted during a May flight of the
space shuttle Discovery made major contributions toward the designs of
sensors that could detect and track enemy nuclear missiles and
warheads. During an eight-day mission for the U.S. Defense Department,
Discovery's astronauts conducted an around-the-clock series of
experiments and observations. A set of instruments, temporarily set
loose in space, made detailed measurements of the shuttle's engines as
they fired. The astronauts also made observations of chemicals and
gases released into space. SDIO's experiments cost $97 million. The
U.S. Air Force also has a separate set of military space experiments
aboard the STS-39 mission.
SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ENGINE FAILS RECERTIFICATION TEST
The first production engine for the Space Shuttle Endeavour recently
failed a re-certification test firing after NASA technicians at Stennis
Space Center failed to properly reassemble part of the engine. The
failure is not expected to delay Endeavour's first flight set for next
May because the space agency has three other engines which are
certified and ready for installation into the Orbiter. However, the
incident leaves NASA without a spare main engine for the Orbiter until
it can be fixed and recertified, a process that should take at least
five weeks.
#
|
| 20.134 | 11/18, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Nov 27 1991 00:26 | 571 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 006643
Date: 25-Nov-1991 05:13pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 11/18, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of November 18, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
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For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 18, 1991
GENERAL:
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFTS PLANS LAYOFFS
HUGHES DIVERSIFIES, BUT WILL REMAIN STRONG IN DEFENSE
LOCKHEED SANDERS TO SELL JAPAN FOURTH PATRIOT TRAINER SYSTEM
MARINES OPT FOR ITT'S BATTLEFIELD RADIO
NEW CRAY SUPERCOMPUTER SAID TO RUN FOUR TIMES FASTER
ROCKWELL THIRD QUARTER NOTES GAIN OVER LAST YEAR
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ASSEMBLY OF EFA PROTOTYPES UNDER WAY
B-2 TEST PROGRAM REMAINS ON TRACK TO MEET AERO-STRUCTURAL MILESTONES
BRITISH, U.S. TEAM OFFERS SLINGSBY FIREFLY AS CANDIDATE
F-16 WINS ON CAPITAL HILL
ITALIAN SEA TRIALS
NAVY CITES SCHEDULE TO JUSTIFY GE AS SOLE SOURCE FOR E/F ENGINE
RESERVE UNIT BECOMES FIRST TO FLY F100-220E-POWERED F-16s
AVIONICS:
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TO BENEFIT FROM NEW DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR
LITTON WINS F-16 UPGRADE CONTRACT FROM THE DUTCH
LOCKHEED SANDERS, TRACOR GET CONTRACTS FOR JAMMER
MISSILES:
APPROPRIATIONS CONFEREES RESTORE $400 MILLION FOR TITAN IV
HARMS FOR ITALY, MAVERICKS FOR TURKEY
JAVELIN UP $562 MILLION
MARTIN MARIETTA DEVELOPING NEW PATRIOT LAUNCHER SYSTEM
MCDONNELL CONTINUES JOB ON THE TOMAHAWK MISSILE
RAYTHEON BEGINS PRODUCTION OF MAVERICK MISSILES
SATELLITES:
ALTAIR PASSES CONCEPT REVIEW
ANIK D2 SATELLITE TO REACH NEW ORBIT
ENTREPRENEUR KICKS OF SATELLITE RADIO SERVICE
FOLLOW-ON WARNING SATELLITE APPROVED BY AUTHORIZATION CONFEREES
LAST INTELSAT 6 COMPLETES DEPLOYMENT
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT GODDARD ON EOS EARTH STATION
FAULTY IMU FORCES ATLANTIS LAUNCH SCRUB, ESTIMATED WEEK'S DELAY
GALILEO RETURN FIRST ASTEROID IMAGES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT PLANS LAYOFFS
Douglas Aircraft plans to lay off an additional 1,500 employees as the
company pulls back on MD-11 and MD-80 production rates in response to
the commercial transport market downturn. The latest round of layoffs,
also being undertaken to cut costs, will bring to 10,500 the number of
Douglas employees laid off since early 1990. While the previous 9,000
layoffs essentially involved indirect employees, the latest actions
primarily will affect production workers. Douglas has about 39,000
employees in California. The company plans to build only about 100 MD-
80 aircraft in 1992 after building 108 of the twinjets during the first
three quarters of this year.
HUGHES DIVERSIFIES, BUT WILL REMAIN STRONG IN DEFENSE
Hughes Aircraft Co.'s effort to diversify into non-defense markets,
launched three years ago, is accompanied by diversification in defense,
a Hughes executive recently announced. They said that the moves will
make them not only a stronger company overall but a stronger defense
contractor as well. Hughes, which has spent about $2 billion on
diversification since 1988, $1 billion on acquisitions and $1 billion
on asset purchases and R & D, has some advantages. Hughes defense
business will remain strong because of the increasing role for advanced
electronic technologies and the likelihood that, while fewer new
platforms will be produced, existing aircraft, ships and missiles will
be updated, company officials said.
LOCKHEED SANDERS TO SELL JAPAN FOURTH PATRIOT TRAINER SYSTEM
Lockheed Sanders will provide a fourth upgraded Patriot Operator
Tactics Trainer (OTT) system for the Japan Air Self Defense Force under
a $7.6 million contract with Tokyo Electron Ltd. The contract calls
for delivery of the fourth OTT with associated spares to Japan in
October 1992. The system enables one instructor to train eight
students simultaneously in the operation of the Patriot air defense
system. The OTT's central processing units will be upgraded and
obsolete components will be replaced to reduce life cycle support
costs. The company also plans to use off-the-shelf hardware for the
OTT and make software changes that it said will reduce maintenance
costs.
MARINES OPT FOR ITT'S BATTLEFIELD RADIO
The U.S. Marine Corps has selected ITT Defense's battlefield radios,
partly because ITT's competitor, General Dynamics, has fallen six
months behind schedule in developing its radio. The Corps plans to buy
the first of its planned 25,000 Single Channel Ground and Airborne/
Communications Division, Fort Wayne, Ind. But the Marine Corps may not
buy all of its radios from ITT. There may be a competition for some of
the radios after a second version of the SINCGARS radio enters
production at General Dynamics Electronic Systems Division, San Diego.
The GD radio is slated to begin field testing in January, six months
after difficulties postponed tests scheduled for the summer. The
difficulties and delays also will cost GD $142 million to complete
development.
NEW CRAY SUPERCOMPUTER SAID TO RUN FOUR TIMES FASTER
A new Cray supercomputer with 16 central processing units (CPUs)
operates four times faster that the fastest Cray previously built.
Dubbed the Cray Y-MP C90, the new machine should speed the run time for
complex aerospace equations accordingly, with an airflow simulation
that took four hours on an eight-CPU Cray Y-MP requiring only one hour.
Cray said the new system has a peak performance of 16 billion floating-
point operations per second (Gflop/s), and has set per-CPU benchmarks
on such computational fluid dynamics packages as FEDAP, FLO57 and
FLUENT twice as fast as those produced by CPUs on earlier Cray
products. Seven of the systems have already been ordered, with one
more letter of intent signed. Customers include the Navy's Fleet
Numerical Oceanography Center, the Pittsburg Supercomputing Center and
the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading,
England.
ROCKWELL THIRD QUARTER NOTES GAIN OVER LAST YEAR
Rockwell International Corp., El Segundo, CA, generated net income of
$152.4 million from July 1 to September 30, an increase of 14 percent
over the level for the same three-month period in 1990. The increase
primarily is attributed to the sale of its Network Transmission Systems
Division for $203 million. That income was offset by a $186 million
write off because of business restructuring. For the one-year period
ending September 30, Rockwell had a net income of $600.5 million, a
drop of 4 percent from the same period one year earlier. Sales for the
one-year period were $11.9 billion, down from $12.4 billion for the
one-year period ending September 30. NASA contracts provided 17
percent of 1991 sales.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ASSEMBLY OF EFA PROTOTYPES UNDER WAY
Assembly of the first and second European fighter aircraft (EFA)
prototypes is proceeding in parallel in the United Kingdom and Germany,
with first flight of the four-nation fighter expected in mid-1992. EFA
prototype P01, being assembled at Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm's
facility at Ottobrunn, is scheduled to fly first from MBB's flight test
center at Manching in southern Germany, with the second prototype - P02
- to follow shortly after at British Aerospace's Warton Aerodrome.
Both development aircraft are said to be in similar condition on their
respective assembly lines. In Warton, the wings have been mated to the
fuselage, the tail and gear doors have been fixed in place, and
employees are working on systems installation. Still to be mated to
the fuselage is the aircraft's canard.
B-2 TEST PROGRAM REMAINS ON TRACK TO MEET AERO-STRUCTURAL MILESTONES
The Air Force/Northrop B-2 flight and ground test program will meet
this year's predetermined milestones, despite the recent Pentagon and
congressional preoccupation with low observables testing and results.
Next year's objectives should be achieved as well, although a possible
increase in the priority of conventional weapon testing could
complicate scheduling, according to combined test force officials.
With three aircraft at Edwards AFB, CA, the test team had compiled
327.8 hr. on 77 flights by Nov. 1. Approximately 8% of the planned
flight testing hours have been completed, and USAF officials were quick
to highlight the productivity of this test time.
BRITISH, U.S. TEAM OFFERS SLINGSBY FIREFLY AS CANDIDATE
Slingsby Aviation and Northrop World Aircraft Services have formed a
team to offer the Slingsby T-67 260M Firefly as a candidate for the
U.S. Air Force elementary flight training program. For the enhanced
flight screener (EFS) competition, the Firefly training and aerobatic
aircraft has been equipped with a 260-hp. Textron Lycoming piston
engine. The aircraft underwent operational evaluations at Wright-
Patterson AFB, Ohio, and in hot/high conditions last summer at the U.S.
Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The Air Force has a requirement
for 125 aircraft and full contractor logistic support. The contract is
scheduled to be awarded in February. 1992, with deliveries scheduled to
begin in July, 1992, and to be completed in early 1995.
F-16 WINS ON CAPITOL HILL
The F-16 emerges as the big winner in the 1992 defense appropriations
bill completed recently, which otherwise differs little from the
defense authorization bill completed Nov. 1. Budget negotiators
rejected a proposal by the House and Senate Armed Services committees
to restart the F-117A production line, congressional sources say. The
appropriators acceded to Air Force requests to do without more stealth
fighters, opting instead for one more year of F-16 production.
Authorization conferees approved $560 million for production of the
first four aircraft. In other tactical aircraft developments,
congressional appropriators endorsed authorization proposals for 48 F-
16s in 1992, while increasing the long lead aircraft to be bought in
1993 from 24 to 48 planes.
ITALIAN SEA TRIALS
Agusta-built Naval prototype of the Augusta/Westland EH101 helicopter
has concluded technical and operational tests on board the light
aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi in Taranto Bay, Italy. The tests
were the first in which the EH101 and vertical takeoff AV-8B Harrier 2
were assessed together in an operational environment. The trials were
designed to asses aircraft handling during approach, landing and
takeoff, deck handling, recovery to hangar and all interface features.
Similar trials were conducted on the guided-missile cruiser Andrea
Doria.
NAVY CITES SCHEDULE TO JUSTIFY GE AS SOLE SOURCE FOR E/F ENGINE
More than four months after making its decision, the Navy has for the
first time publicly justified sticking with General Electric to power
the stretched version of the F/A-18 Hornet, contending that would-be
rivals Allison and Pratt & Whitney wouldn't have been able to meet the
development schedule. The Navy plans to buy 24 F414-GE-400 engines to
carry out a 10,000 hour ground test program and 21 additional engines
for flight testing and is in the process of negotiating a contract for
those engines with GE. Flight testing can't start any later than the
second quarter of fiscal 1995, which means the first engine must go to
test in the second quarter of fiscal 1993. Rivals Allison and P & W
spent much of the spring trying to show the government that they had
mature engines to offer, and officials of both companies maintain their
programs would have been ready if called.
RESERVE UNIT BECOMES FIRST TO FLY F100-220E-POWERED F-16s
Pratt & Whitney's F100-PW-220E turbofan engine has started operational
service, with the Air Force Reserve's 482nd Tactical Fighter Group,
Homestead AFB, FL, becoming the first F-16 unit to reach operational
status with the engine, P & W recently reported. The -220E engine is
the result of fitting older F100s with P & W -designed kits which add
the latest electronic engine controls, high-temperature materials and
improved components. Using the kits, the Air Force can upgrade engines
in its F-15 and F-16 fleets to the -220 standard for about a quarter of
the cost of buying new -220 turbofans.
AVIONICS:
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TO BENEFIT FROM NEW DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR
The National Weather Service dedicated a Doppler weather radar here
recently that will be the first of 115 new systems to provide aviation
weather data directly to air traffic controllers. The radar is known
as the Weather Service Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D). It was produced
by Unisys Defense Systems, Inc., and was previously known as the Next-
Generation Weather Radar (Nexrad). The system was developed to detect
and provide more timely warnings of severe weather, such as tornadoes,
hail, high winds, flash floods and other destructive phenomena. The
WSR-88D system will replace the current 1950s-vintage network of non-
Doppler weather radars. Signal processing and the Doppler radar give
the new system impressive performance.
LITTON WINS F-16 UPGRADE CONTRACT FROM THE DUTCH
Litton's Guidance & Control Systems Division has won a contract to
upgrade the Netherlands' fleet of 160 F-16 fighter aircraft with new
navigation systems. The Inertial Navigation Units, called LN-93s, are
already fitted to F-16s operated by the U.S. Air Force, Egypt and
Israel.
LOCKHEED SANDERS, TRACOR GET CONTRACTS FOR JAMMER
Lockheed Sanders Inc. and Tracor Aerospace Inc. have been awarded
contracts from the U.S. Navy for advanced development of an expendable
electronic jammer called the Straight Through Repeater Antenna
Performance, or STRAP, jammer. The disposable jammer will be dropped
from aircraft to confuse the radars and missiles of enemy antiaircraft
systems. Tracor, based in Austin, TX, was awarded a $3.8 million
contract, while Lockheed Sanders, based in Nashua, N.H., was awarded a
$4.5 million contract.
MISSILES:
APPROPRIATIONS CONFEREES RESTORE $400 MILLION FOR TITAN IV
Defense appropriations conferees restored $400 million cut by the House
from the troubled Titan IV heavy launch vehicle program so that work
can continue on the Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade, but directed the Air
Force to continue to study alternatives in case the SRMU can't be made
to work. Conferees also ordered a delay in SRMU production to
eliminate concurrency in the program, which has been hampered by
testing explosions of the composite-case solid boosters, and directed
the DOD Inspector General to determine to what extent, if any, the
fixed price development contract contributed to the current
unsatisfactory program status.
HARMS FOR ITALY, MAVERICKS FOR TURKEY
DOD wants to sell Italy $20 million worth of HARM missiles and Turkey
$60 million worth of Maverick missiles, the Pentagon recently
announced. Under the proposed sale, Italy would get 74 AGM-88 HARM
anti-radar missiles, plus support equipment and logistics, for use on
its Tornado aircraft. Texas Instruments would provide the missiles and
the Navy would manage the sale. Turkey would receive 350 Mavericks,
plus launchers, tech rep services and logistics for its F-16 aircraft.
Hughes Aircraft and Raytheon Co. would compete for the procurement,
which the Air Force would manage. Congress has 60 days to disapprove
the sales, or through inaction, allow them to take place.
JAVELIN UP $562 MILLION
The Pentagon's quarterly Selected Acquisition Reports, recently
released, show a cost increase of $562 million on the Javelin anti-tank
system, as well as initial reports on the baseline cost estimates for
the Advanced-Air-to-Air Missile, BAT acoustic-guided anti-tank weapon,
and Stingray laser protection system. The SARs, which are reported for
the top 96 weapons or systems acquisition programs at the Pentagon,
reflect cost increases of 15% over program baselines or a delay of six
months or more in their schedules over the quarter. During the quarter
ended September 30, 96 programs increased a collective $756.9 million
to $845.6 billion.
MARTIN MARIETTA DEVELOPING NEW PATRIOT LAUNCHER SYSTEM
Martin Marietta's Electronics, Information and Missile Group has
started developing an upgraded Patriot launcher in a deal that could be
worth as much as $28 million. The 36-month cost-plus-incentive-fee
contract from Patriot prime Raytheon Co. calls for design, fabrication
and testing of two prototype launchers and two additional units for
transition to production. The deal could lead to a production contract
for 120 launchers starting in 1994. The new launcher will be 20 feet
shorter and 18,000 pounds lighter than the existing system, and will be
transportable on C-141 aircraft.
MCDONNELL CONTINUES JOB ON THE TOMAHAWK MISSILE
McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co., St. Louis, has received a $14.7
million contract to continue as the weapon systems engineering and
integration leader for the Tomahawk cruise missile. Under the terms of
the contract, McDonnell Douglas will be responsible for ensuring that
all elements of the weapon system, including the missile, fire control
system, weapon control system, launch platform integration, flight
software and mission planning, are compatible. Although McDonnell
Douglas competes against General Dynamics' Convair Division, San Diego,
for production of Tomahawk, McDonnell Douglas has been the engineering
agent for the missile program since 1983.
RAYTHEON BEGINS PRODUCTION OF MAVERICK MISSILES
Raytheon will begin building 5,300 infrared-guided Maverick missiles
ordered by the U.S. Air Force in July now that the General Accounting
Office has rejected a protest lodged against the contract by Hughes
Aircraft Co. Hughes protested the use of some subcontractors its
officials said were new to the program. The $265 million contract is
the largest single Maverick award Raytheon has won and was awarded for
replacing missiles used in Desert Storm. The contract will fund nearly
three years of production at plants in Bristol and Chattanooga, Tenn.
Loral Infrared & Imaging Systems in Lexington, Mass., will build
SATELLITES:
ALTAIR PASSES CONCEPT REVIEW
The Altair strategic defense experiment has passed an important
milestone, allowing experimenters to begin preliminary design of the
spacecraft, the U.S. Air Force Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force
Base, N.M. announced. Altair would consist of an automated satellite
that would spend a year in orbit. It would demonstrate technologies
and techniques crucial for using space-based lasers as missile defense
weapons. The 1995 experiment, sponsored by the U.S. Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization, replaced Starlab, a set of sophisticated laser
experiments that was to have been flown aboard a U.S. space shuttle in
1992. Starlab was canceled after the program encountered delays and
large cost overruns.
ANIK D2 SATELLITE TO REACH NEW ORBIT
Canada's Anik D2 satellite will reach its new orbit at 82% West
longitude on about December 1 and start relaying communications traffic
for its new U.S. user four days later. Anik D2, owned by Telesat
Canada of Glouster, Ontario, was leased to GE American Communications
Inc., a private U.S. satellite operator in Princeton, N.J. The deal,
completed November 7, was made because GE's Satcom F4 spacecraft is
experiencing telemetry problems. Use of the Anik D2 will revert back
to Telesat in April 1993. At that point, the spacecraft will be placed
into an inclined orbit and continue to relay domestic communications
traffic in Canada.
ENTREPRENEUR KICKS OF SATELLITE RADIO SERVICE
One of the first live, satellite-delivered radio entertainment services
in the United States became operational recently, broadcasting its
entertainment throughout the Northeastern portion of the country.
North East Satellite Entertainment (NESE), Rochester, N.Y., launched
its service on November 12, and is sending digital, satellite-delivered
programming from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. to 20 radio stations throughout
the region. NESE uplinks live programming from its Rochester
headquarters to the Satcom K3 Ku-bank satellite, owned and operated by
General Electric American Communications, Princeton, N.J. The
programming then is down linked to the NESE affiliates. The company
has no direct competitors providing the same service, according to
company officials.
FOLLOW-ON WARNING SATELLITE APPROVED BY AUTHORIZATION CONFEREES
The congressional defense authorization conferees agreed to the Air
Force's $82 million fiscal 1992 request for the satellite-based Follow-
on Early Warning System (FEWS), but demanded a report from the Air
Force on potential options for the program by April 1, 1992. It said
the 18-month demonstration/validation phase, scheduled to begin next
year, can proceed as planned. The conferees also said a planned
procurement of three Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites, which
FEWS would ultimately replace in the ballistic missile early warning
role, can proceed. The House authorized the AF's request for FY'92 and
the Senate called for a cut of $20 million, setting up an issue for the
conferees.
LAST INTELSAT 6 COMPLETES DEPLOYMENT, STARTS TESTING
The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat)
of Washington has completed the deployment of the Intelsat 6 satellite,
launched October 29 by an Ariane 44L rocket. The satellite consortium
of 121 member nations announced November 7 that the massive
communications satellite has started in-orbit testing. Upon completion
of the tests in about two months, the satellite will begin relaying
trans-Atlantic communications traffic from its orbital position 332.5
degrees East. The satellite, built by Hughes Space and Communications
Group of Los Angeles, is expected to operate in space for 14 1/2 years.
It is the fourth Intelsat 6 in orbit and the last to be launched.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT GODDARD ON EOS EARTH STATION
Construction on a $45 million, 190,000 square foot Earth Observing
System (EOS) ground control and data collection facility began on
November 22 with ceremonies at Goddard Space Flight Center, MD.
Planned for initial occupancy in 1994, the facility will employ about
550 workers when it is fully operational around the clock. Under
present plans, which are not expected to change in the EOS
restructuring now ongoing, the facility will control the EOS platforms
and receive the data that will be distributed through the EOS Data and
Information System (EOSDIS).
FAULTY IMU FORCES ATLANTIS LAUNCH SCRUB, ESTIMATED WEEK'S DELAY
Launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on a 10-day military mission was
scrubbed November 19 after two of the ten instruments in the inertial
measurement unit (IMU) of the Boeing Inertial Upper Stage (IUS)
registered faults about 15 minutes before the end of calibration and
alignment tests. The Launch Director said it could take about a week
to replace the unit with a flight certified spare and test it, although
an exact launch date won't be set until later. Boeing said its company
wants to understand the failure mode before attempting to place a $300
million Defense Support Program early warning satellite in
geosynchronous orbit with the IUS.
GALILEO RETURNS FIRST ASTEROID IMAGES
The Galileo spacecraft last week returned the first images taken of an
asteroid, and scientists already are surprised its features are less
angular than expected. Galileo returned three images of Gaspra taken 8
2/3 sec. apart with a green filter and violet and near-infrared
filters. The 12 x 8 x 7 mile size is slightly larger than expected.
The images were taken 10,000 miles away, giving a surface resolution of
about 520 ft. per pixel. Crater sizes range from almost a mile to the
resolution limit and have soft features, suggesting there may be
several meters of topsoil held by the body's 0.0005 g attraction. The
irregular shape suggests the asteroid is a fragment of a larger body,
and the last major collision could have been 300-500 million years ago.
|
| 20.135 | 11/25, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Dec 02 1991 23:37 | 416 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 006731
Date: 02-Dec-1991 05:07pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 11/25, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of November 25, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 25, 1991
GENERAL:
HUGHES TRACKING COMPUTER AWAITING 1993 SDI TEST
UNISYS ABANDONS DEFENSE SPIN-OFF PLANS
WAVETRACER OFFERS NEW COMPUTING SYSTEM
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
CITATION 10 WIND TUNNEL TESTS
F-16 SUCCESSOR
PRATT PW4000 ENGINE ATTAINS MORE THAN 69,000-LB. THRUST IN TESTS
ASIAN NATIONS INVESTING HEAVILY IN NEW AIRPORTS
AVIONICS:
E-SYSTEMS TO DEMONSTRATE COOPERATIVE ANGLE JAMMER ECM TECHNIQUE
NEW HELMET FOR PILOTS TO COMBINE NIGHT VISION AND HEAD-UP DISPLAY
MISSILES:
EER SYSTEMS SELECTED FOR NEXT CONSORT LAUNCH SERIES
EXTENDED RANGE ROCKET FOR MLRS MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
HELLFIRE MISSILE DELIVERY
ROCKET SYSTEMS CORP. OFFERS TO LAUNCH SATELLITES WITH H-2 ROCKET
THIOKOL CORP. CHOSEN TO JOIN MCDONNELL DOUGLAS THAAD TEAM
SATELLITES:
COMSAT UNIT TO PROVIDE CENTRAL AMERICAN SERVICES
DOD MISSILE WARNING SATELLITE DEPLOYED FROM ATLANTIS AS PLANNED
GERMANY, FRANCE PLEDGE DRS SUPPORT
JAPAN SETS LAUNCH
MEXICO TO ENTER MOBILE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ARENA
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COMPUTERS TO LAND 1993 SHUTTLE FLIGHT
DORNIER, JENOPTIK TEAM UP FOR SOVIETS' MARS CAMERA
EURECA PREPARATION SHIFTS TO FLORIDA AFTER OCEAN HOP
SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINES PASS HALF-MILLION-SECOND MARK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
HUGHES TRACKING COMPUTER AWAITING 1993 SDI TEST
Hughes Electro-Optical and Data Systems Group, El Segundo, CA, has
completed construction of a 39-pound computer that can track 100
objects in space simultaneously, for use in a 1993 Strategic Defense
Initiative experiment. Hughes' On-board Signal and Data Processor is a
component for the Midcourse Space Experiment which is to test sensors
that could be used to track enemy warheads while they are outside
Earth's atmosphere en route to their targets. The Hughes computer was
built for Utah State University, Logan, UT, which is fabricating an
infrared sensor to be carried aboard the satellite. The Utah State
instrument is called the Spatial Infrared Rocket-borne Interferometer
Telescope Three.
UNISYS ABANDONS DEFENSE SPIN-OFF PLANS
Unisys abandoned plans to spin off its defense business into a separate
company called Paramax, citing the roller-coaster stock market and the
questionable outlook for defense companies in general. Also, the
Administration announced its plans to cut strategic forces on the day
Unisys filed its notices on the Paramax spin-off with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
WAVETRACER OFFERS NEW COMPUTING SYSTEM
Wavetracer, Inc., of Acton, MA, is offering a massively parallel
computing system suitable for desk-side installation to work with UNIX-
based workstations from IBM, Sun Microsystems, Silicon Graphics and
Sony. The firm is also working on interfaces with Apple and Hewlett-
Packard systems. The 8 x 23 x 29 inch Zephyr computer system weighs
less than 80 lb. and can have 4,096 or 8,192 processors and 128-256
megabytes of memory. The system is capable of computing at 700 million
operations per second, which makes it suitable for transforming weather
images from satellite data and other data-intensive tasks.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
CITATION 10 WIND TUNNEL TESTS
Cessna Aircraft Co. engineers have completed a five-week series of
high-speed wind tunnel tests of the proposed Citation 10 business jet.
The tests indicated the aircraft's supercritical technology wing will
allow the aircraft to achieve a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.90,
and a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.88 at 37,000 ft. Engineers made
extensive use of computational fluid dynamics and the Boeing-derived
TRANAIR full-potential transonic program to design the wing. Low-speed
tests began recently at Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, and
should be completed by early December. First flight of a prototype is
tentatively planned for mid-1993.
F-16 SUCCESSOR
The multi-role fighter, an early 21st century replacement for the
USAF's F-16, now has a timetable for its early development.
Aeronautical Systems Div., Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, issued a request
for information by Jan. 15, to be followed by release of a draft
request for proposals for concept studies in April and a final RFP in
the summer of 1992. Officials have targeted concept exploration and
definition studies for June with contractor awards in January, 1993.
PRATT PW4000 ENGINE ATTAINS MORE THAN 69,000-LB. THRUST IN TESTS
Pratt & Whitney's PW4168, a powerplant scheduled for certification at
68,000-lb. thrust in 1993, has exceeded that level by 1,600-lb. thrust
in recent tests at East Hartford, CN. The powerplant will soon begin
altitude and performance testing at Pratt's Willgoos facility. The new
engine's fan is 100 in. in diameter, 6 in. larger than the fan in the
56,000-lb. -thrust version of the PW4000. The new engine also adds an
additional single stage to the four-stage low-pressure turbine. The
second PW4168 is to begin endurance tests in January at Pratt's West
Palm Beach, FL, facilities.
ASIAN NATIONS INVESTING HEAVILY IN NEW AIRPORTS
Asia is investing billions of dollars in new airport construction in
order to accomodate expected traffic growth and to stimulate tourist
and business travel. In the U.S. and Europe, the only airports nearing
the end of their construction are in Denver and Munich. In most Asian
countries, however, major airports are under construction or planned
for construction. According to McDonnell Douglas forecasts, passenger
traffic in the region will be roughly equal to that of the U.S. by the
year 2010. No Asian country wants to be strangled by inadequate air
access or debilitating air traffic delays during the period of pan-
Asian economic boom.
AVIONICS:
E-SYSTEMS TO DEMONSTRATE COOPERATIVE ANGLE JAMMER ECM TECHNIQUE
E-Systems Melpar Div., Falls Church, VA, received a $4.3 million
contract from Naval Air Systems Command for concept demonstration of
its Cooperative Angle Jammer electronic countermeasures technique to
protect tactical aircraft against modern enemy guided missiles. The
contract award marks a new entry for E-Systems into the active
electronic warfare business area. Active electronic countermeasures is
a market sector that shows promise over the coming years because of the
successes of similar equipment during Operations Desert Shield and
Desert Storm.
NEW HELMET FOR PILOTS TO COMBINE NIGHT VISION AND HEAD-UP DISPLAY
A team led by GEC Ferranti is developing a helmet for tactical fixed-
wing aircraft pilots that will include a built-in head-up display and
night vision devices. A pilot will see essential flight information
and night vision images projected onto the helmet's visor, and overlaid
on his direct view of the outside world, no matter which way he looks.
With the HUD information in constant view, a pilot should be able to
concentrate on his mission without having to look back into the cockpit
to scan flight instruments. GEC Ferranti's Display Systems Division in
Edinburgh, Scotland, will lead the overall system design, integration,
and qualification efforts. Pilkington Optronics of Wales will provide
the electro-optical expertise. Gaertner Research of Norwalk, Conn.,
recently acquired by GEC Ferranti, will develop an optical head-
tracking system for the helmet. Gentex Corp. of Carbondale, Penn.,
will design and manufacture the helmet itself.
MISSILES:
DOD MISSILE WARNING SATELLITE DEPLOYED FROM ATLANTIS AS PLANNED
The Air Force's Defense Support Program missile warning satellite's
Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster performed as expected on November 25
after the satellite's deployment from the Space Shuttle Atlantis almost
six-and-a-half hours after Atlantis embarked on its 10 day DOD mission.
Atlantis was launched from Kennedy Space Center early the morning of
the 24th. A week before, the mission was scrubbed after two of the 10
instruments in the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of the Boeing IUS
registered faults about 15 minutes before the end of calibration and
alignment tests. The Air Force said that the DSP guidance problem had
been solved by replacing the faulty IMU, and that the replacement
appeared to have no problems.
EER SYSTEMS SELECTED FOR NEXT CONSORT LAUNCH SERIES
EER Systems Corp. will provide three and possibly as many as seven
Starfire 1 launches for the Consortium for Materials Development in
Space under a contract recently announced by the University of Alabama
in Huntsville, where the consortium is based. The Vienna, VA, firm's
Space Services Division will provide the two-stage sounding rockets and
recover Consort microgravity payloads boosted to about 200 miles above
White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Average cost of a launch, funded
through NASA's Office of Commercial Programs under its Centers for the
Commercial Development of Space program, will be $1.45 million.
EXTENDED RANGE ROCKET FOR MLRS MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
First flight of a rocket that will give greater range to the Army's
Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) took place Nov 21 at White Sands
Missile Range, N.M., MLRS prime contractor LTV recently reported.
Meanwhile, the congressional defense authorization conferees added
money to the Army's fiscal year 1992 budget for the MLRS range
extension project, saying the service should give it priority. LTV
said the first of 12 prototype extended range rockets flew an
equivalent sea level range of 46 kilometers. The current MLRS rocket,
designated M77, has a comparable range of 32 km.
HELLFIRE MISSILE DELIVERY
Five hundred more Hellfire missile have been delivered to the U.S. Army
by Rockwell International. The Hellfire F is equipped with a dual
warhead to counter reactive armor. Deliveries of the new weapon will
total 3,766 missile in a contract valued at $97 million. In another
contract, Rockwell demonstrated a Hellfire laser seeker hardened
against electro-optical countermeasures. Design of a new circuit card
also allows software changes to counter new threats.
ROCKET SYSTEMS CORP. OFFERS TO LAUNCH SATELLITES WITH H-2 ROCKET
Japan's Rocket System Corp. said it will offer to launch two Satellite
Japan Corp. communications satellites with the H-2 rocket being
developed by the National Space Agency of Japan (NASDA). The first
satellite is scheduled for launch in 1994, Rocket System said. General
Electric Co., Hughes Communications, Aerospatiale and British Aerospace
are competing to supply satellites to Satellite Japan Corp., with a
contract expected to be awarded by the end of the year. The company
said it plans to promote use of the H-2 rocket to the competing
companies. Rocket System was formed in 1990 to purchase rocket parts
on behalf of NASDA.
THIOKOL CORP. CHOSEN TO JOIN MCDONNELL DOUGLAS THAAD TEAM
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. and Martin Marietta Electronics,
Information and Missiles Group selected Thiokol Corp. to join them in
competing for the Army Strategic Defense Command's Theater High
Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) contract. Pending negotiations, Thiokol
would be responsible for the boosters, a McDonnell Douglas official
said. The program is expected to result in a high altitude interceptor
capable of protecting a large area against tactical ballistic missiles.
SDC expects to release a request for proposals for the demonstration/
validation phase in the next few months. Teams lead by Hughes Aircraft
and Lockheed also plan to compete.
SATELLITES:
COMSAT UNIT TO PROVIDE CENTRAL AMERICAN SERVICES
Comsat Systems Division, Clarksburg, MD, has signed agreements with
telecommunications providers in Colombia and Guatemala to offer
international digital transmissions via satellite, the company
announced November 13. The transmissions, called international
business service, provide private digital service to meet the
telecommunications requirements of multinational corporations and other
users. The service will include high-speed data transfer, facsimile,
videoconferencing and private voice communications. In Colombia,
Comsat will work with Colombia Telecom to design, install and provide
marketing services for a C-band Earth station in Bogota. It will relay
transmissions over a trans-Atlantic satellite operated by the
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat) of
Washington. Service will begin in mid-1992.
GERMANY, FRANCE PLEDGE DRS SUPPORT
A billion-dollar data-relay satellite (DRS) system finally won
financial commitments from Germany and France. The system is to be
launched at the end of the century to relay information from the
European space plane, an environmental satellite and the space station
and ground teams. The Italian government, which is paying for about 40
percent of the program, had threatened to hold up other space programs
unless DRS, for which Alenia Spazio of Rome is prime contractor, was
given the promised financial support from Germany and France. The
French and German governments announced recently at a meeting of
European space ministers that they had agreed to pay 20 percent and 12
percent, respectively, of the DRS system. However, a decision to
develop DRS was postponed until late 1992.
JAPAN SETS LAUNCH
Japan has scheduled the next launch of its H-1 booster for Feb. 3 from
the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. Backup launch windows
range from Feb 4 through Feb. 29. The rocket will carry the Japan
Earth Resources Satellite (JERS-1), a joint project of the National
Space Development Agency and the powerful Ministry of International
Trade and Industry. The 1.4 metric-ton JERS-1 will be the largest
satellite Japan has launched. It will carry day/night synthetic
aperture radar and optical sensor systems for terrain imaging.
MEXICO TO ENTER MOBILE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ARENA
In a major step to become an active player in North America's mobile
satellite communications market, Mexico soon will create a private
consortium that will offer mobile services via Canadian and U.S.
satellites as well as over Mexico's next domestic spacecraft. The
consortium will sign an agreement with the Canadian and U.S. mobile
satellite operators to lease the equivalent of 10 percent of the
transmission capacity on one satellite. The agreement could be
completed by late November. Telesat Mobile Inc., the Canadian mobile
satellite operator, and its U.S. counterpart, American Mobile Satellite
Corp. of Washington, each plan to launch one mobile communications
satellite in 1994. The spacecraft will provide L-band transmission
capacity for mobile communications throughout North America. The
Mexican consortium also will have access to the mobile communications
link on Mexico's Solidaridad spacecraft.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COMPUTERS TO LAND 1993 SHUTTLE FLIGHT
A shuttle mission in 1993 will end with a hands-off, computer-
controlled landing to test an untried automated landing system, called
Autoland, that could be crucial for possibly disoriented pilots coming
home after long-duration space flights. The landing would be the first
for the U.S. space shuttle that would not be performed by the vehicle's
astronauts. The Soviet space shuttle Buran, by contrast, flew its
first and only flight with no crew, ending with a computer-controlled
landing. Shuttle flight control software has included the capability
for automated landings since the first flight in 1981. A hands-off
test of the system was scheduled for a 1985 mission, but it later was
called off. As it stands, the Autoland system has never been allowed
to fly a shuttle all the way to touchdown.
DORNIER, JENOPTIK TEAM UP FOR SOVIETS' MARS CAMERA
A Soviet spacecraft scheduled to be launched to Mars in late 1994 will
carry a high-resolution stereo camera built by Deutsche Aerospace's
Dornier of Friedrichshaven, Germany, with the help of a former East
German company. The government-funded German Aerospace Research
Establishment of Cologne is sponsoring the project, which will cost
almost 60 million deutsche marks ($37 million). The camera will have
nine channels, one able to detect objects on Mars as small as 10 meters
(33 feet) across and two that will provide stereoscopic images for
three-dimensional views of Mars. The camera also will convert images
into radio signals that will be stored temporarily on the spacecraft
and then sent on to Earth.
EURECA PREPARATION SHIFTS TO FLORIDA AFTER OCEAN HOP
The European Retrievable Carrier spacecraft, arrived November 4 at
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for its trip
aboard the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis in July 1992. The spacecraft,
called Eureca, will be released into space by the shuttle and remain in
orbit for 10 months, carrying a variety of microgravity experiments.
On a subsequent mission, Atlantis will bring Eureca back to Earth in
1993. The European Space Agency is in charge of Eureca, which was
built at Deutsche Aerospace's MBB-Erno plant in Bremen, Germany. A
Lufthansa Boeing 747 transported Eureca from Cologne to Cape Canaveral,
and the spacecraft was then sent to a Titusville, FL, facility for
integration.
SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINES PASS HALF-MILLION-SECOND MARK
The U.S. space shuttle program passed a statistical milestone when a
shuttle main engine was fired for 420 seconds at NASA's Stennis Space
Center in Bay St. Louis, Miss. The test pushed the total accumulated
firing time for all engines past 500,000 seconds, the equivalent of 320
shuttle flights. This total was achieved during more than 1,900
firings since the first test of a shuttle main engine in June 1975.
About 65,000 seconds of the total time was gained during the 43 shuttle
launches to date. Each space shuttle uses the thrust from three main
engines, along with two solid-fueled boosters, to reach Earth orbit in
about eight minutes.
|
| 20.136 | 12/02, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Dec 11 1991 19:12 | 530 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 006901
Date: 09-Dec-1991 03:41pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 12/02, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of December 2, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 2, 1991
GENERAL:
GTE WINS ARMY CONTRACT FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HONEYWELL SPACE SYSTEMS WINS SDI CONTRACT
NEW HUGHES COMPUTER HAS SDI APPLICATIONS
SIMTEK DELIVERS nvSRAMs
SPAR, PRIOR DATA TEAM UP FOR SPACE SOFTWARE SYSTEM
THINKING MACHINES INTRODUCES CONNECTION MACHINE 5
U.S. NAVY SELECTS IBM FOR MINE DETECTION WORK
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE F-16s BEGIN USE OF NEW PRATT ENGINE
C-17 GROUND TESTING
GE UNIT IS DEVELOPING NEW TURBOFAN ENGINE
ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINES POWER NEW SWISS HAWKS
SHORTS WINS GEAR DOOR CONTRACT
U.K. INCREASES WARRIOR BUY
AVIONICS:
ARMY AWARDS PULAU TRAINER SUPPORT AWARD
CORYPHAEUS RECEIVES F-22 WORK
F-22 TRAINING SYSTEM
HONEYWELL DELIVERS IFOGs
HUGHES USES LIQUID CRYSTAL PROJECTION IN HIGHBRIGHT COCKPIT DISPLAY
MISSILES:
ARIANESPACE WINS SCC CONTRACT TO LAUNCH SUPERBIRD A SATELLITE
BONDED TECHNOLOGY WINS AGM-129A SUBCONTRACT
MILITARY WEATHER SATELLITE LAUNCHED ON ATLAS E
PEGASUS REMAINS GROUNDED
ROCKWELL BEGINS DELIVERY OF NEW HELLFIRE MISSILE
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL TEST ON AGCW
SATELLITES:
AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE TAPS COMMUNICATIONS ON AUSSAT
CANADIAN MARCONI TO DEVELOP NEW SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA
DOD AGREES TO FUND LANDSAT
FAIRCHILD SPACE MOVING INTO DELTA-CLASS SATELLITE MARKET
GE ASTRO-SPACE WILL BUILD SOUTH KOREA'S FIRST SATELLITE
NTT SELECTS SPACE SYSTEMS LORAL FOR SATELLITE CONTRACT
TOPEX/POSEIDON PROGRAM SPENDING RUNS 42% OVER INITIAL BUDGET
SPACE SYSTEMS:
NASA SAYS ATLANTIS IMU FAILURE WAS UNRELATED TO UPGRADE
NASA SWITCHES RECORDERS ON GRO AFTER BIT ERRORS HAMPER SCIENCE
NASP PROJECT FACES DELAY, POSSIBLE LAYOFFS IN 1992
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
GTE WINS ARMY CONTRACT FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
GTE Government Systems Corp. announced that it has won a 10 year
contract to modernize telecommunications systems at various U.S. Army
sites. The contract, initially worth $11.2 million and potentially
worth up to $573 million, was awarded by the Army's Communications-
Electronics Command, based in Fort Monmouth, N.J. GTE is based in
Needham, MA. Under the first stage of the contract, GTE Government
Systems Corp. will design and install new Integrated Services Digital
Network technology, slated to combine telephone, television and
computer communications in one network. The first site to receive the
new networks will be Carlisle Barracks, PA.
HONEYWELL SPACE SYSTEMS WINS SDI CONTRACT
The U.S. Air Force's Rome Laboratory, Rome, N.Y., has awarded
Honeywell's Space Systems Group a five-year, $25 million contract to
develop an easily modified computer system for the Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization, and NASA. Honeywell's Space Systems Group is
based in Clearwater, FL.
NEW HUGHES COMPUTER HAS SDI APPLICATIONS
A computer developed by Hughes Aircraft Co. is small enough to fit on a
surveillance satellite but capable of performing complex signal and
data processing functions required to simultaneously detect and tract
multiple targets in space. Developed by Hughes' Electro-Optical & Data
Systems Group, El Segundo, CA, the On-board Signal and Data Processor
is part of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's (SDIO)
Midcourse Space Experiment satellite. The computer is designed to
demonstrate the feasibility of space-based signal and data processing
for infrared sensors. Hughes announced that the computer will
demonstrate spaceborne signal processing for key SDIO programs such as
the Ground-based Surveillance and Tracking System.
SIMTEK DELIVERS nvSRAMs
Simtek Corp. of Colorado Springs, CO, is delivering two high-speed 64K-
bit nonvolatile static random access memories (nvSRAMs) in 28-pad
surface-mount leadless chip carriers. The nvSRAMs are arranged as 8K x
8 bit packages, and are available in speed versions of 30 nanosec., 35
nanosec. and 45 nanosec. The devices were designed for embedded
control applications where nonvolatile memories are important, such as
avionics, guidance systems and radar. Simtek's nvSRAM features both a
high-speed SRAM and an electrically erasable and programmable read-only
memory (EEPROM) in a single monolithic device.
SPAR, PRIOR DATA TEAM UP FOR SPACE SOFTWARE SYSTEM
Spar Aerospace Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario, intends to enter into a
business alliance with Prior Data Sciences of Ottawa to develop new
computer software for application in space and other types of
equipment. Spar also plans to acquire the majority ownership of Prior
Data's stock by early 1992. Spar is the prime contractor for Canada's
work on the international space station and for the Radarsat remote-
sensing spacecraft. Prior Data has developed software systems over the
past 14 years. Its software is used in air traffic control, space,
industry and command and control systems. The two companies intend to
increase their contracts in the commercial and government markets that
require advanced computer systems. The agreement is part of Spar's
strategy to increase its expertise in software systems, according to
the company's press release.
THINKING MACHINES INTRODUCES CONNECTION MACHINE 5
Thinking Machines Corp. of Cambridge, MA., has introduced the
Connection Machine 5 (CM-5), a massively parallel supercomputer that
offers performance up to a trillion operations per second (TeraFlops).
The computer uses standard SPARC reduced instruction set computer
(RISC) microprocessors with 22 million instructions per second
capability (MIPS). The U.S. Army's High Performance Computer Research
Center is scheduled to be one of the first CM-5 users.
U.S. NAVY SELECTS IBM FOR MINE DETECTION WORK
IBM's Federal Sector Division, Manassas, VA, has been awarded a $3.9
million contract by the Naval Underwater Systems Center, New London,
CT, to build a developmental model of the Advanced Mine Detection
System (AMDS). Under the terms of the contract, IBM will provide
engineering, design and development of the AMDS subsystem using very-
large-scale integration technology. Including four additional contract
options, the total value of the contract could exceed $5.5 million.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE F-16s BEGIN USE OF NEW PRATT ENGINE
U.S. Air Force F-16s recently began operations with the Pratt & Whitney
F100-PW-220E engine, an upgraded version of older F100 engines. The
first unit to achieve operational status with the upgraded engine was
the 482nd Tactical Fighter Group of the Air Force Reserve based at
Homestead Air Force Base, FL. The upgraded F100 has the latest
electronic engine controls, high-temperature materials and improved
components as the newer F100-PW-220 engines, at about the quarter of
the price of a new engine. Air Force plans call for converting 35
Reserve, Air National Guard and active duty F-16 units to the PW-220E.
C-17 GROUND TESTING
A nonflying C-17 is being readied for two years of extensive ground
tests at McDonnell Douglas' Long Beach, CA, facility. Ultimate load
condition testing will begin in late December, during which the
aircraft will be exposed to 1 1/2 times the maximum load expected in
actual flight. A second ground-test aircraft will begin durability
evaluations early next year. It will be subjected to the loads
encountered during two service lifetimes, company officials said. In
addition, control surfaces and landing gear are undergoing separate
static and durability testing.
GE UNIT IS DEVELOPING NEW TURBOFAN ENGINE
General Electric Aircraft Engines, Lynn, MA, is developing a new
turbofan engine for advanced fighters and trainers. Designated the
J101/SF, the engine features a maximum of 12,000 pounds thrust or 8,000
pounds thrust without the fuel-consuming afterburner. The vice
president of General Electric's Military Engine Operations said the
J101/SF would use technologies developed in the F404 and F110 fighter
engine families. It will weigh under 1,500 pounds, with a thrust-to-
weight ratio of 82 to 1.
ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINES POWER NEW SWISS HAWKS
Switzerland received final deliveries of its fleet of Rolls-Royce-
powered British Aerospace Hawk trainers in a ceremony last month. Each
of the Adour Mk861A engines powering the trainer features 5,730 pounds
of takeoff thrust. The engines were assembled in Switzerland by Sulzer
Bros. and seven other major Swiss companies.
SHORTS WINS GEAR DOOR CONTRACT
Short Brothers will build nose landing gear doors for the Boeing 777
under a multimillion-dollar contract. The Belfast-based concern is the
third U.K. company to win major business from Boeing on the new
transport program. The first doors, made from oven-cured composite
honeycomb, will be delivered in October, 1993. British-based GEC
Avionics will supply the fly-by-wire primary flight computers for the
aircraft, while Smiths Industries will develop and supply two major
avionics subsystems - the electrical load management and fuel quantity
indicating systems.
U.K. INCREASES WARRIOR BUY
The British government, facing a multi-million pound compensation
claim, said it will buy an additional 100 Warrior fighting vehicles
just three months after announcing order cuts. The vehicles, worth
more than 80 million pounds ($144 million), will be ordered from
Shropshire-based GKN in western England. Follow-on purchases are
likely. Last August the Ministry of Defence announced it would cut its
original order of 1,048 to fewer than 700 as a result of plans to scale
down the Army. GKN warned that it would seek compensation for lost
profit and possible redundancy payments.
AVIONICS:
ARMY AWARDS PULAU TRAINER SUPPORT AWARD
The U.S. Army's project manager for Training Devices has awarded PULAU
Electronics Corp., Chatsworth, CA, a $23 million contract to provide
contractor maintenance and supply transport for the service's Battle
Simulation Command and Control and Electronics Warfare Training
Systems. PULAU will provide logistics support annually for four years
for seven training and simulation systems that make up the network.
These systems include the Corps Battle Simulation System, the Non-
Communication Signal Recognition Trainer, the Army Training Battle
Simulation System, the Morse Mission Trainer and the Base Electronics
Maintenance Trainer. The contract is for one year but also contains
four one-year options.
CORYPHAEUS RECEIVES F-22 WORK
Prime contractors for the Air Force F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter will
rely on a software package created by Coryphaeus Software to design the
aircraft's instrument panels before the planes are built. The software
package creates a three-dimensional image on a computer screen of the
aircraft displays. Prime contractors Lockheed Aeronautical Systems
Co., Marietta, GA; General Dynamics' Fort Worth, TX, division; and
Seattle-based Boeing's Military airplanes Division will use the
software for engineering simulations to ensure that pilots can read
avionics displays and reach instruments.
F-22 TRAINING SYSTEM
The Boeing Defense & Space Group of Huntsville, AL, is developing the
F-22 training system. The $159 million package will begin an eight-
year effort to develop a maintenance training system, training
management systems, training systems support center, computer-based
training system, courseware and components of the pilot training
system. Besides the training system, Boeing is responsible for the
fighter's wings, aft fuselage, avionics development and testing, and
aircraft subsystems.
HONEYWELL DELIVERS IFOGs
Honeywell has delivered prototype interferometric fiber-optic gyros
(IFOGs) to Dornier for use as an attitude heading reference system
(AHRS) in its 328 regional transport. The new IFOG will be accurate to
1/2 deg. compared with 2 deg. for a spinning iron gyro in a mechanical
AHRS. The company expects IFOGs to have 100,000-hr. life and more than
50% reliability improvement. Initial production deliveries are
scheduled for January.
HUGHES USES LIQUID CRYSTAL PROJECTION IN HIGHBRIGHT COCKPIT DISPLAY
Hughes is demonstrating a color cockpit display that uses liquid
crystal projection technology, instead of CRT or direct-view liquid
crystal techniques. Advantages of the rear-projection display include
superior readability in sunlight, a wide gamut of saturated colors
unrestricted by phosphor choices, night vision goggle compatibility,
high color stability, a narrow bezel, and simple modification for a
variety of applications. The lack of a large, color, sunlight-readable
display has been a critical stumbling block in modern concepts of how
to present information to pilots.
MISSILES:
ARIANESPACE WINS SCC CONTRACT TO LAUNCH SUPERBIRD A SATELLITE
Arianespace recently announced that it has signed a contract with
Japan's Space Communications Corp. (SCC) to launch the Superbird A
telecommunications satellite at the end of 1992 from the Kourou Space
Center using an Ariane 4 launcher. Built by Space Systems Loral, Palo
Alto, CA, its weight at lift-off will be about 5,622 pounds. From its
orbital position over the Pacific Ocean, east of Japan, the satellite
will provide over 10 years of telecommunications services. After the
signing of the ninth contract of the year, Arianespace's backlog now
stands at 34 satellites to be launched worth $2.6 billion, the company
said.
BONDED TECHNOLOGY WINS AGM-129A SUBCONTRACT
Bonded Technology, a Cromwell, CT-based division of Alcoa Composities,
will produce wing cavity fairing assemblies for the AGM-129A Advanced
Cruise Missile under a contract awarded by McDonnell Douglas Corp.,
prime contractor for the U.S. Air Force's newest nuclear missile. The
wing cavity fairing assembly is a 7-foot-long aluminum, honeycomb
structure that activates the missiles' wings after launch.
MILITARY WEATHER SATELLITE LAUNCHED ON ATLAS E
A Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) platform was launched
recently on a 30 year old Atlas E booster that General Dynamics, its
builder, said was the 500th Atlas launch. Three other DMSP satellites
are in orbit. The booster was manufactured in 1961 as an ICBM and
decommissioned in 1965. General Dynamics refurbished it in 1986 as a
launch vehicle, the company said.
PEGASUS REMAINS GROUNDED
More than four months after a Pegasus booster placed seven experimental
communications satellites into a lower orbit than expected, the U.S.
Air Force has yet to decide when the next Pegasus will take off. A
date for the third Pegasus launch had been expected by late November,
but the announcement has been delayed as Pentagon officials assure
themselves the problem in the air-launched vehicle has been corrected.
No new date is expected until mid-December. Meanwhile, atmospheric
drag is expected to cause the Microsats launched on the last Pegasus to
fall from orbit in February.
ROCKWELL BEGINS DELIVERY OF NEW HELLFIRE MISSILE
Rockwell International Corp.'s Tactical Systems Division, Atlanta, has
begun deliveries of a new, more powerful version of the U.S. Army's
Hellfire antitank missile. Designated the F-model by the Army, the
improved warhead includes the addition of a dual warhead to defeat
reactive armor. Rockwell delivered the first 500 F-model Hellfires
five months ahead of the contract date.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL TEST ON AGCW
A flight test of an autonomous guided seeker manufactured by Texas
Instruments Inc.'s Defense System & Electronics Group, Dallas, verified
basic airframe and automatic pilot functions. The Autonomous Guidance
for Conventional Weapons (AGCW) test vehicle was dropped from an F-4E
over Eglin Air Force Base, FL, and flew a predetermined course. The
AGCW program, part of the Defense Department's Balanced Technology
Initiative, applied emerging infrared and imaging processing
technologies to demonstrate autonomous, imaging-infrared guidance for
several standoff weapons. In the six-month test program, five
terminally guided test vehicles will be dropped against simulated
targets.
SATELLITES:
AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE TAPS COMMUNICATIONS ON AUSSAT
Aussat Pty. Ltd. of Sydney, Australia, has signed a long-term contract
to provide satellite services for Australia's Department of Defence.
The agreement covers the lease of one Ku-band transponder and includes
the options of capacity on an L-band transponder for mobile
communications. These services will be provided on Aussat's new
generation of spacecraft, called Aussat B. The first of two
satellites, built by Hughes Space and Communications Group of Los
Angeles, will be launched in mid-1992 on a Long March rocket. The
contract, which will be in effect until December 2005, will cover the
operational life of the Aussat B spacecraft.
CANADIAN MARCONI DEVELOPING NEW SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA
Canadian Marconi is developing a new high-gain aircraft satellite
communications antenna because of performance shortcomings of its
original CMA-2100 antenna at low elevation angles. Initial flight test
of the new CMA-2102, containing additional radiating elements to boost
antenna gain, is expected by late 1992. Inmarsat has authorized use of
the CMA-2100, originally intended to provide both voice and wideband
data channels, for voice-only service until the end of 1992.
DOD AGREES TO FUND LANDSAT
U.S. Defense Department officials reluctantly agreed recently to help
NASA pay for the Landsat civilian Photographic satellite, ending a
three-year debate within the administration on the program's future.
The White House National Space Council decision, which came after more
than five months of interagency haggling, assures military planners
access to unclassified Landsat pictures. In comparison to the
Pentagon's secret spy satellites whose pictures can reveal objects
several inches across, Landsat satellite pictures can only reveal
objects the size of a large house. However, the Landsat pictures are
valued by the DoD because they do not need to be classified, thus
easing distribution, and because the pictures cover a large area and
allow good understanding of local geography and terrain.
FAIRCHILD SPACE MOVING INTO DELTA-CLASS SATELLITE MARKET
Fairchild Space is adding the manufacture of complete small to medium-
class satellites to its repertoire of capabilities, with NASA's Earth
Observing System (EOS) program now undergoing a major restructuring one
potential market it will try to penetrate. The Fairchild operating
division is also seeking to add defense and commercial communications
platforms to its space systems and subsystems business. The TOPEX
ocean topography satellite and experiment will be delivered to NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center early next month as an example of the
unit's new capabilities.
GE ASTRO-SPACE WILL BUILD SOUTH KOREA'S FIRST SATELLITE
South Korea's government has selected a team headed by GE Astro-Space
over British Aerospace to build its first telecommunications satellite
in a deal reported in the Korean press to be worth $400 million. A GE
spokesman said that the contract calls for a combined KU-band
communications relay and direct broadcasting satellite, but could not
confirm the reported contract amount. GE will head a team that
includes Britain's Marconi, Korea's Goldstar and a unit of Korean
Airlines. The GE spokesman said the contract will not change
previously announced plans to trim about 1,000 workers from the GE
Astro-Space payroll by mid-1992.
NTT SELECTS SPACE SYSTEMS LORAL FOR SATELLITE CONTRACT
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. said recently it has selected
Space Systems Loral to manufacture two communications satellites and
place them in geostationary orbit in the Pacific in 1995. Loral will
be expected to deliver the first satellite, N-StarA, by April 30, 1995
and the second, N-StarB, by Oct. 31, 1995. NTT president said Loral
was selected on the basis of the price offered. He declined to
disclose the amount. General Electric Co. and Hughes Communications
Galaxy Inc. also competed for the contract to develop the satellites
which are expected to replace Japan's CS3 communications satellite and
provide services for ten years.
TOPEX/POSEIDON PROGRAM SPENDING RUNS 42% OVER INITIAL BUDGET
Spending for the Topex/Poseidon satellite is 42% over the $121 million
initial program budget. Nonetheless, Fairchild Space & Defense Corp.
officials hope the manufacturer's performance as prime contractor,
along with the high visibility of the mission, will propel the company
into the first rank of spacecraft builders. NASA and Fairchild
officials have agreed a substantial portion of the overrun arose after
NASA raised two requirements. First, NASA decided to upgrade the
electronics to Class 1, the highest possible specification. Second,
the solar arrays were required to survive degradation in a radiation-
intense orbit of 1,340 km. and still provide 50% more power than
needed to operate the instruments, even as the satellite ends its
nominal five-year lifetime.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
NASA SAYS ATLANTIS IMU FAILURE WAS UNRELATED TO UPGRADE
Failure of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) aboard the Space Shuttle
Atlantis that forced an abbreviation of its military-man-in-space
mission Sunday was unrelated to an upgraded IMU making its first flight
or to three earlier IMU failures. Flight controllers declared a
failure in Atlantis No. 2 IMU after it began registering velocities on
the Z-axis higher than 15 Gs that were clearly unrealistic. The STS-44
mission was declared a minimum during flight soon after under mission
rules requiring a prompt return to Earth if one of the three IMUs
fails. Originally planned to last 10 days, the mission ended after six
days, 22 hours, 50 minutes and 42 seconds.
NASA SWITCHES RECORDERS ON GRO AFTER BIT ERRORS HAMPER SCIENCE
Bit errors on one of two tape recorders aboard NASA's Gamma Ray
Observatory (GRO) forced controllers to switch off the unit recently
and begin using its backup, Goddard Space Flight Center reported. In a
monthly status report on GRO Goddard said instrument teams reported the
error rate increase had begun to affect the processing of science data
forcing controllers to switch from the faulty tape recorder A to
recorder B on Nov. 29. Tape recorder A will be used as a backup and
its performance will continue to be monitored. Since the change-over
to tape recorder B, the error rate has declined dramatically and is
within acceptable levels.
NASP PROJECT FACES DELAY, POSSIBLE LAYOFFS IN 1992
The final 1992 funding level for the joint NASA-U.S. Department of
Defense effort to design an experimental air-breathing space plane will
delay the program for at least six months and cause job transfers of
layoffs for its industrial support contractors, according to program
managers. Congress cut $100 million from the $304 million requested by
the administration for the project. Outside advocates of the National
Aerospace Plane (NASP) program warn that this latest delay further
weakens the already scattered support for the effort within the U.S.
government. It also will postpone the earliest possible flight of a
NASP-type vehicle until at least the end of the decade.
|
| 20.137 | YES | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Dec 17 1991 20:50 | 571 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007051
Date: 17-Dec-1991 10:47am EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 12/09, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of December 9, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 9, 1991
GENERAL:
AIR PRODUCTS BUILDING LIQUID HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FACILITY
ALENIA, HONEYWELL IN JOINT SPACE VENTURE
ALLIED-SIGNAL COMBINES BENDIX UNITS, PLANS WORKFORCE CUT
GTE WINS CONTRACT TO MODERNIZE ARMY TELECOMMUNICATIONS
MDHC WILL RESTRUCTURE, CUT 800-1,000 JOBS IN 1992
RESTRUCTURING CHARGES LEAD TO LOWER 1991 PROFITS AT WESTLAND
TRW TO RESTRUCTURE, SLASH JOBS, WRITE OFF $250 MILLION
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
500TH CARAVAN DELIVERY
COMBIS ENTERING SERVICE
KOREA'S CHANG GONG ENTERS FLIGHT TESTING
LOCKHEED, LTV DEVELOPING NEW EARLY WARNING PLATFORM
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS C-17 COMPLETES FIRST PHASE OF FLIGHT TESTS
NAVY SELECTS DYNCORP FOR AIRCRAFT TESTING
P & W'S ATF ENGINES FLY AGAIN AS F-22 BEGINS 100-HOUR TEST PROGRAM
AVIONICS:
BOEING 777 FLIGHT DECK SIMULATOR USES ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
LOCKHEED DIVISION WINS OPTION FOR LINE TEST SETS
LUCAS TO SUPPLY JSTARS AUXILIARY POWER UNIT
ROCKWELL DEVELOPS HELLFIRE MISSILE ANTIJAMMER
MISSILES:
ARIANE TAPPED TO LAUNCH REPLACEMENT SATELLITES
GENERAL DYNAMICS ATLAS II BOOSTER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
NAVY SUCCESSFULLY TESTS BLOCK III TOMAHAWK
SUPERBIRD-A LAUNCH
TOKYO ELECTRON TO BUY LOCKHEED PATRIOT TRAINER
SATELLITES:
ALMAZ DATA AGREEMENT
EUROPEANS PONDER MILITARY SATELLITE SYSTEM
GTE SPACENET TO PROVIDE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN EGYPT
LASER COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPS NEW LASER LINK
SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA PROVIDES AP WITH SATELLITE SYSTEM
SECOND MILSTAR COMPUTER DELIVERY COMPLETES SYSTEM
VOICE OF AMERICA TRIES BROADCASTING VIA SATELLITE
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FUJITSU PLANS BIOTECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENTS ON MIR
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE RESUMES DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS
PREMATURE ATLANTIS LANDING REDUCES RECONNAISSANCE, MEDICAL RESULTS
STATION WILL REQUIRE LESS THAN 500 MAINTENANCE HOURS A YEAR
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIR PRODUCTS BUILDING LIQUID HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FACILITY
Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Allentown, PA, expects to complete
construction of a liquid hydrogen production facility in Pace, FL, by
early 1994. Air Products said it is building the facility to provide a
continued supply of liquid hydrogen for the growing needs of the U.S.
space program. Liquid hydrogen is used as a propellant for the Space
Shuttle and other launch vehicles and in the testing of cryogenic
engines and components. The Florida facility will increase Air
Products' total North American liquid hydrogen capacity to 135 tons per
day.
ALENIA, HONEYWELL IN JOINT SPACE VENTURE
Alenia S.p.A. of Spain and Honeywell Inc. said recently that they have
formed a joint venture to manufacture control subsystems and equipment
for space applications. The joint venture, called Space Controls
Alenia Honeywell S.p.A., will supply the European space market with
reaction control wheel assemblies, inertial measurement units, bearing
and power transfer assemblies and antenna pointing systems. The two
companies said these products will be marketed to European
manufacturers of spacecraft and systems for national and commercial
space programs and for the European Space Agency. Alenia owns 60% and
Honeywell owns 40% of the joint venture, manufacturing facilities of
which are being constructed in Naples, Italy, where it will be based.
In full operation, the company will employ 150 people.
ALLIED-SIGNAL COMBINES BENDIX UNITS, PLANS WORKFORCE CUT
Allied-Signal Aerospace Co.'s three Teterboro, N.J. based Bendix
divisions - Flight Systems, Guidance Systems and Test Systems - will be
combined into a single operating unit which will be organized into
business segments focused on space, navigation, cockpit, avionics and
automatic test equipment (ATE). The consolidation, effective Jan. 1,
will result in a reduction in the total Teterboro workforce of 2,226,
but the size of the cut hasn't been determined. The move, reflecting a
sharp decrease in the U.S. defense budget, is part of a corporate-wide
restructuring. The Allied-Signal workforce may be cut by 5,000 or 14%.
GTE WINS CONTRACT TO MODERNIZE ARMY TELECOMMUNICATIONS
GTE Government Systems Corp., Needham, MA, won a 10-year $11.2 million
contract from the Army's Communications and Electronics Command to
modernize telecommunications systems at 39 Army sites in the U.S. The
agreement includes options, with an estimated value of $573 million, to
be exercised through September 2001. The initial agreement calls for
the company's Command, Control and Communications systems sector and
team member Northern Telecom Inc., Richarson, TX, to design, deliver,
install and test a digital telecommunication system for Carlisle
Barracks, PA, by March 31, 1993.
MDHC WILL RESTRUCTURE, CUT 800-1,000 JOBS IN 1992
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co. will restructure its organization and
cut 800-1,000 employed during 1992 due to the recession and larger-
than-expected defense cuts, the company recently announced. The
helicopter unit will consolidate several divisions and scale down its
workforce as contracts are completed next year. It will reorganize
from 10 divisions to seven by consolidating its MD 500 and MDX units
into a commercial programs division; combining its ordnance and AH-64
units into a military programs division, and folding its support
services division into the other seven. The company also plans to
explore options for joint ventures and the possibility of selling some
of its existing business in case the economy takes another downturn or
defense spending suffers further cuts.
RESTRUCTURING CHARGES LEAD TO LOWER 1991 PROFITS AT WESTLAND
The U.S.'s Westland Group turned in 9% lower 1991 profits, despite
nearly 14% better sales, after taking a $12.6 million writeoff to cover
restructuring and layoffs. In its annual report made public recently,
the company posted $42.6 million in pre-tax profits compared with $47
million a year ago, even though sales grew almost $101 million to $839
million. The restructuring program cut about 9,000 jobs from the
company's payroll during the 1990-91 fiscal year period.
TRW TO RESTRUCTURE, SLASH JOBS, WRITE OFF $250 MILLION
TRW Inc. will write off $250 million, sell off several business lines,
including some in the defense and space arena, and slash some 10,000
jobs as part of a massive restructuring to cut costs. Restructuring
its Information Systems and Services business, divesting several
information business units, streamlining some automotive operations,
cutting jobs in core business units, paring next year's capital
spending more than $100 million and establishing environmental clean-up
reserves all forced TRW to take the fourth-quarter charge.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
500TH CARAVAN DELIVERY
Cessna Aircraft Co., Wichita, KN, will deliver the 500th Model 208
Caravan-series utility aircraft to Federal Express on Dec. 17. The
Super Cargomaster, a larger, refined version of the original Caravan
introduced in 1985, is designed to meet small package carrier
requirements. Federal Express has more than 200 Caravans in its fleet
and is the largest operator of the type. Cessna has delivered 14 Grand
Caravan Model 208B versions of the Super Cargomaster to about 20
operators.
COMBIS ENTERING SERVICE
Air Canada will place three new Boeing 747-400 combis in service that
have been parked at an airport in California awaiting sale. This move
will add 4.5% more seats to the airline's capacity and allow it to take
a more aggressive marketing approach to international routes. The
added seating capacity will allow Air Canada to improve service to
London, Frankfurt, Zurich and Paris, where it will concentrate its
efforts. The airline will increase the frequency of its Toronto-
Frankfurt flights to daily and add Toronto-Dusseldorf flights. The
three 277-seat 747-400 combis will free up two Air Canada 747-233
combis for conversion to an all-passenger configuration.
KOREA'S CHANG GONG ENTERS FLIGHT TESTING
South Korea's first indigenously designed and built aircraft, the Chang
Gong '91 should receive certification next year. The aircraft made its
maiden flight on Nov. 22, remaining aloft for 1 hr. Two 30-min.
flights were make Nov 25 from Kimhae Airport, near Pusan. The five-
seat, single-engine Chang Gong cost 3.7 billion won ($5 million) to
develop and build. Korea's Ministry of Science and Technology provided
40% of the funding. The remainder was supplied by a consortium of
Korean companies, including the Hanjin Group, Korean Air; Samsung
Aerospace; and Hankuk Fibre. Design work was performed by the Korea
Institute of Aeronautical Technology.
LOCKHEED, LTV DEVELOPING NEW EARLY WARNING PLATFORM
Lockheed and LTV are developing a concept that would be the base for
the Navy's next-generation carrier airborne early warning platform,
using a version of Lockheed's S-3 Viking. Lockheed would be prime and
systems integrator, with LTV responsible for air vehicle design and
carrier suitability for the E-2C replacement. The airframes probably
would come from S-3s stored in the Arizona desert. The triangular
radome would house a fully agile phased-array radar, to be supplied by
Texas Instruments, Westinghouse, or Hughes. An Infrared Scan and Track
system would be added, an ALR-67 electronic support mission system
would be upgraded, and the E-2C communications suite would be expanded
greatly and automated. The wingfold would be changed to sweep back in
the same fashion as that on the E-2.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS C-17 COMPLETES FIRST PHASE OF FLIGHT TESTS
The first Air Force/McDonnell Douglas C-17 airlifter exceeded 50 hours
of flight tests recently with completion of its 23rd mission at Edwards
AFB, CA. The Dec. 4 flight lasted 4.7 hours, bringing total flying
time to 54.5 hours. The test crew continued to expand the flight
envelope, increasing flying speed from 250 to 300 knots. The next
phase will center on verification of the aircraft's structural
stability. This second phase will start with structural and
aerodynamics damping investigations.
NAVY SELECTS DYNCORP FOR AIRCRAFT TESTING
The U.S. Navy has awarded Dyncorp, formerly Dynalectron Corp., a
contract to continue providing test and evaluation of aircraft weapon
systems at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD. Reston, VA-
based DyCorp has performed these services since 1978. The new five-
year contract is valued at $76 million.
P & W'S ATF ENGINES FLY AGAIN AS F-22 BEGINS 100-HOUR TEST PROGRAM
Pratt & Whitney's YF119 Advanced Tactical Fighter engines are flying
again, as the Lockheed-Boeing-General Dynamics team developing the
plane launched a 100 hour flight test program. It's the first major
work on the F-22 Engineering and Manufacturing Developing (EMD)
contract to begin since the contract was awarded during the summer.
Flight testing is slated to continue through the middle of next year to
allow engineers to refine and complete design of the aircraft, and
although the engines involved aren't in the final configuration, the
flight test program probably won't identify any changes needed for the
engines themselves.
AVIONICS:
BOEING 777 FLIGHT DECK SIMULATOR USES ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
The instrument panel of Boeing's 777 transport is dominated by six 8 x
8-in. color displays in the 777 Flight Deck Engineering Simulator. The
simulator will be upgraded later with prototypes of the flat panel
displays that will be incorporated in the 777. Displays for the
optional electronic library system (ELS) can be seen just outboard of
each pilot. ELS will provide access to an on-board data base
containing such items as flight and maintenance manuals, navigation
charts, logbook and other information usually stored on paper.
LOCKHEED DIVISION WINS OPTION FOR LINE TEST SETS
Lockheed Sanders' Defense Systems Division, Nashua, N.H., has won a
$17.5 million contract option for the production of 156 AN/USM-638
Radio Frequency Transmission Line Test Sets. The system is used to
test and help maintain aircraft electronic fittings that carry radio
frequency energy. The contract option was awarded by the U.S. Air
Force's San Antonio Air Logistics Center, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.
Lockheed Sanders has already won contracts for 295 of the systems.
LUCAS TO SUPPLY JSTARS AUXILIARY POWER UNIT
World Auxiliary Power Co., San Leandro, CA, has awarded Lucas Aerospace
a contract to supply the Auxiliary Power Unit electrical generating
system for Grumman Corp.'s E-8C Joint Surveillance and Target Attack
Radar System (JSTARS). Lucas Aerospace's Power Systems facility in
Hemel Hempstead, England, will supply the Auxiliary Power Unit to World
Auxiliary Power Co., which will then supply the entire Auxiliary Power
Unit system to Grumman Melbourne Systems Division, Melbourne, FL.
Deliveries are to begin July 1993. Lucas Aerospace is a subsidiary of
Lucas Industries, Solihull, West Midlands.
ROCKWELL DEVELOPS HELLFIRE MISSILE ANTIJAMMER
Rockwell International Corp. has developed a low-cost solution to
counter the threat posed by electro-optical jammers to the U.S. Army's
helicopter-launched Hellfire antitank missile. Without the solution,
an improved electronic component to counter the hamming, the Hellfire
missiles could be diverted from their targets if an enemy were to jam
their laser-homing system. Rockwell International, which also builds
the Hellfire missile, is headquartered in El Segundo, CA.
MISSILES:
ARIANE TAPPED TO LAUNCH REPLACEMENT SATELLITES
Space Communications Corp. (SCC) of Tokyo has reached an agreement with
France's Arianespace for the launch of a replacement for its failed
Superbird A communications satellite, an SCC official recently said.
The satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, CA, will be
used for direct-to-user radio and television broadcasting. It will be
launched in December 1992, nearly two years after the original
Superbird A failed in orbit. Arianespace also is launching Superbird B
in February from its launch facility in French Guiana. That satellite
also was built by Space Systems/Loral.
EUROPEANS PONDER MILITARY SATELLITE SYSTEM
Five European countries have decided to launch a one-year study on the
cost and feasibility of developing a European satellite network for
military communications. The decision was taken at a November 6-7
meeting of defense procurement officials, held in Paris at the
initiative of the French and British defense ministries. It was
attended by senior Durch, German and Italian officials.
GENERAL DYNAMICS ATLAS II BOOSTER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
General Dynamics said recently its Atlas II booster launched a Eutelsat
II communications satellite on its first flight. The Atlas II (Atlas-
Centaur-102) lifted off from Launch Complex 36B on Dec. 7. Early
observations indicate that the satellite is in a nominal orbit. The
booster's maiden flight, originally set for Nov. 14, was postponed due
to faulty transistors in the Honeywell-built power supply of the
Centaur's inertial navigation unit. The Eutelsat II launch was the
third commercial Atlas launch, marking the end of a stand-down. The
company plans to recover to its planned launch schedule by the third
quarter of 1992. GD has 24 additional commercial launch commitments
over the next several years and said sales are expected to add to this
figure throughout 1992.
NAVY SUCCESSFULLY TESTS BLOCK III TOMAHAWK
The U.S. Navy successfully tested a Tomahawk cruise missile equipped
with Block III improvements. The latest test, off the coast of
California, marked the first use with the improved WDU-36B warhead.
The WDU-36B is an insensitive extended-range warhead developed by the
Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA. It is smaller but more lethal
than the Tomahawk's current 1,000 pound warhead. Use of the smaller
warhead allows more fuel to be added to increase the Tomahawk's range.
SUPERBIRD-A LAUNCH
Arianespace will launch the Superbird-A communications satellite for
Japan's Space Communication Corp. The Space Systems Loral-built
satellite is scheduled for launch by the European launch service
company in December, 1992, and is expected to become operational in
February, 1993. General Dynamics bid unsuccessfully for the launch
contract.
TOKYO ELECTRON TO BUY LOCKHEED PATRIOT TRAINER
Tokyo Electron Ltd., a Japanese trading company, has awarded a $7.6
million contract to Lockheed Sanders, Nashua, N.H., for a fourth
upgraded Patriot missile system Operator Tactics Trainer that will be
used by the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Lockheed Sanders has
built 20 Patriot trainer systems, including 12 for the U.S. Army and
three for the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. The Patriot trainer
enables one instructor to train simultaneously eight students. The
upgrades to the system include high-performance central processing
units to enhance training realism; new technology to reduce the number
of system components; and increased use of commercial software,
according to a company statement.
SATELLITES:
ALMAZ DATA AGREEMENT
Hughes STX Corp., Landham, MD, is completing agreements to process
Soviet Almaz radar satellite imagery in the U.S. for the Almaz Corp., a
division of Space Commerce Corp., Houston. Hughes STX will do final
processing of the Almaz data, which will then be marketed by both
Hughes STX and Spot Image Corp. The Almaz spacecraft has lost 50% of
its imaging capability. That prevents the spacecraft from imaging half
the ground track. Soviet Almax controllers at NPO Machinostroyeniya
periodically adjust the spacecraft's orbit to image areas missed as a
result of the failure. The Soviets are processing six to eight Almaz
scenes per week.
GTE SPACENET TO PROVIDE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN EGYPT
A $3.5 million contract to provide an integrated satellite
communications network in Egypt was awarded to GTE Spacenet, McLean,
VA, by the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Co. (GUPCO). GTE Spacenet will build
INTELSAT standard "F" earth stations in Cairo, the Gulf of Suez and the
Sahara Desert, to provide voice, facsimile and data communications for
GUPCO, a joint venture of the Egyptian government and AMOCO Corp. The
contract also provides for later expansion to include up to four
transportable earth stations to be located at oil drilling sites, GTE
said. The projects should be completed by April.
LASER COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPS NEW LASER LINK
Laser Communications Inc. has developed a laser communications system
that allows a signal to be sent for up to one kilometer without any
wiring. The LACE LOO-16 TI laser link is fitted to the Rapid Gate
System 240 satellite terminal built by Radiation Systems Inc.,
Sterling, VA. The laser link allows signals received by the satellite
terminal to be sent to a command center up to one kilometer away.
Laser Communications Inc. is based in Lancaster, PA.
SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA PROVIDES AP WITH SATELLITE SYSTEM
Scientific-Atlanta Inc. of Georgia is providing Associated Press with a
data broadcast system to provide direct delivery via satellite of news
and photo services in Europe. By 1993, New York-based Associated Press
will transmit news information to at least 250 sites throughout Europe
that are equipped with small receiver dishes, called very small
aperture terminals (VSATs), Scientific-Atlanta recently announced. The
information will be relayed over a Eutelsat 2 satellite, operated by
the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization of Paris.
Scientific-Atlanta's Private Networks Business Division, Melbourne, FL,
is providing the VSATs and network operations services.
SECOND MILSTAR COMPUTER DELIVERY COMPLETES SYSTEM
Teledyne Systems Co. of Northridge, CA, has delivered the second
computer for use in the first Milstar communications satellite. The
computer, delivered November 17, will be used to control routine
operations of the spacecraft. It was installed the next day and was
activated November 21. The latest delivery completes the computer
complement for the first Milstar spacecraft. The Teledyne computers
have been a major hurdle for the Milstar program. The computers are
designed to operate in very high levels of radiation that could disable
conventional computers.
VOICE OF AMERICA TRIES BROADCASTING VIA SATELLITE
NASA and the U.S. Information Agency's Voice of America conducted
demonstrations December 2-6 of digital radio broadcasting via satellite
to vehicles in Washington. The demonstration, called Direct Broadcast
Satellite-Radio, relayed programming by National Public Radio from an
Earth station in Southbury, CN, over the Marecs B satellite, operated
by the International Maritime Satellite Organization of London. The
Earth station is owned by the Communications Satellite Corp. of
Washington, which is the U.S. signatory to the international mobile
satellite operator. The transmissions then were picked up by one
mobile and one stationary passenger van in Washington. The digital
audio service opens opportunities for U.S. industry to provide a new
generation of satellites, antennas, receivers and programming options.
NASA's Office of Commercial Programs in Washington sponsored the
demonstration. Lewis is responsible for program management, planning,
marketing and regulatory activities. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, CA, is developing the transmission technology.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
FUJITSU PLANS BIOTECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENTS ON MIR
Japan's Fujitsu Ltd., working through a Massachusetts firm, plans two
months of experiments on the Soviet space station Mir early next year
that could lead to a biocomputer that mimics the human brain. The huge
electronics concern, in a recent announcement with the Society of
Japanese Aerospace Companies, said the experiments will be placed on
Mir Jan. 21, 1992, and remain there until March 24, the Kyodo news
agency reported. They will involve the crystallization of proteins
that might have applications in biocomputers and biosensors that use
proteins in place of circuitry.
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE RESUMES DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS
The Hubble Space Telescope resumed data collection on December 12
returning from a standby mode that it entered three days previous when
a ground software system malfunctioned. Corrections in the ground
software are being worked and interim guidelines are in place for
manual inspection of command loads to ensure against any repetition of
this particular problem. An error in the ground software system that
generates command sequences for the Hubble caused an incorrect command
to be sent which in turn made the high gain antenna slew at a rate
beyond allowable limits. The onboard flight computer sensed this out-
of-range rate and put the spacecraft in a standby and safe condition.
PREMATURE ATLANTIS LANDING REDUCES RECONNAISSANCE, MEDICAL RESULTS
The precautionary early landing of the space shuttle Atlantis reduced
the number of military reconnaissance tests performed by the Mission 44
astronauts and prevented a Strategic Defense Initiative satellite from
observing shuttle rocket plumes. But the crew of the seven-day $400
million flight, which ended on Dec. 1, three days earlier than planned,
achieved its primary objective to deploy a 2.5 ton U.S. Air Force
missile warning satellite and completed important secondary
reconnaissance and medical tests.
STATION WILL REQUIRE LESS THAN 500 MAINTENANCE HOURS A YEAR
Space Station managers say they have met their goal of designing the
orbital laboratory so it will require no more than 500 hours of
maintenance a year, with Canada's robotic servicing arms able to handle
about half of that work. Station program deputy director said the
restructured facility will need less than 240 hours of maintenance a
year after it reaches man-tended capability (MTC) in late 1996 or early
1997. Permanently manned capability (PMC), due late in 1999, will
require less than 500 hours of maintenance.
|
| 20.138 | 12/16, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Thu Jan 02 1992 16:11 | 491 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007105
Date: 21-Dec-1991 03:28pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 12/16, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of December 16, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 16, 1991
GENERAL:
BRITISH AEROSPACE TO CREATE SEPARATE NEW DEFENSE COMPANY
INFORMATION SYSTEM
LOCKHEED DIVISION TO MOVE HEAD OFFICE
MOTOROLA, GE SIGN MOU ON DEVELOPMENT OF IRIDIUM SOFTWARE
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING SWITCHES TO 767 AS PLATFORM FOR AWACS
DOUGLAS TERMINATES BARNES' C-17 NACELLE CONTRACT FOR DEFAULT
PENTAGON AWARDS BAI EXDRONE CONTRACT
SAAB 2000 REGIONAL TURBOPROP TRANSPORT DEBUTS
TURKEY WILL CHOOSE F-16 NEXT YEAR
AVIONICS:
HUGHES TO PROVIDE NAVY SIMULATOR MAINTENANCE
NASA DEVELOPS NEW RADAR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MAPPING
SEXTANT SHIPS PROTOTYPES FOR COCKPIT SIMULATOR
MISSILES:
ARMY PUTS BOEING AT HELM OF KEY VALVE DEVELOPMENT
FUEL MIXING FOUL-UP SLIPS ARIANE 5 TEST
LTV AEROSPACE TO BUILD 300 ATACMS ASSEMBLIES
PROPELLANT CASTING GLITCH MAY DELAY FIRST ARIANE 5 LAUNCH
RAYTHEON TO BUILD 1,038 TARGET DETECTORS FOR SIDEWINDER MISSILES
SATELLITES:
ALPHA LYRACOM SNARES NEW BUSINESS
EUTELSAT 2 SATELLITE LAUNCHED BY ATLAS 2 IS READIED FOR SERVICE
EUVE LAUNCH SLIPPED FROM JANUARY TO MAY
FIRM WINS BID TO PROVIDE MOBILE SATELLITE TERMINALS
FIRST RUSSIAN GEOSYNCHRONOUS WEATHER SATELLITE SET FOR LAUNCH IN 1992
GE ASTRO-SPACE WINS BID TO BUILD SATELLITES FOR S. KOREA
INTELSAT TO BUY MORE SATELLITES
LORAL TO BUILD TWO COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES UNDER CONTRACT WITH NTT
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ATLANTIS CREW UNVEILS VALUABLE IMAGERY DESPITE SHORTENED FLIGHT
BATSE CONTINUES TO SPOT COSMIC GAMMA RAY BURSTS
SHUTTLE BUDGET
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BRITISH AEROSPACE TO CREATE SEPARATE NEW DEFENSE COMPANY
British Aerospace will combine all its defense interests into a single
company on the first of the year, creating what could be the largest
single defense company in Europe. BAe said recently that the new
company, British Aerospace Defence Ltd., will unite Military Aircraft,
BAe Dynamics, Royal Ordnance and the recently created Systems and
Services Div. into a single group with nearly $12 billion in backlog
and customers in 72 countries. Taken together, BAe's defense interests
notched $7.82 billion in sales in 1990, with about 70% of that for
export customers.
INFORMATION SYSTEM
Covia Technologies, Mitsubishi Electric and IBM Japan are about to
begin development of a passenger information system for Japan's new
Kansai International Airport. The system, which will cost about $29
million, will provide passengers with real-time flight, baggage and
directional information through voice and video interfaces. It also
will integrate flight scheduling and passenger processing while
providing operational information to airport and airline personnel.
The system will be completed around the time the airport opens in June
1994.
LOCKHEED DIVISION TO MOVE HEAD OFFICE
Lockheed Advanced Development Co. has confirmed plans to move its
headquarters and most of the other remaining Burbank, CA, operations to
Palmdale, CA, by the end of 1993. The company president said Lockheed
Advanced will build a 30,000-square-foot office building at its
Palmdale plant to accommodate most of the relocation functions while
some others will be housed in existing facilities or leased space.
Plans call for the building to be completed in mid-1993 and fully
occupied by December of that year. While the number of employees
affected at that time will depend on the programs in progress at
Lockheed, the new building will house some 1,300 people.
MOTOROLA, GE SIGN MOU ON DEVELOPMENT OF IRIDIUM SOFTWARE
General Electric's Management and Data Systems unit will help develop
the computerized operations system for Motorola's Iridium
communications satellite network under a memorandum of understanding
reported by the two companies. The system will network graphics
computer workstations in a way that allows a small operations staff to
manage the 77-platform constellation of low-Earth orbit communications
satellites, the two firms said in a joint announcement. GE and
Motorola's Satellite Communications Strategic Business Unit will
develop a formal business relationship under the MOU that will include
the design, development and test of the operations systems software.
GE technicians will perform the work at the Motorola Satellite
Communications facility in Chandler, AZ, where the system
specifications will be developed.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING SWITCHES TO 767 AS PLATFORM FOR AWACS
Seattle-based Boeing Defense & Space Group announced recently plans to
modify Boeing 767 jetliners for the airborne surveillance mission. The
Boeing 767 as a platform for the Airborne Warning and Control System
(AWACS) replaces the company's 707 line, which will end in the spring
with delivery of the seventh and final AWACS to the United Kingdom.
Military and industry sources say potential AWACS customers include
Japan and Saudi Arabia. A Boeing spokesman noted that the company is
also studying the 767 as a platform for other military applications,
including ground surveillance and special-purpose roles.
DOUGLAS TERMINATES BARNES' C-17 NACELLE CONTRACT FOR DEFAULT
McDonnell Douglas terminated for default Connecticut-based Barnes
Group's contract for hot-formed titanium nacelle panels used on the C-
17 airlifter. Barnes said it would challenge the default claim and
seek payment for work performed before the $8.2 million contract with
its Flameco Div. was terminated. A Barnes spokesman added that the
company would try to settle its claims with McDonnell Douglas first
before trying the courts. Net assets attributable to the contract on
Barnes' balance sheets come to nearly $4 million.
PENTAGON AWARDS BAI FOR EXDRONE CONTRACT
After a two-year delay caused by government indecision and industry
protests, the U.S. Department of Defense has selected BAI AeroSystems
Inc. to built 110 Exdrone pilotless aircraft that could be used for
reconnaissance and jamming missions. In selecting BAI AeroSystems,
Easton, MD, over six other U.S. companies for the $370 million Exdrone
contract, the Pentagon's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Joint Program
Office is attempting to restart a drone project that has been marred by
controversy and scarred by congressional and Pentagon scrutiny, defense
and industry officials say. The multiservice UAV office awarded the
contract Nov. 25. It includes an option for an additional 100
expendable BQM-147A drones capable of flying at least two hours and at
speeds up to 100 miles per hour.
SAAB 2000 REGIONAL TURBOPROP TRANSPORT DEBUTS
The Saab 2000 regional turboprop transport is scheduled for its maiden
flight in the first quarter of 1992, after making its public debut Dec.
14 at company facilities in Linkoping, Sweden. The aircraft, powered
by Allison GMA 2100 engines, will begin a three-aircraft flight-test
program, probably in February. Saab aircraft expects certification in
mid-1993 and first deliveries to launch customer Crossair of
Switzerland in September 1993. In normal operations, the Saab 2000
will be configured to accommodate 50 passengers at a 32-in. pitch,
while a high-density layout will allow 58 seats at a 30-in. pitch.
TURKEY WILL CHOOSE F-16 NEXT YEAR
Turkey's air force has put off deciding on engines to power its F-16s
until next year and plans to gather more data in the next few weeks.
Turkey is expected to buy an additional 80 fighters, funding 40 right
away and purchasing long-lead items for another 40. GE's F110 turbofan
is favored in that contest because it already powers Turkey's force of
F-16s. GE has already delivered 116 F110s for Turkey's Peace Onyx
program, and will deliver another 63 by the time that buy ends in
February 1994. Moreover, GE owns an equity stake in the Turkish plant
that builds the F110s and has promised to keep employment steady at the
facility for at least five years as part of an industrial incentives
package.
AVIONICS:
HUGHES TO PROVIDE NAVY SIMULATOR MAINTENANCE
Hughes Technical Services Co., Manhattan Beach, CA, has been awarded an
$11.3 million contract by Naval Air Training, Orlando, FL, to provide
operation and maintenance support of simulators at six naval air
stations. Under terms of the five-year contract, Hughes will provide
support to various aircraft trainers, maintenance trainers and
simulators at naval air stations located in Meridian, Miss.;
Kingsville, Chase Field and Corpus Christi, all of Texas, Whiting Field
and Pensacola, both of FL. Under a separate contract, Hughes is
already providing logistics support to the U.S. Navy's entire inventory
of F/A-18 aircrew and maintenance trainers.
NASA DEVELOPS NEW RADAR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MAPPING
Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed a new,
more accurate, airborne radar system for topographic mapping of the
Earth's surface. The Topographic Synthetic Aperture Radar (TOPSAR) was
developed in collaboration with an Italian consortium and is a
prototype for a possible satellite mission to map the entire globe at
high topographic resolution. It is carried aboard NASA's DC-8
aircraft. A spokesperson for JPL said that the instrument has many
potential commercial and scientific uses and will be about three times
more accurate than any topographic mapper currently available.
SEXTANT SHIPS PROTOTYPES FOR COCKPIT SIMULATOR
Sextant Avionique of Meudon-la-Foret, France, delivered the first two
prototypes of the Tiger helicopter's helmet-mounted display (HMD) to
Aerospatiale, Paris, and Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm, of Munich,
Germany, Sextant Avionique announced. The prototypes are intended for
the Tiger cockpit simulator. The HMD's 40 percent field of view will
allow Tiger crews to carry out missions night and day and under poor
weather conditions. The Franco-German contract, which was awarded in
early 1990, is valued at about 1 billion French francs ($18 million)
for the development and series of HMD.
MISSILES:
ARMY PUTS BOEING AT HELM OF KEY VALVE DEVELOPMENT
The U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command, Washington, has awarded a $1.6
million contract to Boeing Defense and Space Group, Seattle, to develop
a hot-gas valve for use in missile interceptors. The valves, coated
with the metal rhenium, would release hot gases produced by the
interceptor's solid rocket motor, in order to steer the interceptor
toward an attacking missile. The 33-month program calls for Boeing to
develop a low-cost method for rapid production of rhenium valves.
Rhenium can withstand high temperatures but is a difficult material
with which to work. Boeing had planned to use rhenium valves in its
Lightweight Exoatmospheric Projectile, a strategic defense experiment
to be conducted in 1992, but had to abandon that effort because of the
difficulties.
FUEL MIXING FOUL-UP SLIPS ARIANE 5 TEST
A major milestone in the development of Europe's future Ariane 5
launcher has been delayed by more than half a year to late 1992
following a November 20 glitch in the pouring of solid propellent for
the vehicle's solid-fueled strap on boosters. The first test-firing of
one of the new boosters, had been initially scheduled for October 1991.
More recently it was pushed back to March 1992. They said it is too
soon to tell whether the incident will affect Ariane 5's scheduled
launch date of early 1995.
LTV AEROSPACE TO BUILD 300 ATACMS ASSEMBLIES
The U.S. Army has awarded LTV Aerospace and Defense, Dallas a $127
million production contract to produce 300 Army Tactical Missile System
(ATACMS) guided missile and launch assemblies. Deliveries are to begin
next October and end in September 1993 on the contract, which includes
two one-year renewable options on $407 million of work. Each 13-foot
missile includes 950 bomblets that disperse and detonate upon impact,
destroying company-size targets. The missiles are fired from an M270
weapons platform that also fires Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets.
PROPELLANT CASTING GLITCH MAY DELAY FIRST ARIANE 5 LAUNCH
The first launch of Europe's Ariane 5 may be delayed because of a
casting problem with the first solid rocket booster produced for the
heavy-lift launcher. The problem was experienced with the lower
segment of an Ariane 5 booster during casting in November at a new
production plant at the Guiana Space Center. The Ariane 5 program
manager at the European Space Agency said one batch of propellant
poured into the booster segment failed to harden. The entire segment
cannot be used as it was cast, and another will have to be produced.
As a result, the start-up of full-scale static test firings of ariane 5
boosters will be pushed back by about six months from the planned
March, 1992, target date. Initial flight of the large launcher
probably will be delayed from the April, 1995, target, but the extent
of the slip has not yet been determined.
RAYTHEON TO BUILD 1,038 TARGET DETECTORS FOR SIDEWINDER MISSILES
Raytheon Co. will supply 1,038 active optical target detectors for
Sidewinder missiles under a $6.6 million contract awarded by the Naval
Air Systems Command. The detectors will be built at the company's
Lowell, MA, facilities with deliveries slated between March and May
1993. The award marks the second consecutive year Raytheon has won
100% of the competitive procurement.
SATELLITES:
ALPHA LYRACOM SNARES NEW BUSINESS
Alpha Lyracom, the only privately owned international satellite
company, already has signed on new business, following the U.S.
government announcement in November that restrictions would be lifted
preventing the company from connecting its satellite services to public
communications networks. The Norwegian Cruise Line of Miami, FL, is
equipping its first oceanliner, the Motor Ship Seaward, to use Alpha
Lyracom's PAS-1 international communications satellite, owned and
operated by the Greenwich, CN-based satellite company. The cruise
liner formerly used services provided by the U.S. signatory to the
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, the
Communications Satellite Corp., both of Washington.
EUTELSAT 2 SATELLITE LAUNCHED BY ATLAS 2 IS READIED FOR SERVICE
The Eutelsat 2 telecommunications satellite successfully put in orbit
by the first General Dynamics Atlas 2 launch vehicle will become
operational about Jan. 1. A key mission for the new spacecraft will be
to telecast the Winter Olympic Games that begin in February in France.
The Dec. 7 launch was delayed about four months while a team of experts
investigated failure of the Centaur stage in the previous commercial
Atlas launch attempt last April. Success of this month's launch was
viewed as critical in General Dynamics' push to become a major factor
in the commercial launch industry. The company has 25 contracts for
Atlas launches from the U.S. Air Force and commercial companies and is
negotiating with Japan, Korea and Inmarsat consortium for other
business.
EUVE LAUNCH SLIPPED FROM JANUARY TO MAY
NASA's Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) astronomy satellite is
scheduled for launch aboard a Delta II booster May 28, 1992, after a
five-month delay to allow correction of hardware problems and
refurbishment of its launch pad at Cape Canaveral AFS, FL, the space
agency recently reported. Launch was delayed from Jan. 16 because of
problems with printed circuit boards and electric motors in the
spacecraft's Modular Antenna Pointing System (MAPS), and again from
late February or early March to allow refurbishment of Pad 17A at the
Air Force facility. The spacecraft will survey the entire sky for
sources of extreme ultraviolet radiation.
FIRM WINS BID TO PROVIDE MOBILE SATELLITE TERMINALS
Radiation Systems Inc., Sterling, VA, recently announced that it has
received a $1.1 million contract to provide two mobile satellite
terminals for the Defense Information Systems Agency, Arlington, VA.
The agency's Defense Commercial Communications Office, Scott Air Force
Base, Ill., awarded the project to Radiation Systems' SatCom
Technologies Division, Atlanta. The 2.4 meter satellite dishes will be
used with Intelsat communications satellites. A receiver attuned to
signals from the satellites in the Navstar Global Positioning System
will ascertain the terminal's precise location. A trailer housing the
terminal will include a diesel generator to power the system.
FIRST RUSSIAN GEOSYNCHRONOUS WEATHER SATELLITE SET FOR LAUNCH IN 1992
After more than a decade of delays, the Russian Republic is preparing
to launch its first geosynchronous-orbit weather satellite. But the
collapse of the Soviet Union could interfere with the plan to launch
the new GOMS geosynchronous meteorology satellite by mid-1992. The
Institute of Electromechanics, Moscow, which built GOMS and also builds
polar orbit Meteor weather spacecraft, is facing severe budget cutbacks
that could affect its weather satellite production. The company has
received high marks from U.S. space officials for its technology and
business planning. It also has a joint project with General Electric
to produce CAT scanners for hospitals in Eastern Europe and the former
Soviet Union.
GE ASTRO-SPACE WINS BID TO BUILD SATELLITES FOR S. KOREA
General Electric Corp.'s Astro-Space Div. is expected to build two
telecommunications satellites for South Korea, work worth about $145
million. Korea Telecom, based in Seoul, selected GE for contract
negotiations over British Aerospace. Hughes and Loral had been dropped
from the competition earlier. The contract award will not affect GE's
plans to cut 1,000 jobs in the Astro-Space Div., based in East Winsor,
N.J. The three-axis, body-stabilized satellites, which will be used
for telephone and other two-way communications and for direct broadcast
television, will be based on the GE 3000 series spacecraft. The first
of the spacecraft is to be delivered 36 months after the contract is
signed, the second another 32 months later.
INTELSAT TO BUY MORE SATELLITES
In a blow to current spacecraft supplier Space Systems/Loral, Intelsat
decided recently to seek industry proposals for a new generation of
communication satellites. The international consortium, which is the
world's largest buyer of commercial spacecraft, issued a request for
industry bids December 10 to buy up to seven satellites, which would be
launched beginning in September 1995. The contract could be worth
several hundred million dollars to the eventual winner while siphoning
off additional Intelsat 7 contracts from Space Systems/Loral. While a
final decision whether to proceed with the new satellites will not be
made until September 1992, Intelsat and industry officials said the new
procurement is widely expected.
LORAL TO BUILD TWO COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES UNDER CONTRACT WITH NTT
Space Systems/Loral will build two N-Star communications satellites for
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., after winning a contract worth up
to $600 million that covers launching the two spacecraft in 1995.
General Electric and Hughes Communications also bid for the NTT work,
which is seen as a plum in the increasingly important and competitive
Japanese space telecommunications market. The award to a U.S. company
is seen as highly political in Tokyo. It follows U.S. government
pressure to open Japanese satellite procurements. Three Japanese
satellite manufacturers-Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba and Nippon
Electric-did not bid to be prime contractor but are expected to supply
components to Loral.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ATLANTIS CREW UNVEILS VALUABLE IMAGERY DESPITE SHORTENED FLIGHT
Although failure of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) aboard the Space
Shuttle Atlantis cut its mission short this month, crew members told
reporters recently that they were able to bring home valuable data in
support of future military-man-in-space projects. Crew members
displayed detailed images produced from the mission depicting various
sites around the globe at the briefing. They noted that in one image
of Kuwait, it was possible to see the oil fields after the fires as
well as details of the city. The shuttle pilot said that the greatest
loss due to the shortened mission was that crew members were not able
to collect as much data as they would have liked. But he said he was
happy with the data which was brought home and added that experiments
could be followed-on during future missions.
BATSE CONTINUES TO SPOT COSMIC GAMMA RAY BURSTS
NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory satellite continues to perform
well, despite increasing errors in the observatory's primary science
data tape recorder that caused ground controllers to switch to the
backup unit on November 29. Compton's Burst and Transient Source
Experiment (BATSE) had detected 176 cosmic gamma ray bursts as of
November 25, about 60 more than had been spotted by early September.
The source of these powerful bursts of invisible radiation remains a
mystery, according to a NASA report. The observatory's three other
main instruments are performing normally. Compton now is pointed
toward the center of the active galaxy NGC 1275. On December 12, it
was maneuvered to point at its 16th major target, the binary star S
COX-1. The $617 million satellite was launched aboard Atlantis in
April.
SHUTTLE BUDGET
NASA's 1992 budget will support the current 25,000 person contractor
workforce that helps prepare U.S. space shuttles for flight, without
further layoffs. However, meeting future budgets will require that
about 1,000 people per year be sliced from the shuttle payroll from
1993 through 1996, top NASA space flight managers said recently. The
cuts will come from across the program, not just at the Kennedy Space
Center, FL, launch site, which took the brunt of personnel cuts in
1991. Other locations and tasks cited as examples included engineering
support for the shuttle main engines by Rocketdyne, fabrication of the
shuttle external tanks, which is performed by Martin Marietta Corp.,
and general corporate overhead across the shuttle program.
|
| 20.139 | 12/30, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Jan 06 1992 23:46 | 462 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007171
Date: 06-Jan-1992 04:36pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 12/30, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of December 30, 1991
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 30, 1991
GENERAL:
COMPUTER SCIENCES BEATS ZEROX IN JCALS COMPETITION
FRANCE'S AXA GROUP TO BUY SPACE UNDERWRITER INTEC
GEORGIA TECH DEVELOPS REAL-TIME GENERIC DOPPLER PROCESSOR
HARRIS WINS $1.66 BILLION AIR TRAFFIC COMMUNICATIONS DEAL
HONEYWELL PICKED FOR THREE SPACE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SUBCONTRACTS
JAPAN DRAWS UP PRELIMINARY CONCEPT FOR SOLAR OR MICROWAVE UAV
SEMATECH SEES 0.35-MICRON CIRCUITS MADE ON ALL U.S. GEAR BY '93
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE ACCEPTS FIRST BLOCK 50 F-16
B-2 LOGISTICS COSTS MAY EXCEED AIR FORCE ESTIMATES
GREECE TO BUY FIVE SIKORSKY SEAHAWKS IN $161 MILLION DEAL
NAVY AWARDS A-X CONCEPT EXPLORATION CONTRACTS, STARTS NEED STUDY
NORTHROP GETS $6 BILLION B-2 AWARD; 4TH QUARTER UP $40 MILLION
SIKORSKY DELIVERS DESERT HAWK HELICOPTERS
SWITZERLAND SENDS F/A-18 HORNET BUY PROPOSAL TO PARLIAMENT
AVIONICS:
GEC SENSORS WINS CONTRACT FOR TORNADO IRST
HAZELTINE CHOSEN FOR F-16 IFF WORK
MISSILES:
AGM-129A ADVANCEC CRUISE MISSILE TEST FIRED
ORBITAL GETS $10.8 MILLION FOR BRILLIANT PEBBLES LAUNCH
RAYTHEON UNIT TO UPDATE EGYPT'S HAWK MISSILES
RAYTHEON WINS MISSILE CONTRACT
SATELLITES:
ARIANESPACE LAUNCHES TWO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES
HUMAN EFFORT BY CONTROLLERS COSTS DATA FROM UARS
SOVIET UNION LAUNCHES TWO SATELLITES IN TWO DAYS
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ENDEAVOUR MAY FLIGHT
JAPAN SETS PLAN FOR MARS PROBE IN 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
COMPUTER SCIENCES BEATS ZEROX IN JCALS COMPETITION
Computer Sciences Corp. beat a Zerox team to proceed with development
of the Pentagon's Joint Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistics
Support (JCALS) system, an effort potentially worth more than $700
million. Intended to automate the way the government receives, manages
and uses information on weapon systems, JCALS will link 245 military
sites across the U.S. with computers, local area networks and terminals
connected through a wide area network. CSC said JCALS will enable the
Defense Department to build, maintain and support weapon systems
without such paper-laden tools as technical manuals and engineering
drawings. The government puts the value of the JCALS effort at $744
million over a 12-year period if all options are exercised. CSC's
Integrated Systems Div., Moorestown, N.J., will perform the work.
Portions of the project will be subcontracted to General Research Corp.
McLean, VA; Management Action Corp., Manassas, VA; NCI Information
Systems, Arlington, VA, and InfoDesign Corp., Emeryville, CA.
FRANCE'S AXA GROUP TO BUY SPACE UNDERWRITER INTEC
International Technology Underwriters Inc. (INTEC), an international
underwriter of space insurance, has signed an agreement with France's
AXA Reinsurance Co. that will see the French group acquire the
Bethesda, MD based underwriter as part of its expansion into North
America, INTEC recently reported. INTEC's management team will remain
in their jobs after the transfer of ownership, expected before the end
of January, INTEC said.
GEORGIA TECH DEVELOPS REAL-TIME GENERIC DOPPLER PROCESSOR
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have built a generic
doppler processor that should simplify the jobs of radar and electronic
countermeasures (ECM) designers by allowing them to run simulations in
real time, and to configure the processor without changing the
hardware. The product of the three-year, internally funded project is
a device that costs less than $50,000, but can emulate most known
Doppler processing techniques. The lab is looking for outside sponsors
to fund development of a complete radar simulator based on the same
principles.
HARRIS WINS $1.66 BILLION AIR TRAFFIC COMMUNICATIONS DEAL
Harris Corp. edged AT&T for an FAA program to supply a $1.66 billion
voice switching and control system (VSCS) for the nation's air traffic
controllers, the last major contract in the Federal Aviation
Administration's $22 billion National Airspace Plan. FAA said recently
it would order 25 systems during the next four years, with the option
to buy another 24, and will spend $97 million on the contract this
fiscal year. Harris will install the initial buy of systems at the
agency's 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers and three other
facilities.
HONEYWELL PICKED FOR THREE SPACE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SUBCONTRACTS
Honeywell's Satellite Systems Operation has been picked for three
subcontracts totaling $7.285 million to provide electro-mechanical
equipment for space platforms including NASA's Space Station, the
Glendale, AZ, unit reported. Under a $6.2 million contract from GE
Astro-Space, Honeywell will provide reaction wheel assemblies for the
next-generation NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellites. In all
the firm will build 80 flight units and two ground units based on a
design Honeywell developed for GE's Defense Satellite Communications
System III. GE Astro-Space also awarded Honeywell a $385,000 contract
to provide three biaxial drives for the AT & T Telstar 4 communications
network of three satellites. For the Space Station, Honeywell will
provide five power train units under a $700,000 contract from LTV
Aerospace and Defense Missiles Div., which in turn is a subcontractor
to Rockwell International's Rocketdyne Div.
JAPAN DRAWS UP PRELIMINARY CONCEPT FOR SOLAR OR MICROWAVE UAV
Japan's National Aerospace Laboratory has finished work on a
preliminary concept for an unmanned aerial vehicle powered either by
solar energy or microwaves beamed from ground stations. NAL will build
a one-third scale model as a prototype to confirm the aircraft's
feasibility within three to four years. Japan hopes to use the
aircraft to monitor natural disasters and relay mobile
telecommunications signals. The design boasts a wingspan of nearly 100
feet, and uses a piston engine with a two-stage turbocharger to take
off and climb. An electric motor powers the plane at cruise altitude,
roughly 66,000 feet.
SEMATECH SEES 0,35-MICRON CIRCUITS MADE ON ALL U.S. GEAR BY '93
After almost four years of operation, the DOD/industry Sematech
consortium expects to move the U.S. semiconductor industry into parity
with Japan by demonstrating the manufacture on all-U.S. equipment of
200-millimeter silicon wafers carrying 0.35-micron circuitry, the
Austin, TX based organization recently reported. In lengthy reports on
its achievements and goals recently released, Sematech claimed it has
made important gains in restoring American semiconductor industry
competitiveness, and said it will demonstrate 0.35-micron manufacturing
by the end of 1992. With 0.8-micron circuitry the present world
standard, and 0.5-micron circuits on 150mm wafers already demonstrated
in the U.S., the advance would put U.S. chip-making capability on a par
with the best Japan has to offer. Sematech also outlined its plans to
build on traditional U.S. strengths in software design to develop
automated processes intended to cut the time between introduction of
new generations of technology by 25%.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIR FORCE ACCEPTS FIRST BLOCK 50 F-16
The first Block 50 F-16 fighter was accepted Oct. 31 by the Air Force
at prime contractor General Dynamics' Fort Worth, TX, facility, the Air
Force's Aeronautical Systems Div. recently announced. Block 50 F-16s
are slated to become operational in 1992. The Block 50 features a more
powerful engine, new avionics, additional weapon capabilities and
cockpit enhancements. Current budget deliberations will allow purchase
of 229 Block 50 F-16s. Thus far, the U.S. Air Force has accepted over
1,900 F-16s, and F-16s fly in the air forces of 17 foreign nations.
B-2 LOGISTICS COSTS MAY EXCEED AIR FORCE ESTIMATES
The General Accounting Office said in a new report that the cost of
logistics for the B-2 bomber, driven by the need to maintain its
stealth characteristics and its potential use for conventional
missions, may be greater than the Air Force now projects. A 13-page
GAO report said that if precise techniques are required to maintain the
low observables characteristics of the plane, costs may increase.
Also, it said, increased emphasis on use of the Northrop bomber for
conventional missions may make it hard for the AF to achieve its
estimate of $28 billion in logistics costs over a 20-year period for 75
B-2s. In addition, said GAO, meshing construction projects at Whiteman
AFB, MO, with a changing B-2 program has proven difficult, sometimes
resulting in premature construction.
GREECE TO BUY FIVE SIKORSKY SEAHAWKS IN $161 MILLION DEAL
Greece will buy five Sikorsky S-70B-6 Seahawk naval helicopters, with
options for three more, under a $161 million deal reported by the
Stratford, CN based helicopter company. The S-70B, the international
version of the SH-60 helicopter Sikorsky builds for the U.S. Navy, has
with the Greek sale found four foreign customers. Spain, Japan and
Australia also have purchased the aircraft, Sikorsky said. Also
included in the Greek deal are systems development, support equipment,
and training for aircrews and maintenance personnel.
NAVY AWARDS A-X CONCEPT EXPLORATION CONTRACTS, STARTS NEED STUDY
The Navy has awarded A-X attack plane concept exploration and
development (CE&D) contracts to all five industry teams that bid for
them, launching a 10-month effort to refine the Navy's own operational
requirement for the aircraft. Identical $20 million weapon system
trade and risk reduction study contracts went to Rockwell/Lockheed,
McDonnell Douglas/LTV, General Dynamics/McDonnell Douglas/Northrop,
Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics and Grumman/Lockheed/Boeing on Dec.
30. The first-named company in each team is the prime, and the others
are principal or major subcontractors. Lockheed is on three teams,
while Boeing, GD and McDonnell are on two each.
NORTHROP GETS $6 BILLION B-2 AWARD; 4TH QUARTER UP $40 MILLION
Based on a $6 billion Air Force contract for work on the B-2 bomber
program, Northrop Corp. said recently its fourth quarter margin
increased by $40 million or 56 cents per share after taxes. The
contract converts low-rate initial production (LRIP) contracts on five
B-2 aircraft from the fixed-price incentive, firm target type. It
covers the five planes, funded in fiscal year 1987 and 1988, and
provides for long-lead items for five FY 89-90 aircraft.
SIKORSKY DELIVERS DESERT HAWK HELICOPTERS
Sikorsky Aircraft said it has delivered four of eight S-70A-1L Desert
Hawk helicopters ordered by Saudi Arabia for medical evacuation duties.
The remainder are to be delivered in the first quarter of 1992. Saudi
Arabia, which received 13 Desert Hawks in 1990, has expressed a
requirement for eight additional medevac aircraft. The medevac Desert
Hawks are modified versions of Sikorsky's UH-60L Blackhawk aircraft.
SWITZERLAND SENDS F/A-18 HORNET BUY PROPOSAL TO PARLIAMENT
The Swiss government formally proposed buying 34 McDonnell Douglas F/A-
18 Hornet fighters for $2.6 billion, more than three years after the
Swiss military picked the U.S. plane. Offering the proposal to
Parliament brings the deal a little closer to fruition, after a
tumultuous period in which Bern reopened its fighter competition and
the French Mirage 2000-5 made a serious challenge to the Hornet's
previous win. The deal, which will be conducted on a government-to-
government rather than commercial basis, now faces a challenge from
leftist Swiss legislators, who complain that the purchase is a waste of
money. Bern has also been criticized for excluding British, French and
Swedish candidates even as Europe's governments move closer toward
economic unity next year.
AVIONICS:
GEC SENSORS WINS CONTRACT FOR TORNADO IRST
The U.K. Ministry of Defense has awarded the Electro-Optical Guidance
Div. of GEC Sensors an initial contract of $1.7 million to supply a
flight-qualified infrared search and track system (IRST) for trials in
an RAF Tornado GR.1 strike fighter. Although no British military
aircraft are currently equipped with a standard IRST system, the new
demonstrator system will make maximum use of infrared optical and
thermal imaging equipment now being produced at GEC Sensors; factory in
Basildon, Essex, and by GEC Ferranti Defense Systems, its major
subcontractor, in Edinburg, Scotland. Much of the infrared equipment
is already in service in RAF Tornado GR.1s and Harrier GR.7s, as well
as in the AV-8B Harriers flown by the U.S. Marine Corps. As an
entirely passive target detection system, IRST offers a covert
alternative to the Tornado's search radar and is being considered for
inclusion in the RAF's planned mid-life upgrade for its Tornado force.
HAZELTINE PICKED FOR F-16 IFF WORK
Hazeltine Corp. said recently that it has been chosen by General
Dynamics to provide the Advanced Identification Friend-or-Foe Combined
Interrogator/Transponder (AIFF-CIT) for the F-16 fighter mid-life
update program sponsored by NATO. Award of the contract is expected to
be finalized next month and result in equipment deliveries extending
over several years. Hazeltine, a subsidiary of the St. Louis-based
ESCO Electronics Corp., also produces the AN/APX-111 CIT for the F/Z-18
aircraft.
MISSILES:
AGM-129A ADVANCED CRUISE MISSILE TEST FIRED
An AGM-129A advanced cruise missile was tested recently in a follow-on
test and evaluation (FOT&E) flight conducted by the Strategic Air
Command. The flight was the second successful one since an ACM crashed
in August because of a bad circuit card. The last FOT&E flight since
then was rated a "no test," even though it performed well, because data
was not properly collected.
ORBITAL GETS $10.8 MILLION FOR BRILLIANT PEBBLES LAUNCH
Orbital Sciences Corp. will use its Pegasus air-launched booster to
orbit two "Brilliant Pebbles" prototypes under a $10.8 million contract
from the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. The contract calls
for Orbital to launch two prototypes of the Brilliant Pebbles space-
based interceptors, known as "lifejackets," aboard a single Pegasus
from the Western Test Range in 1994. TRW is building the prototypes,
which will be tested on orbit for several months, according to Orbital
Sciences.
RAYTHEON UNIT TO UPDATE EGYPT'S HAWK MISSILES
Raytheon's Missile Systems Div. received a $63.3 million contract to
update Egypt's Hawk Missiles to the Phase III product improvement
configuration, the Pentagon reported. Included are simulators,
logistics support and mod kits. The contract, managed by the Army's
Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is to be completed by Dec 31,
1995.
RAYTHEON WINS MISSILE CONTRACT
Raytheon Co. won a $54.9 million firm-fixed-price Navy contract to
install NATO Seasparrow missile systems on fleet oiler and amphibious
landing ships. The work covers fiscal 1990 and fiscal 1991 Seasparrow
buys and should be completed by November 1994.
SATELLITES:
ARIANESPACE LAUNCHES TWO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES
Arianespace launched two telecommunications satellites recently aboard
an Ariane 44L booster from Kourou, French Guiana, finishing the year
with a total of eight launches. Arianespace said provisional
parameters for the satellites include perigee of 285 miles, apogee of
22,307 miles and an inclination of 3.98 degrees. Telecom 2A is the
first of the second-generation series of satellites built by Matra
Marconi Space and Alcatel Espace for France Telecom and the French
Defense Ministry. INMARSAT 2 F3, built by a British Aerospace-led
team, will provide global maritime and mobile services from its
operational position at 179 degrees East longitude. Arianespace's next
mission, flight 49, is scheduled for mid-February to launch the
Japanese Superbird B satellite and ARABSAT 1C.
HUMAN ERROR BY CONTROLLERS COSTS DATA FROM UARS
Mistakes by ground controllers have resulted in the partial loss of
several days of data from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite
(UARS), but only two of the nine instruments on the stratospheric ozone
monitoring platform were affected and all hardware on the satellite is
performing well. Goddard Space Flight Center spokesman said on-board
UARS computers halted five times in December, causing data losses from
the High Resolution Doppler Imager (HRDI) and the Solar/Stellar
Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE). None of the glitches was
hardware-related, and once discovered the problems were easily
corrected. Investigation has shown that all of the instances are
related to either a procedural problem, a human error or in some cases
new code that hadn't been completely diagnosed on the ground as being
error-free.
SOVIET UNION LAUNCHES TWO SATELLITES IN TWO DAYS
The disintegrating Soviet Union has launched two satellites in two
days. Intercosmos 25, a science mission, was launched Dec. 18 and
Cosmos 2174, presumably a reconnaissance satellite, was launched Dec.
17. Intercosmos 25 was launched on a Cyclone booster from the Plesetsk
center near Archangel, the Kettering Group recently announced. Also
aboard, was Magion-3, a Czechoslovak subsatellite. Cosmos 2174,
apparently another in a long series of photographic reconnaissance
payloads, was launched by a Soyuz booster from the Baikonur center in
Kazakhstan. The news agency Tass said the satellite is functioning
normally.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ENDEAVOUR MAY FLIGHT
Astronauts on the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour in May
will work with a new control center as well, at least during part of
the seven-day mission. Engineers at Intelsat headquarters in the
District of Columbia will control the reboost of Intelsat VI after
spacewalking astronauts attach a new perigee kick motor to it. The
huge communications platform was stranded in low-Earth orbit after its
Titan launch in March 1990.
JAPAN SETS PLAN FOR MARS PROBE IN 1996
Japan's Institute of Space and Astronomical Science plans to send a
probe to measure the atmosphere of Mars in 1996. The probe, to be
named "Planet B," will be launched from Japan in the summer of 1996 and
enter orbit around Mars by October 1997, the Japanese institute
recently announced. The solar-powered 550-pound satellite will carry
instruments designed to test the planet's thin atmosphere, believed to
be composed primarily of carbon dioxide.
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| 20.140 | 01/06, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Jan 14 1992 15:03 | 576 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007294
Date: 13-Jan-1992 05:17pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 01/06, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 6, 1992
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------- AEROSPACE INDUSTRY ABSTRACTS
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 6, 1992
GENERAL:
AF THROWS OUT COMPUTER CONTRACT
LAB SWITCHES COMPUTER PLANS
LORAL CORP. ACQUIRES CALIFORNIA COMPANY
SNPE, KAMAN FORM 2ND JOINT VENTURE
TELEDYNE ENDS 1991 WITH $25 MILLION LOSS, TO DISPOSE OF 24 UNITS
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING WINS UPGRADE FOR CH-47 COPTERS
FAIRCHILD DELIVERS FIRST OF 53 C-26B AIRCRAFT TO NATIONAL GUARD
FRANCE GIVES DASSAULT 2 CONTRACTS
GD WINS F-16C/D COMPUTER CONTRACT
GD WINS MORE THAN 200 F-16 ORDERS IN 1991
KAMAN IN FIRST FLIGHT OF TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION HELICOPTER
THAIS FORMALIZE F-16 BUY
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE WORKS ON 3-D SYSTEM
BAe AUSTRALIA TO SUPPLY P-3C COCKPIT AVIONICS
CAE-LINK WILL UPGRADE VENEZUELAN F-16 TRAINER
HUGHES AIRCRAFT IS CHOSEN FOR NEXT-GENERATION DIPPING SONAR SYSTEM
LOCKHEED TO PRODUCE TEST SYSTEM FOR C-5A
MALAYSIAN S-61A UPGRADES
NAVY AWARDS MICROWAVE WORK
NEW SOFTWARE FOR BOEING 777
MISSILES:
HUGHES AIRCRAFT UNVEILS LONG-RANGE MAVERICK
MARTIN MARIETTA DEFEATS TI FOR THIRSTY SABER SENSOR SYSTEM
MARTIN MARIETTA NOTES THREE DIRECT HITS FOR UPGRADED HELLFIRE
NAVY DROPS AIM-9R EFFORT
OFFICIALS CLEAR FEWS HURDLE
RAYTHEON TO PERFORM WORK ON SIDEWINDER
RAYTHEON WILL BUILD KITS TO UPGRADE EGYPTIAN HAWK SYSTEM
SPAIN TO PURCHASE 840 MISTRAL MISSILES
SATELLITES:
MODEL OF SUN-REFLECTING SATELLITE TO BE TESTED FROM MIR STATION
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COSTAR CLEARS CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW FOR HUBBLE SERVICING FLIGHT
JAPANESE SHUTTLE TEST
JPL TURNS GALILEO FOR WARMING; SHIFTS MAGELLAN PLAN
NASA SETS JAN. 22 AS LAUNCH FOR INTERNATIONAL SHUTTLE MISSION
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AF THROWS OUT COMPUTER CONTRACT
The Air Force recently terminated a computer contract because its
streamlined acquisition plan for the system led to widespread
misunderstanding among competitors and inspired award protests; but it
will try again, the service said. The AF terminated Desktop IV
contracts to CompuAdd Corp. and Sysorex Information Systems Inc. -
worth about $600 million combined - that were awarded on Nov. 15, 1991.
The termination was made to resolve award protests by other competitors
and is agreed to be all affected parties. During investigation of the
protests, information surfaced that indicated a widespread
misunderstanding among offerors regarding several key provisions of the
solicitation. The Air Force intends to clarify the solicitation and
conduct discussions with offerors.
LAB SWITCHES COMPUTER PLANS
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory plans to buy a C-90
supercomputer built by Cray Research Inc. of Eagan, Minn., instead of
the $30 million Cray 3 from rival Cray Computer Corp., Colorado
Springs, CO. The laboratory has not yet determined when it can take
delivery on the C-90. The cost has not been determined. Livermore
uses supercomputers to help design nuclear and conventional weapons.
The laboratory had planned to be the first customer for the Cray 3
until its manufacturer ran into delays in its development.
LORAL CORP. ACQUIRES CALIFORNIA COMPANY
Loral Corp. of New York announced Dec. 20 that it had acquired
Librascope Corp. for $9.25 million. Librascope, headquartered in
Glendale, CA, supplies antisubmarine warfare weapon and combat control
systems for submarines and surface ships, tactical communications
terminals and equipment for field army communications, and displays for
command, control, communications and intelligence. The company said it
expects to have 1991 sales of about $80 million.
SNPE, KAMAN FORM 2ND JOINT VENTURE
SNPE of Paris has created a joint venture with Bloomfield, CN based
Kaman Corp. to form Advanced Energetic Materials Corp. (AEMC) of
Europe. The venture is the second between the two and follows the
creation of Advanced Energetic Materials Corp. of America last year.
AEMC America develops products and systems for defense and industrial
applications based on insensitive explosives material technology,
including energetic armor and insensitive munitions. The creation of
AEMC Europe demonstrates the commitment of SNPE and Kaman to reinforce
and expand AEMC-related activities and to bring the new technology-
insensitive products to the international market, a department director
at SNPE said.
TELEDYNE ENDS 1991 WITH $25 MILLION LOSS, TO DISPOSE OF 24 UNITS
Teledyne Inc., hit by losses on fixed-price development contracts,
ended 1991 with $25.4 million in red ink and recently detailed a plan
to sell off or close two dozen operating units. Eight of the 24 slated
for disposal are aerospace-related; two in engine manufacture or
overhaul and six in aviation-related components, although the company
didn't disclose which units were on the block. All the units combined
posted 1991 sales of $514.8 million. A $68.9 million write-off to
cover the restructuring - taken in the third quarter - led to the
losses for the full year on 7% softer sales of $3.21 billion. The
write-off covers what Teledyne expects to lose on the sale of many of
the units, and where a gain is expected the company won't recognize the
gain until it is realized.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BOEING WINS UPGRADE FOR GREEK CH-47 COPTERS
Boeing Helicopters, Philadelphia, will upgrade nine Greek Army CH-47C
Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the improved CH-47D configuration
under an agreement signed in Athens between Boeing and the Greek
Ministry of Defense. The agreement, which still must be approved by
the Defense Security Assistance Agency, calls for Greece to deliver the
first CH-47C to Boeing in March. The company expects to return the
first helicopter to Greece in October 1993, and deliveries will
continue at a rate of three aircraft in 1993, four in 1994 and two in
1995. The value of the contract was not disclosed. The CH-47D extends
the life of the Chinook by adding fiberglass rotor blades, new
transmission, electrical systems and advanced flight controls to the
CH-47C.
FAIRCHILD DELIVERS FIRST OF 53 C-26 AIRCRAFT TO NATIONAL GUARD
Fairchild Aircraft delivered the first of 53 C-26B twin turboprop
support aircraft to the U.S. National Guard Bureau at San Antonio, TX,
on Jan. 3. Fairchild, under a $235 million contract it received a year
ago after a competition, will deliver the rest of the 18-seat aircraft,
based on the Metro commuter airliner, over a five-year period. The
National Guard already operates a number of C-26s. The first C-26B
under the new contract will be operated by the Wisconsin National Guard
out of Truax Field in Madison, Wis. Later this month, the contract's
second C-26B will be delivered to the Muniz Air National Guard Base in
San Juan to support the Puerto Rico National Guard.
FRANCE GIVES DASSAULT 2 CONTRACTS
The French government recently announced that it had awarded Dassault
Aviation two contracts to supply Mirage 2000 fighters and Atlantique 2
maritime patrol aircraft funded under the 1991 budget. Traditionally,
the Ministry of Defense does not award its annual aircraft procurement
orders until the end of the year in which they are funded. The first
order covers the supply of 18 Mirage 2000-D two-seat strike fighters to
the French Air Force, and brings to 319 the number of Mirage 2000s of
various versions ordered by France. The Mirage 2000-D is a variant of
the Mirage 2000N nuclear strike fighter originally developed for
Kuwait, and is tailored for long-range, low-altitude attack missions
carrying submunition dispensers and laser-guided bombs and missiles.
The second order funds the delivery of two Atlantique 2 maritime patrol
aircraft to the Aeronautique Navale.
GD WINS F-16C/D COMPUTER CONTRACT
General Dynamics just won a $398.4 million Air Force contract for the
engineering and manufacturing development phase of the Modular Mission
Computer for the F-16C/D fighter. The cost-plus incentive fee
contract, awarded by the AF's Aeronautical Systems Div., is to be
completed in February 1997.
GD WINS MORE THAN 200 NEW F-16 ORDERS IN 1991
General Dynamics won enough F-16 business during the past 12 months to
keep its Ft. Worth, TX, production line open at least another year at
existing rates, and in reality much longer because the production rate
will slow dramatically in coming years. Despite predictions at this
time last year that GD was staring at the end of its long-running F-16
production line as early as 1993, four countries - Egypt, Korea,
Portugal and Thailand - together added some 200 planes to GD's backlog,
and the company is cautiously predicting more foreign sales will appear
soon. Right now GD is building F-16s at a rate of about 16 per month -
192 per year - but executives believe GD can sustain a warm production
line and keep a reasonable price at rates as low as two or three per
month, including production for both the U.S. Air Force and
international customers.
KAMAN IN FIRST FLIGHT OF TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION HELICOPTER
Kaman Corp. said recently that it conducted the first flight of a new
technology demonstration helicopter at its Bloomfield, CN facility.
The 4,000 pound Multi-Mission Intermeshing Rotor Aircraft (MMIRA),
designed for manned and unmanned duties, flew for about 30 minutes with
a Kaman chief test pilot at the controls. Several flights have been
conducted since, and expansion of the performance envelope has begun.
The demonstrator, whose maximum gross weight can exceed 10,000 pounds,
is based on the counter-rotating, intermeshing rotor technology
developed by Kaman. The company is reluctant to describe the
demonstrator more fully until after a briefing for senior officials
next month, probably in Washington.
THAIS FORMALIZE F-16 BUY
The government of Thailand has formally agreed to purchase 18 F-16
aircraft. Under the U.S. security assistance program, letter of offer
and acceptance formalize the sale of defense equipment. The U.S.
Congress was notified of the $547 million sale in September. The order
is a follow-on to previous Thai purchases of 18 F-16A and B aircraft.
The new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 1995. The new F-16s
being sold consist of 12 single-seat F-16As and six two-seat F-16Bs.
The Thai Air Force flied F-16As and Bs with upgraded computers,
avionics and fire control, giving the equivalent of F-16C and D
capabilities.
AVIONICS:
AIR FORCE WORKS ON 3-D SYSTEM
U.S. Air Force researchers are working to develop a three-dimensional
system that would allow pilots to detect the origin of radio
broadcasts. This year the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in
Arlington, VA, will sponsor a test of the system aboard an AV-8B
Harrier attack jet. In action, such a system could be coupled with a
pilot's radio and allow him to hear where his accompanying wingman is
located, according to a statement released by the Air Force's
Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Also, the system could help pilots distinguish among different radios
broadcasting over the same frequency. The work on the three-
dimensional sound system is being carried out by scientists in the crew
systems directorate of the division's Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks Air
Force Base, TX.
BAe AUSTRALIA TO SUPPLY P-3C COCKPIT AVIONICS
British Aerospace Australia, the Levels, South Australia, will supply
cockpit electronics for U.S. built P-3C Orion antisubmarine warfare
aircraft. The aircraft are destined for South Korea under a $2 million
contract Lockheed Corp., Calabasas, CA, awarded to the British defense
subsidiary in mid-December. Under the two-year contract, British
Aerospace Australia will provide the equipment that will light the
cockpit, ease communication between air crew, and perform other key
cockpit functions.
CAE-LINK WILL UPGRADE VENEZUELAN F-16 TRAINER
The U.S. Air Force's Ogden Air Logistics Center has awarded CAE-Link
Corp., Binghamton, N.Y., a 3.85 million contract to upgrade an F-16
flight trainer for the Venezuelan Air Force. Termed the Operational
Capability Upgrade, the improvement is part of a multistage enhancement
program for users of F-16 flight simulators. The modifications include
computer upgrade, changes to the cockpit hardware, a new instructor-
operator station incorporating color graphics, plus associated computer
software changes.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT IS CHOSEN FOR NEXT-GENERATION DIPPING SONAR SYSTEM
Hughes Aircraft has been chosen by the U.S. Navy over several other
competitors for development and production of the helicopter-borne
Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) system, an effort with a potential
value of up to $1 billion. The next-generation dipping sonar system
will be carried by SH-60F helicopters based on aircraft carriers and
SH-60B helicopters that fly from cruisers, destroyers and frigates. It
is intended to enhance the anti-submarine warfare capability of the
fleet. Hughes Aircraft's Ground Systems Group got a $31.3 million,
five-year award from Naval Air Systems Command Dec. 30 for full scale
development of ALFS and a follow-on production option for up to 50
systems. Hughes said the ALFS program, including planned U.S. and
international orders, could total more than 450 units.
LOCKHEED TO PRODUCE TEST SYSTEM FOR C-5A
Lockheed Sanders Avionics unit, Nashua, N.H., has received a $5.1
million contract from the U.S. Air Force to build Malfunction Detection
Analysis and Recording (MADAR) hardware for C-5A transport aircraft.
Awarded by San Antonio Air Logistics Center, Kelly Air Force Base, TX,
the MADAR II system is used to conduct in flight checks of key aircraft
systems and gather data for ground personnel. Under terms of the
contract, Lockheed Sanders will produce 25 sets of MADAR II systems,
which consist of 25 controllers and 575 signal acquisition board and
cable assemblies.
MALAYSIAN S-61A UPGRADES
Airod of Malaysia is adding a supplementary avionics package to
Sikorsky S-61A helicopters for the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The
turnkey contract to design, test and install the supplementary avionics
package in 34 RMAF S-61s is worth more than $18 million. Each
helicopter will receive a new weather radar, Doppler navigation system
and radar altimeter. The new avionics expand operational capability
and reduce crew workload. The first upgraded helicopter was delivered
late last year. All of them should be completed by June, 1993.
NAVY AWARDS MICROWAVE WORK
The U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research has awarded a contract worth
$5.4 million for the development of integrated circuit elements
incorporating superconducting materials. Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s
Science and Technology Center in Pittsburg won the three-year contract,
which is intended to create microwave radio receivers capable of
hearing fine signals and easily switching between frequencies. The
program is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency,
Arlington, VA.
NEW SOFTWARE FOR BOEING 777
Honeywell's Air Transport Systems Div. and DDC-I of Phoenix, AZ, are
jointly developing avionics software for the Boeing 777 using DDC-I's
Ada compiler System (DACS). The Ada language will be used in the 777's
information management and air data/inertial referency systems.
Originally developed as a military avionics language, Ada is becoming
more accepted for commercial aerospace applications.
MISSILES:
HUGHES AIRCRAFT UNVEILS LONG-RANGE MAVERICK
Hughes Aircraft Co. has introduced a long-range version of its air-
launched Maverick missile, used successfully in the gulf war to destroy
Iraqi tanks and bunkers. The Longhorn version of the missile
incorporates a jet engine that triples the missile's range to 40 miles.
The missile, which can be guided by an on-board infrared seeker or a
compact radar, is 11 feet long, 3 feet longer than the basic version.
Hughes' Missile Systems Group is based in Canoga Park, CA.
MARTIN MARIETTA DEFEATS TI FOR THIRSTY SABER SENSOR SYSTEM
Martin Marietta has defeated Texas Instruments for a contract to
develop and build a sensor package for the classified Thirsty Saber
cruise missile, in development by general Dynamics Convair Div. Prime
contractor GD, which picked Martin over TI, is developing the weapon
under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract. The
Thirsty Saber is a possibly re-usuable, autonomously guided cruise
missile, in development since 1986 and intended to seek out and destroy
relocatable targets, such as Scud mobile missile launchers, with
submunitions.
MARTIN MARIETTA NOTES THREE DIRECT HITS FOR UPGRADED HELLFIRE
The Hellfire Optimized Missile System (HOMS) scored three direct hits
in ground launch tests last month at Eglin AFB, FL, Martin Marietta
Corp. said recently. Martin Marietta, developing the system for the
Army, said a firing on Dec. 16 was the first to test the upgraded anti-
tank missile in a high temperature environment. The firing chamber was
heated to 145 degrees F to simulate a high outside temperature. Two
launches on Dec. 19 were the first to test the HOMS total warhead
system, which incorporates an electrical safe arm and fire device as
well as new precursor and main warheads. The precursor creates an
early explosion which clears a path for the main warhead to defeat
reactive armor. The missiles were fired at targets between two and
seven kilometers away.
NAVY DROPS AIM-9R EFFORT
A U.S. Navy decision to terminate funding for its AIM-9R program will
boost the stock of the joint Navy-Air Force AIM-9X, the latest planned
version of the Sidewinder air-to-air missile family. The AIM-9R, an
optically guided version of the heat-seeking Sidewinder missile, was
about to enter limited production, with full production of about 5,000
missiles to start in early 1994. Since 1987, the Navy has spent nearly
$50 million on AIM-9R development, most of it managed by Loral Corp.'s
Aeronutronic Division, Newport Beach, CA. Estimated cost of the total
program is $300 million.
OFFICIALS CLEAR FEWS HURDLE
Top Pentagon officials have approved a cautious two-year demonstration
and validation phase for the multibillion-dollar Follow-on Early
Warning System (FEWS), intended to track the launch of missiles such as
the Iraqi Scuds that were targeted at Israel and Saudi Arabia during
the gulf war. The decision clears the way for the release by February
of a revised request to industry to bid for the initial contracts,
pending final approval by the undersecretary of defense for
acquisition.
RAYTHEON TO PERFORM WORK ON SIDEWINDER
The U.S. Naval Air System Command, Arlington, VA, has awarded Raytheon
Co., Lexington, MA, a $6.6 million contract to manufacture 1,038 active
optical target detectors for the Sidewinder air-to-air missile.
Raytheon received 100 percent of a competitive procurement contract for
the second year in a row. The contract covers items to be delivered to
the U.S. government's Special Defense Acquisition Fund and foreign
military sales. Raytheon's facilities in Lowell, MA, will perform work
on the missile, which will be delivered between March of this year and
May of 1993.
RAYTHEON WILL BUILD KITS TO UPGRADE EGYPTIAN HAWK SYSTEM
Raytheon Co. received a five-year, $31.6 million contract from Army
Missile Command to build kits for modifying the Egyptian Hawk air
defense missile system to the Phase III configuration. The award is
Raytheon's second in the past two weeks for updating Egypt's Hawk
system, following receipt of a $63.3 million contract for mods and
simulator and logistics support. The work also represents the first
step in Egypt's air defense modernization program which has a total
value of more than $75 million. The contract follows the production of
Phase III systems for U.S. forces and allows the production line to
continue at rate production.
SPAIN TO PURCHASE 840 MISTRAL MISSILES
Spain has approved the purchase of 840 Mistral missiles from Matra
Defense of Velizy-Villacoublay, France. The contract is valued at
about 15 billion Spanish pesetas ($150 million) according to Matra
Defense. Thirteen countries have ordered the Mistral and its firing
system from Matra Defense, including six in Europe, three in Asia,
three in the Middle East and one in South America.
SATELLITES:
MODEL OF SUN-REFLECTING SATELLITE TO BE TESTED FROM MIR STATION
A subscale model of a sun-reflecting satellite that could be used to
illuminate settlements above the Arctic Circle during long polar nights
will be delivered to the Mir space station this October, according to
the Tass news agency. One space official said that all members of the
new Commonwealth of Independent States will have to cooperate to help
the project succeed. The device to be delivered to Mir, presumably by
unmanned Progress vehicle, would be a 1/10th subscale model. If tests
of the model succeed, a series of satellites will be launched carrying
the (devices), which will focus sunlight on any given area. Such
spacecraft could help replace damaged power grids in the areas of
natural disasters.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COSTAR CLEARS CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW FOR HUBBLE SERVICING FLIGHT
NASA engineers have cleared the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial
Replacement (COSTAR), a $30 million robotic module Ball Corp. is
building that is designed to compensate for the spherical abberation
inadvertently ground into the main light-gathering mirror on the Hubble
Space Telescope. The next milestone for the servicing mission comes in
two weeks, with a critical design review of the European Space Agency's
proposal for replacement solar arrays that will not impart a day/night
"jitter" to the telescope that cuts observation time.
JAPANESE SHUTTLE TEST
Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science will flight-test a
space shuttle model on Feb. 10 from its launch center in Uchinoura,
Kagoshima, Kyushu island. A balloon will lift a 2-meter long (6.5 ft.)
shuttle model to about 20,000 meters (65,000 ft.). Then it will soar
up to 75,000 meters (243,750 ft.) with its own rocket engine. The
purpose of the experiment is to obtain data for attitude control
technique for HIMES, a shuttle-type future space vehicle. The
institute conducted a similar experiment in 1988, but the balloon
failed.
JPL TURNS GALILEO FOR WARMING; SHIFTS MAGELLAN PLAN
Controllers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have turned the Galileo
probe into the sun in hopes it will warm enough to free stuck ribs on
the high-gain antenna, while JPL engineers have mapped a plan they hope
will allow a complete recovery of the signal from the Magellan Venus
mapper. The Galileo flight team recently sent commands to the crippled
spacecraft ordering it to turn about 45 degrees off the sun so that its
rays will warm the control mast on the high-gain antenna. The two-day
warming turn, Galileo's first since May 1991, started Jan. 9.
Engineers hope that by alternately cooling and warming the antenna they
can "walk" the stuck ribs free and set the spacecraft up to transmit
the large volumes of data it will generate at Jupiter. Galileo is
about 211 million miles from the sun.
NASA SETS JAN. 22 AS LAUNCH FOR INTERNATIONAL SHUTTLE MISSION
Space Shuttle managers recently set Jan. 22 as the launch date for
Discovery on STS-42, an international Spacelab mission that will focus
on life sciences and microgravity processing. The flight readiness
review decision confirmed the longstanding target launch date for the
mission, which will carry a crew of seven. The two-and-a-half hour
launch window opens at 8:53 a.m. EST. Discovery will carry the
Spacelab-based International Microgravity Laboratory-1 in its cargo
bay. More than 220 scientists from 14 nations will participate in the
on-board experiments.
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| 20.141 | 1/13, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Fri Jan 24 1992 16:30 | 503 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007394
Date: 23-Jan-1992 12:17pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 1/13, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 13, 1992
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 13, 1992
GENERAL:
AEROSPATIALE: 1991 SALES UP, BUT NEW ORDERS CONTINUE SLIDE
CONTROL DATA BUYS BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY
ESD ESTABLISHES ONLINE SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING PAPERLESS RFPs
GORCA SYSTEMS PURCHASES INTERSPEC RADAR SEGMENT
INTEGRAL SYSTEMS DEBUTS COMPUTERIZED EARTH STATION
LOGICA WINS CONTRACT FOR BRITAIN'S ALFENS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS FORMS TEAM FOR ASAS BLOCK II PROGRAM
TRACOR INC. EMERGES FROM BANKRUPTCY
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ARMY BOOSTS RAH-66 WEIGHT BY 6%, PLANS EXTRA EQUIPMENT
EMBRAER TO DEVELOP REAR-ENGINE EMB-145
JAPAN PLANS TO BUY AWACS
AVIONICS:
BRITAIN'S FR AVIATION WINS ROYAL NAVY CONTRACT
RAYTHEON UNIT TO DESIGN NAVY MINE-HUNTING GEAR
MISSILES:
LABARGE TO BUILD ATLAS II, TITAN IV CABLES, HARNESS ASSEMBLIES
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED FUNDS FOR BATTERY WORK
NAVY TO BUY SPARROW TRAINER
ORBITAL SCIENCES TO WORK ON SDI'S BRILLIANT PEBBLES
SAO SEEKS INFORMATION ON LOW-COST, PEGASUS-COMPATIBLE SPACECRAFT
USAF TO LIFT VEIL ON COVERT NUCLEAR ROCKET
SATELLITES:
HUGHES TO SHIP SATELLITE TO CHINA FOR LONG MARCH LAUNCH
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP. TO OFFER SATELLITE SERVICES IN LATIN AMERICA
PHILLIPS LABORATORY HIRES CONTRAVES FOR TELESCOPE
SECRET SECONDARY PAYLOAD ORBITING
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COSMONAUTS TO PLACE SOLAR SAIL INTO THREE-DAY ORBIT IN LATE 1992
DISCOVERY TO LIFT OFF WITH BALLAST IN TWO GAS CANISTERS
FIRST 1992 SHUTTLE MISSION TO CARRY LIFE SCIENCES TESTS
MIR TO DEPLOY U.S. SATELLITE
NASA TO ORDER SHUTTLE WORKFORCE CUTS
RUSSIANS TO KEEP MIR MANNED THIS YEAR
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AEROSPATIALE: 1991 SALES UP, BUT NEW ORDERS CONTINUE SLIDE
Aerospatiale will post a 15% increase in sales for 1991, thanks to an
above-average year for delivery of passenger planes. Sales should come
in at about 38 billion francs ($7 billion), and there will also be
profits for the full year, though he declined to name a figure. The
French state-owned company posted a 38 million franc ($7.02 million)
profit in 1990. Aerospatiale got help from a 71% jump in Airbus
deliveries - 163 jetliners compared with 95 in 1990 - along with a 32%
increase in ATR turboprop deliveries to 61 aircraft.
CONTROL DATA BUYS BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY
Control Data Corp. recently announced that it had acquired Barrios
Technology Inc. of Houston for an undisclosed sum. Barrios Technology
will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Control Data's Government
Systems Group, Minneapolis, which provides electronic information
systems for customers in the defense and aerospace sectors. The
president of the Government Systems Group said that the company plans
to complement its growing defense business with expanding opportunities
in non-defense government markets.
ESD ESTABLISHED ONLINE SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING PAPERLESS RFPs
Air Force Electronic Systems Div. has established a computerized
bulletin board system for distributing "paperless" draft requests for
proposals to permit easier and more timely responses by industry. The
unclassified system, based at Hanscom AFB, MA, is called the Hanscom
Electronic RFP Bulletin Board (HERBB). HERBB gives contractors online
access to key portions of RFPs, including the statement of work,
specifications and instructions. It also gives them quick access to
the most recent changes in the RFP and allows them to submit their
comments or questions to the program office and receive answers more
rapidly than would be possible through the mail. EDS's bulletin board,
which was activated June 3 at a cost of less than $15,000, consists of
a personal computer, eight phone lines and system software.
GORCA SYSTEMS PURCHASES INTERSPEC RADAR SEGMENT
Gorca Systems Inc. of Cherry Hill, N.J., in December 1991 acquired
Interspec's government operations program in Ambler, PA. The
Pennsylvania company's group specializes in large aperture array
systems, including space-based radars. The acquisition will strengthen
Gorca's expertise in spacecraft system design and integration, and
provide the company with wider technology skills. The company, with $5
million in annual revenues and more than 100 employees, provides
specialized spacecraft services to industry and government. The new
group becomes Gorca's remote-sensing and advanced signal processing
division.
INTEGRAL SYSTEMS DEBUTS COMPUTERIZED EARTH STATION
Integral Systems Inc., a computer systems integrator in Lanham, MD, has
introduced a new computerized Earth station for use in satellite
telemetry, tracking and control functions. The company announced
recently that the computer system, called Epoch 2000, provides
increased computer power at lower cost over other systems currently in
use. The computer work station offers computational performance of 10
million to 70 million instructions per second, which is at least twice
the power of specialized computers used for telemetry and tracking.
Integral Systems' equipment costs $30,000 to $60,000. Epoch 2000 can
be used for payload integration and testing functions and for satellite
launch and on-orbit operations. It is based on technology developed
for NASA's Multi-Satellite Operations Control Center and the U.S. Air
Force's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.
LOGICA WINS CONTRACT FOR BRITAIN'S ALFENS
Britain's Civil Aviation Authority, on behalf of the Ministry of
Defence, has awarded London-based software house Logica a contract to
implement a system to aid the management of military low-flying
activities in the United Kingdom. The contract for the automated, low-
flying, flight planning, enquiry and notification system (ALFENS) will
be worth more than 10 million pounds ($18.5 million). It will give all
major military flying bases and weapon ranges access to a central
computer at London's civil Air Traffic Control Center, at West Drayton,
Middlesex. From there, more than 300 nation-wide work stations will be
joined to provide facilities flight booking, dissemination of flight
safety data and cross-checking of possible conflicts with other
flights.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS FORMS TEAM FOR ASAS BLOCK II PROGRAM
McDonnell Douglas will compete for Block II of the Army's All Source
Analysis System through a team that consists of its Electronic Systems
Co., TRW, Hughes Aircraft Co., COMARCO and Software Analysis and
Management Inc. (SAMCO), the company reported. The program calls for a
contractor to rehost Block I software on new common hardware for ASAS,
the intelligence node of the Army Tactical Command and Control System
(ATCCS), which provides field commanders with timely intelligence for
battlefield decisionmaking. Also included in the Block II effort is a
requirement for more capable software, with an open architecture to
facilitate future rehosting on more advanced hardware, McDonnell
Douglas said.
TRACOR INC. EMERGES FROM BANKRUPTCY
Tracor Inc. is investigating listing the company's stock on the
American stock exchange or over the counter following the emergence of
the company from bankruptcy. Under the Chapter 11 bankruptcy
reorganization completed Dec. 27, Tracor, a defense contractor, was
split from Littelfuse Inc., a fuse producer. The reorganization traded
corporate debt for equity in the new entities. The reorganized Tracor
is expected to have about $250 million in annual sales, nearly all in
the defense sector. Its three divisions provide engineering and
technical services, electronic countermeasures equipment, and flight
testing and flight training.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ARMY BOOSTS RAH-66 WEIGHT BY 6%, PLANS EXTRA EQUIPMENT
The U.S. Army has increased the empty weight ceiling for its RAH-66
Comanche armed reconnaissance/light attack helicopter by 6% and plans
to add more weight for extra equipment. The higher weight allowance,
made public during the RAH-66 preliminary design review, will increase
the production cost of the aircraft. The Army also intends to boost
the power of the Comanche's engine to accommodate a heavier aircraft.
The Army did not disclose a new RAH-66 cost estimate. Last spring,
when the development program began, the Army's estimate was $8.9
million per aircraft, and that of the Boeing Helicopters-Sikorsky
Aircraft contractor team was $8.5 million
EMBRAER TO DEVELOP REAR-ENGINE EMB-145
Brazilian aircraft giant Embraer, San Jose' dos Campos, has opted to
develop a rear-engine model of the EMB-145 regional fan-jet aircraft
over a wing-mounted engine configuration. Although the wing-mounted
configuration would have allowed quicker deployment, the rear-engine
model promises to reduce the engines' exposure to foreign objects,
improve engine performance and reduce the weight of the aircraft
because of shorter landing gear. The aircraft's nose section, tail
cone and avionics are similar to those used in other Embraer commercial
and military aircraft. With the engine decision, the EMB-145 has
entered the design stage.
JAPAN PLANS TO BUY AWACS
Japan intends to buy four Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
aircraft from the U.S. government over the next five years, a senior
Japanese official recently announced. Japan's Defense Agency has
budgeted for the planes in its five-year defense plan. He said his
government is awaiting proposals from the United States about specific
airframes intended to house the sophisticated early warning and
aircraft tracking sensors. Likely candidates include derivatives of
767 commercial jets by Seattle-based Boeing Co., and C-130 and P-3C
aircraft built by Lockheed Corp. of Calabasas, CA.
AVIONICS:
BRITAIN'S FR AVIATION WINS ROYAL NAVY CONTRACT
The British Ministry of Defence has awarded FR Aviation an additional
five-year contract to provide airborne towed target services in support
of Royal Navy air defense training. The contract valued at more than
25 million pounds ($46.25 million), covers target towing and passive
targeting tasks using a fleet of six Falcon 20 aircraft, two Cessna
441s and a Beech C55. The aircraft will fly 4,000 hours a year over an
area ranging from northern Norway to the Persian Gulf. FR Aviation is
part of the Bournemouth, Dorset, United Kingdom-based FR Group. The
aircraft are modified to carry specialized target towing equipment for
tasks varying from low-speed visual gunnery training to presentation of
targets operating at five meters (15.5 feet) above the sea to simulate
sea-skimming missiles.
RAYTHEON UNIT TO DESIGN NAVY MINE-HUNTING GEAR
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Arlington, VA, has selected
Raytheon Co.'s Submarine Signal Division to design the AQS-20 airborne
mine-hunting system for deployment aboard the MH-53E helicopter.
Following a formal program review by the Navy in July, the Portsmouth,
R.I. based division will receive a multimillion dollar contract to
develop two engineering models of the AQS-20 system. A modern
replacement of the Navy's AQS-14 mine-hunting system, the AQS-20
consists of high-resolution sonar sensors encapsulated in a towed
underwater vehicle. When towed through water by a helicopter, the
system is used to detect, classify and locate mines.
MISSILES:
LABARGE TO BUILD ATLAS II, TITAN IV CABLES, HARNESS ASSEMBLIES
LaBarge Inc., St. Louis, MO., said it will produce electrical cable and
harness assemblies for Atlas II and Titan IV/Centaur launch vehicles
under a $4 million contract from General Dynamics Space Systems Div.
The cables and harnesses will support the onboard computers, booster
engines, electrical systems and ground communications for both launch
systems. The contract, which runs from the fourth quarter of fiscal
1992 through 1998, has options worth $6 million. The work will be
performed at company facilities in Berryville, Ark.
MARTIN MARIETTA AWARDED FUNDS FOR BATTERY WORK
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, has awarded
$5.6 million to Martin Marietta Astronautics Group, Denver, for 10
lithium batteries to be used in the Titan 4 booster program. The
batteries will be used in Centaur upper stages. The company is the Air
Force's prime contractor for Titan 4, the Air Force's workhorse booster
for heavy military payloads such as spy satellites. The Centaur, built
by General Dynamics Space Systems, San Diego, is used to loft payloads
into geostationary orbit, 22,000 miles above the equator. The
satellite remains stationary over a given point on the globe, so
geostationary orbits are used for spacecraft such as communications
satellites and signals intelligence satellites.
NAVY TO BUY SPARROW TRAINER
The U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu, CA, plans to
acquire a target simulator for the Sparrow antiaircraft missile from
Benton Corp. of Warrendale, PA. The new simulator, scheduled for
delivery in October, will allow Navy personnel to practice using the
missile by showing them how it will perform in combat. The contract,
which covers development and production of the motion simulator, is
worth more than $1 million. To conduct training exercises with the new
equipment, Sparrow missiles without motors or ordnance will be attached
to the simulator. Navy trainees then will practice firing the missile
as they perform simulated aircraft maneuvers such as sharp turns.
ORBITAL SCIENCES TO WORK ON SDI'S BRILLIANT PEBBLES
TRW's Space and Defense Sector unit, Redondo Beach, CA, has awarded
Orbital Sciences Corp. a $10.8 million contract to provide launch
services for its spacecraft in the predevelopment phase of the
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's Brilliant Pebbles program.
Under the contract, Fairfax, VA based Orbital Sciences will launch one
Pegasus air-launched space booster from the Western Test Range in 1994.
TRW's contract with the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization
provides for the design, manufacture and testing of two Brilliant
Pebbles spacecraft that will be launched by the same Pegasus vehicle.
They will then be tested over several months while in orbit. Orbital
Sciences is a space technology company that designs, manufactures and
markets a variety of space products and services.
SAO SEEKS INFORMATION ON LOW-COST, PEGASUS-COMPATIBLE SPACECRAFT
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is soliciting
information from companies able to produce a low-cost spacecraft that
can support the Fe (iron)-Line Explores (FeLiX) x-ray astronomy
instrument planned for launch on a Pegasus-class booster in 1997. The
Cambridge, MA based observatory said it does not have assurances of
funding for the platform, but declared there is a high probability that
such assurances can be obtained providing the project costs can be kept
very low and be cost effective. SAO said it will build the FeLiX
instrument, an x-ray telescope that will map the sky in the 2-10 keV
range to identify interesting objects for more detailed study by more
powerful instruments.
USAF TO LIFT VEIL ON COVERT NUCLEAR ROCKET
The U.S. Defense Department has spent $130 million on a secret nuclear
rocket program during the last four years, and plans to conduct the
first ground tests of the system as early as 1994 in the Nevada desert.
The controversial project, which was partially revealed through leaks
to the news media in April, has raised safety and environmental
concerns among its critics. The 12-foot-high rocket engine would use
an advanced particle-bed reactor and eventually could meet a variety of
civilian and military applications, ranging from boosting satellites to
higher orbits to lunar and Mars exploration missions.
SATELLITES:
HUGHES TO SHIP SATELLITE TO CHINA FOR LONG MARCH LAUNCH
Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Space and Communications Group is preparing to
send the company's first HS 601 satellite to China January 27 for a
scheduled March 8 launch on the Chinese Long March 2E rocket. The new
satellite, designed to provide direct television broadcasting and carry
voice and data transmissions across Australia, marks Hughes' entrance
into the market for three-axis satellites. The three-axis spacecraft
are stationary in orbit, as opposed to the spinning satellites built by
Hughes for the last 20 years. Three-axis stabilized satellites offer
more power than spinning satellites because they rely on large solar
array wings that continually face the sun. On the spinning design, the
entire surface of the spacecraft is covered with solar panels and the
amount of power is limited by the satellite's size.
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP. TO OFFER SATELLITE SERVICES IN LATIN AMERICA
Orbital Sciences Corp., Fairfax, VA, announced recently agreements with
five Latin American nations to supply mobile satellite services the
company will offer through its subsidiary Orbital Communications. The
list includes: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Panama. These
follow the agreements with Canada and Venezuela announced during the
fall of 1991. These agreements will strengthen Orbital Communications
position to obtain broadcast frequencies for its location and
positioning and messaging service at the February World Administrative
Radio Conference in Malaga, Spain.
PHILLIPS LABORATORY HIRES CONTRAVES FOR TELESCOPE
The U.S. Air Force's Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base,
N.M., has awarded $19 million to Contraves USA, Philadelphia, to build
a telescope for monitoring satellites in low Earth orbit. The
telescope is to be installed at the Air Force Maui Optical Site atop
Mount Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii. The device will be used for research
into techniques for producing images of foreign satellites overhead.
The entire project is expected to cost approximately $60 million, and
it is scheduled to be complete by the summer of 1995. The main mirror
of the telescope is to be 3.67 meters (12 feet) in diameter.
SECRET SECONDARY PAYLOAD ORBITING
New observations show that a U.S. Air Force Titan 4 booster launched
from Vandenberg AFB, CA, carried a secondary piggyback payload of three
ocean surveillance spacecraft. Observation of the Titan payloads by
satellite trackers in France and Scotland indicates it carried a large
imaging reconnaissance satellite as its primary payload. The three
smaller satellite payloads have fanned out in a 1,116-km. (693 mi.)
orbit inclined 63.4 deg. These characteristics are like those on
payloads used on previous ocean surveillance missions, and are also
similar to those of a Titan 4 payload launched earlier from Cape
Canaveral.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
COSMONAUTS TO PLACE SOLAR SAIL INTO THREE-DAY ORBIT IN LATE 1992
Cosmonauts aboard the Mir space station will unfurl a large sail at the
end of the year, in the first space-based experiment to test the
efficacy of solar sail propulsion. Called Znamya, meaning flag or
banner, the project will involve placing in orbit for three days a
round solar sail that is 25 meters in diameter. A Progress automatic
resupply vehicle will carry the said to the Mir station in November,
and the sail would be deployed in late November or early December by
the cosmonauts during a space walk.
DISCOVERY TO LIFT OFF WITH BALLAST IN TWO GAS CONISTERS
Two of the 12 Get Away Special (GAS) canisters, aboard the Space
Shuttle Discovery will be launched without their planned payloads on
the upcoming STS-42 mission because last-minute technical problems
delayed their delivery to NASA. A spokesman from the Goddard Space
Flight Center said that GAS payloads prepared by the Society of
Japanese Aerospace Companies and by the Boy Scouts of America under the
sponsorship of TRW both will miss the flight, the first time GAS
canisters have gone into orbit without their planned payloads. Ballast
will be substituted in the two GAS canisters, which will be mounted
along with 10 others in two rows of six on a GAS bridge assembly at the
rear of Discovery's cargo bay.
FIRST 1992 SHUTTLE MISSION TO CARRY LIFE SCIENCES TESTS
NASA plans to launch a seven-day space shuttle mission January 22 that
will mimic many aspects of the planned international space station.
Known as the International Microgravity Laboratory-1 (IML), the first
shuttle flight of 1992 will carry 54 experiments in life sciences and
materials research. The $70 million payload includes experiment
hardware from Canada and the European Space Agency. Both are partners
in the NASA-led space station program. The IML research equipment is
housed in a pressurized Spacelab module, which was built by the
European Space Agency as a shirtsleeve laboratory for the shuttle cargo
bay. The first of five Spacelab flights in the next two years, IML
originally was scheduled for launch in 1987.
MIR TO DEPLOY U.S. SATELLITE
A small U.S. educational satellite is to be deployed from the Russian
Mir space station airlock in 1993 under an Aerospace Ambassador's
program. The same Huntsville, Ala., organization for several months
has been sponsoring the selection of a U.S. educator who would be
involved in deployment of the satellite, which is to transmit
educational data from space and information from a small science
payload that is being selected from student entries. The educator is
to be selected in July.
NASA TO ORDER SHUTTLE WORKFORCE CUTS
NASA will order its contractors to trim 20% of the manpower assigned to
the space shuttle over the next five years in order to provide $500
million for new programs such as the space station. This translates
into 5,000 jobs across the country and reflects tough budget
limitations being imposed on most federal agencies. The shuttle
program budget this year is $2.7 billion, representing a congressional
cut of $330 million. Shuttle contractors currently employ about 25,000
managers, engineers and technicians in several hundred aerospace
companies. Some of these will be able to transfer shuttle workers to
the space station and other space programs.
RUSSIANS TO KEEP MIR MANNED THIS YEAR
The Russian Mir space station will remain permanently manned for at
least the near term, but a decision remains to be made on whether
cosmonauts will maintain a continuous presence on board the orbital
facility in 1993 and beyond. Russian space program officials said a
firm plan for manned space flight operations during 1992 has been drawn
up, and its goals are expected to be met despite the breakup of the
Soviet Union and the economic troubles that accompany it. Missions of
approximately six months duration are programmed for the primary
Russian cosmonaut crews that fly this year, and shorter-length visits
are planned with the foreign cosmonauts who are launched as part of
paid international flights.
|
| 20.142 | 01/20, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Jan 29 1992 22:23 | 568 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007452
Date: 28-Jan-1992 03:59pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 01/20, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 20, 1992
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Copyrighted Material -- For Internal Use Only **
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the latest three months of information on the industry, use the Industry
Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution list changes should be sent to ICS::IMSIS or Doug Shaw @PKO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 20, 1992
GENERAL:
COMARCO WILL SUPPORT ARMY SOFTWARE LOGISTICS
CONTEMPORARY CYBERNETICS GROUP DEVELOPS MAGNETO-OPTICAL DISK DRIVE
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SUPERCOMPUTER
MAGNETEK BUYS OUT EMP ELECTRONICS
RESTRUCTURING CHARGE TAKES TOLL ON MARTIN MARIETTA'S RESULTS
SPACE PROGRAM SHIFTS FORCE ROCKWELL LAYOFFS
SUNDSTRAND TO BUY WESTINGHOUSE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DIV.
UTC TO ANNOUNCE LOSS, RESTRUCTURING
WESTINGHOUSE: $1 BILLION IN LOSSES FROM FINANCIAL UNIT IN 1991
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BELGIUM GAINS ANTITANK CAPABILITY WITH AGUSTA A-109CM HELICOPTERS
FIRST C-17 PASSES 100 HOURS IN FLIGHT TEST
JDA TO START BUILDING OH-X LIGHT HELO PROTOTYPES THIS YEAR
NAVY TESTS T-45 TRAINER FOR CARRIER-BASED USE
SCALED COMPOSITES ENDS FIRST GUN TESTS ON ARES
AVIONICS:
AVIONICS SOFTWARE FOR THE BOEING 777
HUGHES AIRCRAFT TO DEVELOP AIRBORNE LOW FREQUENCY SONAR
HUGHES, THOMSON TEAM WINS NAVY'S ALFS AWARD
KAMAN SUCCESSFULLY TESTS MMIRA DEMONSTRATOR
NAVY SELECTS MCDONNELL FOR FLUIDIC FLIGHT CONTROLS
THOMSON-CSF, TERMA TO TEAM ON DANISH RADAR
TRIMBLE DEVELOPS NEW GPS NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS
MISSILES:
BDM INTERNATIONAL WINS SDI INTERCEPTOR AWARD
IG URGES JAVELIN PRICE CHECK
LABARGE WINS CONTRACT FOR LAUNCH VEHICLE PARTS
NAVY GIVES HERCULES ADD-ON HARM CONTRACT
SATELLITES:
FIVE MORE COUNTRIES SIGN ORBCOMM MARKETING AGREEMENTS
TERRA-MAR TO DISTRIBUTE EOSAT IMAGES
TRW PLANS PACIFIC COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
SPACE SYSTEMS:
BENDIX GETS $447.9 MILLION CONTRACT FOR JSC GROUND SUPPORT
ENDEAVOUR BELIEVED ON TRACK FOR MAY LAUNCH AFTER SHAKY START
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CONTINUES WORK ON STATION CENTRIFUGE DESIGN
SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LAUNCHED AFTER HOUR-LONG DELAY ON STS-42
THREE FIRMS RECEIVE MILSTAR CONTRACT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
COMARCO WILL SUPPORT ARMY SOFTWARE LOGISTICS
Comarco Inc. will continue to provide software development and training
support services for U.S. Army logistics systems deployed worldwide
under a $20 million subcontract from Information Technology Solutions
Inc., Hampton, VA. Information Technology Solutions is the prime
contractor to the Army's Combined Arms Support Command, Fort Lee, VA,
and won the contract under the government's small business support
program. The contract to Comarco, Anaheim, CA, is for one year, with
options for additional four years.
CONTEMPORARY CYBERNETICS GROUP DEVELOPS MAGNETO-OPTICAL DISK DRIVE
Contemporary Cybernetics Group has developed a magneto-optical disk
drive that can store 1 gigabyte of data on a single optical platter.
One likely application will be to store CAD/CAM data, allowing users
rapid access to view or manipulate data. Long-term or archival storage
could use an 8-mm. helical scan tape storage system that stores 25
gigabytes on a tape.
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SUPERCOMPUTER
The U.S. Air Force will use one of the first supercomputers with
gallium arsenide-based processors to analyze data from wind tunnels and
engine test cells for the F-15 Seek Eagle program, the National Aero-
Space Plane and the F-22. Convex Computer Corp. shipped the GaAs-based
computer to Arnold AFB in Tullahoma, TN. Three more of the Convex
C3800-series computers will be delivered to the Air Force during the
next three years under the $14.8 million contract. The computers use a
45,000-gate, 0.8-micron gallium arsenide processor made by Vitesse
Semiconductor Corp., and can handle 217 million floating point
operations per second in 32-bit precision with a single processor. Up
to eight processors can be installed.
MAGNETEK BUYS OUT EMP ELECTRONICS
MagneTek Inc., based in Anaheim, CA, has acquired EMP Electronics of
Tempe, AZ. The companies provided no terms of the transaction.
MagneTek manufactures electrical equipment, while EMP builds power
supplies and related equipment for a wide range of military and
commercial aerospace use. EMP will be headed by the former director of
defense systems operations in Washington for MagneTek. MagneTek
officials said that combining the two companies will address the need
for precise and reliable power conversion in key markets such as
commercial and military avionics.
RESTRUCTURING CHARGE TAKES TOLL ON MARTIN MARIETTA'S RESULTS
A restructuring charge to cover departure from the aluminum business
pushed Martin-Marietta's fourth quarter profits down 23%, even though
sales grew 7% in the period. Fourth-quarter net earnings tumbled to
$44 million on record-high sales for the period of $1.67 billion,
leaving profits for the year off 4% to $313 million on slightly lower
sales of $6.1 billion. Despite the lower results, the company pointed
to its strong backlog and its expansion into non-defense government
markets as keys to future success. Year-end backlog came to $11
billion, and coupled with its diverse mix of programs and technologies
it provides "a positive foundation" for growth, a Martin Marietta
official said.
SPACE PROGRAM SHIFTS FORCE ROCKWELL LAYOFFS
Rockwell expects to lay off up to 1,000 employees by spring from its
Space Systems Div. in Downey and Seal Beach, CA. NASA is moving space
shuttle maintenance from Rockwell to Kennedy Space Center, and there
are stretchouts in two of Rockwell's SDI programs. The cuts come on
top of 500 layoffs from the space division's Palmdale, CA, plant that
will end next month, due to completion of extended-duration orbiter
modifications to the space shuttle Columbia.
SUNDSTRAND TO BUY WESTINGHOUSE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DIV.
Sundstrand Corp. said recently that it has agreed with Westinghouse
Electric Corp. to buy Westinghouse's Electrical Systems Div. for about
$125 million. The division, located in Lima, Ohio, and Santa Isabel,
Puerto Rico, has annual sales of about $100 million. The agreement
between Sundstrand, based in Rockford IL, and the Pittsburg based
Westinghouse is subject to approval of the boards of directors of both
companies and regulatory approval. Sundstrand, with 1990 sales of
$1,599.8 million, designs and manufactures components and subsystems
for aerospace and industrial markets.
UTC TO ANNOUNCE LOSS, RESTRUCTURING
United Technologies Corp., after posting its first annual loss in 20
years, will announce a corporate restructuring plan soon that could
include plant closings and additional layoffs in an effort to save $ 1
billion a year. Workers at Pratt & Whitney, UTC's largest operating
division, are braced for another big cutback on top of the more than
2,400 jobs trimmed in the past year. Speculation centers on a move by
the parent corporation to consolidate Pratt's network of jet-engine
facilities in Connecticut, Maine, Georgia and Florida. The
corporation, which acknowledged in November that it would post a loss
for 1991, is under intense pressure from the investment community to
address its high cost structure and what is often termed the "cost
differential" between East Hartford-based Pratt and rival GE Aircraft
Engines of Evendale, Ohio.
WESTINGHOUSE: $1 BILLION IN LOSSES FROM FINANCIAL UNIT IN 1991
Westinghouse Electric Corp. recently posted more than $1 billion in red
ink for 1991, battered by a charge to cover bad loans in its financial
unit and lower operating profits in its other businesses. Net losses
for 1991 came to $1.09 billion - including the effects of a $1.68
million reserve taken in the third quarter to cover the loans - on
slightly lower revenues of $11.5 billion, although Westinghouse
stressed operating profits came to $973 million. The loss was about in
line with Wall Street's expectations, and most said the only unanswered
question was how the company planned to raise more cash, either through
a cut in its dividend, a stock offering or selling off non-financial
assets.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
BELGIUM GAINS ANTITANK CAPABILITY WITH AGUSTA A-109CM HELICOPTERS
Belgium's Agusta A-109CM scout/attack helicopters are adding vitality
to the air mobility forces that the country can contribute to NATO's
new rapid-reaction corps. Belgium has ordered 28 of the twin-engine A-
109s in an antitank configuration and 18 as reconnaissance/utility
aircraft. The order is valued at 13 billion Belgian francs ($400
million) including spares and training and gives the country its first
antitank helicopter. The rotorcraft are being assembled at the
government-owned SABCA (Societe Ananyme Belge de Constructions
Aeronautiques) factory at the Charleroi Airport south of Brussels from
kits supplied by Agusta. The observation version will be delivered
first. All A-109s in the order are to completed by July, 1993.
FIRST C-17 PASSES 100 HOURS IN FLIGHT TEST
The first Air Force C-17 airlifter passed 100 hours total flying time
recently during its 35th test flight at Edwards AFB, CA, while ground
operations and logistics support testing also progresses, the service's
Aeronautical Systems Div. reported. So far the T-1 aircraft has been
flight tested at speeds ranging from 83 to 341 knots, demonstrating
flying capabilities between 4,000 and 35,000 feet. Engines have been
shut down and restarted in flight with both JP-4 and JP-8 fuel and the
aircraft has landed in 1,600 feet with a gross weight of 350,000
pounds. Upcoming tests will evaluate structural and aerodynamic
damping, and preliminary air refueling tests are scheduled during the
next 100 flight hours.
JDA TO START BUILDING OH-X LIGHT HELO PROTOTYPES THIS YEAR
Japan will go ahead with plans to begin building prototypes of its new
light observation helicopter this fiscal year, launching what is
expected to be a $620.1 million development effort, the Japan Defense
Agency reported. JDA's Technical Research and Development Institute
said design and development work will run through fiscal 1994, with
operational trials and full production slated to begin in 1997. The
Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) is expected to buy as many as 200 of
the twin-engine helicopters, which in 1999 will begin replacing the
Kawasaki/McDonnell Douglas OH-6Ds now used for reconnaissance, tactical
command and control and communications. Kawasaki assembles OH-6Ds in
its Gifu plant, near Nagoya. TRDI chose Kawasaki as prime contractor
for the OH-X program last fall. Kawasaki will have a 50% share of the
program, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries
will each have one quarter.
NAVY TESTS T-45 TRAINER FOR CARRIER-BASED USE
The U.S. Navy's T-45 Goshawk training aircraft recently began aircraft
carrier landing tests aboard the USS John F. Kennedy off the Atlantic
coast. The tests include catapult launchings and arrested landings,
deck handling, engine start-up and shutdown and towing and elevator
operations. During the tests, the aircraft accumulated 33 catapult
launches and 33 arrested landings, totaling 12.1 flight hours.
Developed by St. Louis-based McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace,
up to 12 T-45 aircraft are expected to be built in 1992.
SCALED COMPOSITES ENDS FIRST GUN TESTS ON ARES
Scaled Composites, the Mojave, CA based innovative design house has
completed initial gun testing for its ARES close air support fighter.
Initial testing of the 25 MM GAU-12 cannon on the lightweight,
multimission composite airframe concluded following 18 inflight gun
tests on private and U.S. Navy test ranges. The test program was
sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Wright Laboratory and McLean, VA based
Science Applications International Corp.
AVIONICS:
AVIONICS SOFTWARE FOR THE BOEING 777
Honeywell's Air Transport Systems Div. and DDC-I of Phoenix, AZ, are
jointly developing avionics software for the Boeing 777 using DDC-I's
Ada compiler system (DACS). The Ada language will be used in the 777's
information management and air data, inertial reference systems.
Originally developed as a military avionics language, Ada is becoming
more accepted in commercial aerospace.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT TO DEVELOP AIRBORNE LOW FREQUENCY SONAR
Hughes Aircraft will develop the Airborne Low Frequency Sonar for U.S.
Navy helicopters under a $31.3 million contract. The next-generation
dipping sonar is to be compatible with the carrier-based SH-60F as well
as the LAMPS SH-60B and SH-2. Thomson Sintra ASM, a subsidiary of
Thomson-CSF, will provide the expandable sonar array and the high-speed
reeling machine. Hughes estimates an international potential for 450
sales, including 50 to the Navy, at a value of $1 billion.
HUGHES, THOMSON TEAM WINS NAVY'S ALFS AWARD
The U.S. Navy has awarded a team led by Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Ground
Systems Group, Fullerton CA, a $31.3 million contract to develop the
Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS) system for use aboard ship-based
helicopters. A unit of Paris-based Tomson-CSF is teamed with Hughes
for the five-year development of ALFS. The contract provides for full-
scale development and a follow-on production option for up to 50 of the
advanced sonar systems. When potential U.S. and foreign orders are
combined, the ALFS program could total 450 units and reach $1 billion
in research, development and production costs. The Hughes team won
against a competing team led by Martin Marietta's Aero and Naval
Systems Division, Baltimore. Working with Hughes on the program is
Thomson Sintra ASM, which will provide the expandable sonar array and
the reeling machine subsystems of ALFS.
KAMAN SUCCESSFULLY TESTS MMIRA DEMONSTRATOR
Kaman Corp., Bloomfield, CN, has successfully tested an aircraft
technology demonstrator the company claims will save lives in future
wars because it would avoid sending pilots on combat missions. The
Multimission Intermeshing Rotor Aircraft (MMIRA) technology
demonstrator, which is based on two rotor blades that rotate counter to
each other, could be used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),
optionally piloted vehicles and manned aircraft to perform
surveillance, communication, resupply, and attack operations as well as
aerial target drones. The MMIRA technology, which also would reduce
maintenance costs, weighs less than 4,000 pounds empty and can be
equipped with sensors, communications links and other devices that
weight up to 6,000 pounds. A MMIRA UAV could stay aloft for 12 hours
and reach altitudes of 30,000 feet.
NAVY SELECTS MCDONNELL FOR FLUIDIC FLIGHT CONTROLS
McDonnell Aircraft Co., St. Louis, has received a $5.4 million contract
from the Naval Air Development Center, Warminster, PA, to design,
develop and demonstrate a new fluidic flight control system to improve
the survivability of future fighter aircraft. Under the terms of the
contract, McDonnell Douglas will integrate the new fluidic system with
the existing mechanical and digital flight controls on an F/A-18 Hornet
for testing. Interest in fluidic flight controls is increasing as a
backup system because if modern electronic flight control systems fail,
new aircraft designs are incapable of maintaining stable flight.
THOMSON-CSF, TERMA TO TEAM ON DANISH RADAR
Thomson-CSF and the Danish company Terma Electronik have signed a
contract to supply 18 battlefield radars to the Danish Army. The
radars included in the program, called the Coordination and Warning
System, are Thomson-CSF's RAC 3D surveillance and the Gerfaut targeting
radars. The radars will be delivered to Terma Electronik, Lystrup, the
Netherlands, beginning in late 1995.
TRIMBLE DEVELOPS NEW GPS NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS
Trimble Navigation has developed new GPS navigation instruments for
general aviation, business jets and small commercial aircraft. The TNL
2000C Navigator is a three-channel, panel-mounted GPS receiver with an
internal data base of navigation aids for entry-level general aviation.
The price is $4,995. The company is also producing two Dzus rail-
mounted GPS navigation systems for business jets, twin-engine corporate
aircraft or helicopters. The TNL 2100 has six receiver channels and an
extensive, external data base that can be updated as frequently as
necessary. The system includes a warning system for restricted
airspace, moving map display, and capacity for storing up to 20 flight
plans. Its price is $8,995. The TNL 3100 has the same features as the
TNL 2100 but incorporates Loran-C tracking and costs $9,995.
MISSILES:
BDM INTERNATIONAL WINS SDI INTERCEPTOR AWARD
BDM International Inc., a McLean, VA based technical services company,
will attempt to show whether a hollow missile seeker can serve as a
lightweight, inexpensive strategic interceptor under a 15-month, $1.6
million contract awarded by the U.S. Army's Strategic Defense Command,
Huntsville, AL. The objective of the contract, to be performed at
BDM's Huntsville office, is to make the interceptor accurate enough to
hit-to-kill without carrying a warhead of any kind. The weapon would
require a sophisticated seeker to hit a target when traveling 10 or
more times the speed of sound. The company will build a full-scale
model of the interceptor front end with a camera mounted in the
aperture. The model then will be tested in a wind tunnel designed to
simulate flight conditions.
IG URGES JAVELIN PRICE CHECK
Development of the U.S. Army's top priority Javelin portable tank-
killing weapon system is expected to cost more than the $372 million
now projected because the price is based solely on contractor
estimates, the Defense Department Inspector General recently reported.
In this report on acquisition of the Javelin, formerly called the
Advanced Antitank Weapon System-Medium, the Pentagon's chief auditing
agency recommends that the Pentagon complete a detailed cost projection
of Javelin development to determine if the contractor's estimate is
reasonable. Javelin is being built by a joint venture formed by Martin
Marietta Missiles and Electronics Group, Orlando, FL, and Texas
Instruments Defense Systems and Electronics, Dallas.
LABARGE WINS CONTRACT FOR LAUNCH VEHICLE PARTS
General Dynamics Space Systems Division, San Diego, has awarded a $4
million contract to St. Louis-based LaBarge Inc. for the manufacture of
electrical cable and harness assemblies for the Atlas II and Titan IV/
Centaur launch vehicles. The contract includes options over the next
seven years that could add $6 million to its total value. The
assemblies will be manufactured at LaBarge's production facility in
Berryville, Ark.
NAVY GIVES HERCULES ADD-ON HARM CONTRACT
Navy Air Systems Command, Arlington, VA, has awarded a $26.5 million
contract to Hercules Inc. for the production of High-speed Anti-
Radiation Missile (HARM) rocket motors used in the Persian Gulf war.
Deliveries under the contract, an add-on to an existing contract, are
to begin in August and extend through July 1993. Wilmington, Del.
based Hercules will produce the rocket motors.
SATELLITES:
FIVE MORE COUNTRIES SIGN ORBCOMM MARKETING AGREEMENTS
Orbital Communications Corp. has signed license agreements with
companies in five Latin american countries, bringing to seven the
number of potential licensees to provide the low-cost satellite
communications service Orbital plans, parent Orbital Sciences Corp.
reported. Companies in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Panama and Uruguay
have joined firms in Canada and Venezuela as potential service
providers. Signatory firms agreed to obtain local regulatory authority
for the service and to support Orbital's bid for spectrum allocations
at the World Administrative Radio Conference up coming next month in
Spain.
TERRA-MAR TO DISTRIBUTE EOSAT IMAGES
Terra-Mar Resource Information Services will distribute EOSAT satellite
image products, according to Terra-Mar, which signed an agreement with
the Earth Observation Satellite Company (EOSAT). Terra-Mar, a Mountain
View, CA based company, will supply EOSAT's Landsat data in digital and
photographic formats. EOSAT, of Lanham, MD, has a contract with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to market data from
Landsat 4 and 5 ranging from the visible light spectrum through thermal
radiation. The two firms also are working on a joint study of the uses
of satellite imagery as a Geographic Information System (GIS) data
source in resource management and environmental applications. The
study also covers the impact of satellite imagery on GIS costs and
economics.
TRW PLANS PACIFIC COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
TRW plans to begin its operation of commercial communications
satellites by launching a Pacific Rim spacecraft called PacifiCom in
1995. To test the commercial waters, TRW has subleased some of the C-
bank transponders on one of its own NASA tracking and data relay (TDRS)
satellites that bridges the Pacific Ocean. The sublease is from
Columbia Communications Corp. which leases the transponders from NASA.
TRW and Columbia are marketing the capacity jointly and expect to
announce customers before mid-year.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
BENDIX GETS $447.9 MILLION CONTRACT FOR JSC GROUND SUPPORT
Bendix Field Engineering has received a $447.9 million contract to
continue Space Shuttle ground support at Johnson Space Center through
the year 2000, the Allied-Signal unit reported. Under the contract
from Shuttle prime Rockwell International, Bendix Field Engineering
will operate and maintain communications, display and computing systems
to support Shuttle missions, simulations and tests. The company will
also support astronaut and ground support training. The Allied-Signal
unit has supported Shuttle ground support for NASA at the Houston
facility since 1986.
ENDEAVOUR BELIEVED ON TRACK FOR MAY LAUNCH AFTER SHAKY START
Endeavour, NASA's newest Space Shuttle Orbiter, is on track for its
planned first launch in May despite a difficult preparation period at
Kennedy Space Center, with the manager of the work predicting he will
miss the original Feb. 14 date for rollout from the Orbiter Processing
Facility by only two or three weeks. The Endeavour flow director said
that his crews have recovered several weeks on the schedule, in part by
working selected tasks during the holiday period. Because so much work
remained to be done on the Orbiter when it arrived, the rollout at one
time was expected to be six to eight weeks late.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CONTINUES WORK ON STATION CENTRIFUGE DESIGN
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., Huntington Beach, CA, will
continue work started in 1989 on the design of a 2.5-meter centrifuge
for life science work on NASA's proposed Space Station. Under an
agreement with NASA's Ames Research Center last Dec. 21, the company
will continue design studies begun in 1989, bringing the total contract
value to $3.3 million. Able to provide artificial gravity ranging from
near-weightlessness to twice Earth's gravity, the centrifuge will serve
as a facility for life science control specimens in the Station's
microgravity environment. Tentatively planned for one of the Station's
pressurized nodes, with installation set after the turn of the century,
the centrifuge facility will include the centrifuge itself, two zero
gravity holding systems, habitats for plant and rodent specimens and a
servicing system.
SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LAUNCHED AFTER HOUR-LONG DELAY ON STS-42
NASA launched the Space Shuttle Discovery on Jan. 22 on a seven-day
Spacelab mission that carries microgravity experiments from 16 nations
and astronauts from three. Launch of Discovery on STS-42 came after a
one-hour hold while engineers evaluated a fault indication on a fuel
cell readout and flight managers watched a threatening cloud bank that
may have increased the danger of a lightning strike. Performance of
the solid rocket boosters and Shuttle main engines was nominal, NASA
said, eliminating the need for further maneuvering to place the Orbiter
in its 160-nautical-mile orbit. Nestled in Discovery's cargo bay is
the International Microgravity Lab-1 (IML-1), which will carry out
experiments provided by some 225 scientists from around the world.
THREE FIRMS RECEIVE MILSTAR CONTRACT
The U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Division has selected E-Systems,
Raytheon Corp. and Stanford Telecommunications Inc. to design and build
competing versions of the Defense Department's new range of low-cost
terminals for the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay (MILSTAR)
satellite system. The two-year development contracts could give the
companies a head start as DoD and the U.S. Army begin to shift funds
away from the present generation of satellites to the MILSTAR system.
The Air Force Electronic Systems Division, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA,
awarded $12.9 million to E-Systems' ECI division in St. Petersburg, FL,
$13.8 million to Raytheon, and $12.5 million to Stanford
Telecommunications.
|
| 20.143 | 01/27, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Tue Feb 04 1992 23:20 | 567 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007611
Date: 04-Feb-1992 03:25pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 01/27, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of January 27, 1992
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 27, 1992
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE CHOOSES CONTEL FOR NEW RECORDS SYSTEM
BOMBARDIER, ONTARIO PURCHASE DE HAVILLAND
CESSNA OFFICIALS EXPECT NO CHANGES AFTER ACQUISITION BY TEXTRON CORP.
LORAL TO REPLACE LAUNCH CENTERS
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS BESTS EARNINGS, REVENUE RECORDS IN 1991
SALES AT ROCKWELL DECLINE 13 PERCENT
TRW AWARDED FUNDING FOR DSP COMPUTER WORK
WESTINGHOUSE SELLS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DIVISION
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIRCRAFT BUY
F-22 TEAM COMPLETES EXTERIOR DESIGN
U-2 ENGINE EXTENDS GE LINE
U.S. AIR FORCE TAPS IAI FOR WORK ON F-15 AIRCRAFT
AVIONICS:
DANISH ARMY TAPS THORN FOR THERMAL IMAGERS
ERICSSON RADAR TO DEVELOP ARTILLERY RADAR FOR SWEDEN
EXTENSIVE AIRLINE USE OF TCAS PINPOINTS DESIRABLE SOFTWARE CHANGES
LITTON SIGNS CONTRACT WITH BOEING
NORTHROP WILL SUPPLY ECM SPARES TO SAUDI AIR FORCE
TI TO EQUIP ARMY COPTERS WITH ADVANCED RADARS
MISSILES:
ADATS SCORES HIT ON T-72
LONG-DELAYED PEGASUS LAUNCH SET FOR MARCH
MARTIN TO SUPPLY JAPAN, U.S. WITH VLS SYSTEMS
MATRA TO SUPPLY MISSILES TO S. KOREA
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO BEGIN MSX LAUNCH SUPPORT SERVICES
RAYTHEON TO MODIFY EGYPTIAN HAWK MISSILES
ROCKWELL LEAP ENGINES ARE SUCCESSFUL IN TESTS
SATELLITES:
CRIPPLED HIPPARCOS TO FULFILL MAPPING MISSION
EOSAT CUTS LANDSAT USE TO PRESERVE IN-ORBIT LIFE
INDONESIAN SATELLITE COMPANY TO OFFER NEW SERVICE
IRIDIUM LAUNCH CONTRACTS DELAYED
LATEST INTELSAT 6 SUFFERS PARTIAL CAPACITY LOSS
SPACE SYSTEMS:
PROGRESS M-11 MISSION SUCCESSFUL DESPITE THREAT OF STRIKE
SHUTTLE GETS EXTRA DAY IN SPACE FOR SCIENCE
SPACEHAB GETS NASA REPRIEVE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
AIR FORCE CHOOSES CONTEL FOR NEW RECORDS SYSTEM
Contel Federal Systems Inc. said in a statement it has won a $6.6
million contract from the U.S. Air Force for supply of a computerized
records management system. Called the Automated Records Management
System, the system is supposed to modernize operations at the Air Force
Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, TX, and the
Reserve Personnel Center at Lowry Air Force Base, CO.
BOMBARDIER, ONTARIO PURCHASE DE HAVILLAND
Boeing of Canada Ltd. has sold its de Havilland aircraft subsidiary to
Bombardier Inc. and the provincial government of Ontario. Under the
recently announced deal, Bombardier, Montreal, will purchase 51 percent
of de Havilland for 51 million Canadian dollars ($44.2 million).
Ontario bought the remaining shares of the company for 49 million
Canadian dollars ($42.5 million). The federal and Ontario governments
also will provide 490 million Canadian dollars in ($425 million)
subsidies and loans. Future financial aid will be conditional upon
approval of a long-term business plan to be submitted by Bombardier.
Bombardier and Ontario are paying Boeing 70 million Canadian dollars
($60 million) and will assume liabilities of about 190 million Canadian
dollars ($164.7 million).
CESSNA OFFICIALS EXPECT NO CHANGES AFTER ACQUISITION BY TEXTRON CORP.
Textron Corp.'s acquisition of Cessna Aircraft Co. is scheduled to be
completed in March and is not likely to affect Cessna's plans to
develop new business jets, according to senior officials of both
companies. Textron, based in Providence, R.I., is buying Cessna for
$600 million in cash from General Dynamics Corp., six years after that
company paid $663.7 million for the Wichita, Kan. based aircraft
manufacturer. General Dynamics is divesting Cessna as part of a plan
to concentrate on its core defense-related business. Bids submitted by
the investment banking group of Forstman Little, which owns Gulfstream
Aerospace Corp., and the Raytheon Corp., which owns Cessna's chief
competitor Beech Aircraft Corp., were close but could not match
Textron's figure.
LORAL TO REPLACE LAUNCH CENTERS
Loral Command & Control Systems will produce, install and support a new
generation of strategic missile launch control centers. Under the 17-
month, $71 million U.S. Air Force contract, Loral will build, assemble,
install and test 25 computerized launch control consoles to replace
equipment designed more than 20 years ago. In addition, the company
will provide nine missile procedure trainers, as well as associated
engineering and support equipment and services. Known as the Rapid
Execution and Combat Targeting upgrade, the program would ensure
commonality among launch systems.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS BESTS EARNINGS, REVENUE RECORDS IN 1991
McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s net earnings soared 38% in 1991 on 16% better
revenues. MDC set records last year for revenues, operating earnings
and net earnings - in fact, the company earned enough in the fourth
quarter to come within $100 million of 1990's full-year profits. The
company also slashed almost a billion dollars in debt, bringing its
total debt-to-equity ratio down almost a third to .68, excluding the MD
Finance Co. subsidiary.
SALES AT ROCKWELL DECLINE 13 PERCENT
Rockwell International Corp. of seal Beach, CA, reported sales of $1.6
billion for the first quarter of 1992, down $378 million, or 13
percent, from one year earlier. Net income fell 13 percent to $123.3
million for the first quarter, which ended Dec. 31, from $141.5
million, during the same period in 1991. Despite declines in
commercial business, Rockwell's electronics sales rose 6 percent during
the first quarter due in part to a strong defense electronics business.
Rockwell's aerospace business saw earnings rise slightly during the
first quarter, while automotive sales remained level and graphics
product sales declined.
TRW AWARDED FUNDING FOR DSP COMPUTER WORK
The U.S. Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, has awarded
$38.6 million to TRW Space and Defense Sector, Redondo Beach, CA, for
new ground computers for use with Defense Support Program (DSP)
missile-warning satellites. TRW will replace computer equipment at DSP
control facilities, support facilities and contractor facilities under
a program called the Ground Computer Change Out. The new computers
will be located at lowry Air Force Base, CO; Peterson Air Force Base,
CO; Colorado Springs, CO; Woomera, Australia; and Azusa, CA.
WESTINGHOUSE SELLS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DIVISION
Westinghouse has agreed to sell its Electrical Systems Div. to
Sundstrand Corp. Products of the division, part of the Electronic
Systems Group, range from the large generators on the E-4B Command Post
to variable speed constant frequency generators on the F-16 and AV-8B
as well as solid-state power controllers on the space shuttle orbiter.
Sundstrand views the acquisition as a good strategic fit with its line
of aircraft electrical products.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AIRCRAFT BUY
Alaska Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of six McDonnell Douglas
MD-80 and two Boeing 737-400 aircraft in 1992. The airline recently
received a $50 million letter of credit from National Westminster Bank
Plc to cover interim financing for the eight aircraft. These aircraft,
valued at about $240 million, are part of an overall $2 billion order
with McDonnell Douglas and a $70 million buy from Boeing. The orders
include six MD-80s and 20 MD-90s, which are to be delivered by 1996,
and 22 Boeing 737-400s, scheduled to be received between 1992-94. The
airline also has options on an additional four 737-400s and 20 MD-90s.
F-22 TEAM COMPLETES EXTERIOR DESIGN
F-22 engineers and program officials have finalized the exterior design
of the U.S. Air Force's newest air-to-air fighter and are shifting
their focus to the interior of the estimated $100 million plane.
Completion of the first phase of the F-22 design marks the first of
three distinct design cycles intended to bring the program into its
critical design state by early next year. It is at that stage,
military and industry sources say, that the bulk of the $12 billion
allocated for the eight-year engineering, manufacturing and development
of the aircraft will begin to be spent.
U-S ENGINE EXTENDS GE LINE
A U.S. Air Force plan to upgrade its U-2 spy planes with B-2 bomber
aircraft engines will help forstall budget-imposed closure of the F118
production line at Cincinnati-based General Electric Aircraft Engines.
The estimated $160 million program to upgrade about 40 U-2s is expected
to start later this year at the Burbank, CA-based Lockheed Skunkworks.
Production work on the 19,000 pound thrust engine should begin just as
General Electric's activity on the B-2 program, now rated at eight
engines per year, begins to wind down. So far, 65 F118 engines have
been delivered to the Air Force for use in the four-engine B-2 bomber.
U.S. AIR FORCE TAPS IAI FOR WORK ON F-15 AIRCRAFT
The U.S. Air Force has awarded a contract to Israel Aircraft Industries
(IAI) Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel, to perform programmed depot maintenance
and modification on European-based U.S. Air Force F-15 C and D type
aircraft. All work will be performed at IAI's Bedek Aviation Division
located at Ben Gurion International Airport. The basic contract
quantity of four aircraft and four option-year quantities of 10 to 22
aircraft per year is valued at approximately $68 million. The first
plane is scheduled to arrive at Bedek's facilities in April. The U.S.
Air Force has already identified 20 F-15s stationed in Europe for
maintenance and modification through December 1993.
AVIONICS:
DANISH ARMY TAPS THORN FOR THERMAL IMAGERS
The Danish Ministry of Defence has ordered further quantities of
multirole and hand-held thermal imagers made by Thorn EMI, Hayes, the
United Kingdom, the company announced in a statement. The precise
quantity of the order was not revealed. The multirole imagers will be
used by the Danish Army for reconnaissance and surveillance. The hand-
held imagers will be used by the royal Danish Air Force for
surveillance.
ERICSSON RADAR TO DEVELOP ARTILLERY RADAR FOR SWEDEN
The Swedish Defense Material Administration and Ericsson Radar
Electronics AB, Moelndale, Sweden, signed a year-long contract worth 20
million kronor ($3.38 million), for development of a new artillery-
locating radar, known as ARTHUR (Artillery Hunting Radar). The
contract is for the first of four planned development phases, with
production scheduled to start in 1995 or 1996. ARTHUR is based on
phased-array radar technology and sophisticated signal processing, and
is designed for housing in a variant of the BV-206 all-terrain vehicle
built by Hagglunds Vehicle AB of Oernskoeldsvid, Sweden. The
development contract is a first for the program, which was launched in
1988 with a prototype jointly funded by the Swedish and Norwegian
governments.
EXTENSIVE AIRLINE USE OF TCAS PINPOINTS DESIRABLE SOFTWARE CHANGES
More than two million flight hours of airline use of Traffic-alert/
Collision Avoidance Systems have highlighted the need for software
changes to minimize unnecessary pilot alerts and maneuvers. Revised
software is now under test and is to be released for use by the end of
March. But pilots credit TCAS with having prevented a number of
potential midair collisions since it was introduced two years ago,
including a three-aircraft encounter near Chicago's Midway Airport,
according to reports presented in Washington at a recent International
TCAS Conference. The conference, sponsored by the Federal Aviation
Administration, was attended by airline and government representatives
from more than two dozen countries. Over half of the U.S. airline
fleet is now equipped with TCAS, and the entire fleet is to be
outfitted by late 1993 when international carriers operating into the
U.S. also must be equipped.
LITTON SIGNS CONTRACT WITH BOEING
Litton has signed a contract with Boeing to provide Global Positioning
Systems for all its 777 aircraft. Litton will provide the 8-channel
LTN 2001 GPS to Boeing, which will integrate it with the flight
management system and inertial reference units. According to a Litton
official, Boeing plans to offer GPS on all production aircraft and
provide service bulletins for FMS-equipped aircraft already delivered.
The first GPS hardware will be delivered to Boeing for flight test
later this year.
NORTHROP WILL SUPPLY ECM SPARES TO SAUDI AIR FORCE
Northrop Corp. will supply spare and component parts for the advanced
version of its AN/ALQ-135 electronic countermeasures (ECM) system to
the Royal Saudi Air Force under a U.S. Air Force contract potentially
worth $25.5 million. Saudi Arabia began installing the advanced ECM
system on its F-15Cs last year to obtain expanded frequency coverage
and multiple threat-handling. Northrop started making the system for
F-15s in the mid-1970s and upgraded it in 1983. The fixed-price
incentive, not-to-exceed contract is set for completion in mid-1993.
The work will be carried out at Northrop's Electronic Systems Div.,
Rolling Meadows, IL.
TI TO EQUIP ARMY COPTERS WITH ADVANCED RADARS
Texas Instruments Defense Systems and Electronics Group, Dallas, will
produce 53 multimode APQ-174A advanced radars designed to equip U.S.
Army special operations helicopters under a $52 million Army contract.
According to a Texas Instruments statement, the APQ-174A radar gives
the MH-47E and MH-60K helicopters the ability to fly as low as 100 feet
above the ground in daylight or darkness. The radar, a derivative of
the Air Force's Low Altitude Navigation Targeting Infrared Night
terrain-following radar, ensures safe flight in. Texas Instruments
serves as a subcontractor to Boeing Hleicopters, Philadelphia, for the
MH-47E, and to Sikorsky Aircraft Co., Stratford, CN, for the MH-60K
radars.
MISSILES:
ADATS SCORES HIT ON T-72
Proving its capability against enemy tanks as well as helicopters, the
controversial U.S. Army Air Defense Antitank System (ADATS) recently
scored a direct hit against a Soviet-built T-72 main battle tank nearly
6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away. The firing also market the first flight
of an ADATS laser beam-riding missile at Martin Marietta Electronics,
Information and Missiles Group, Orlando, FL, maker of the ADATS system.
Nevertheless, the successful test may prove irrelevant as ADATS is
teetering on the edge of termination in a revised 1993 Defense
Department budget.
LONG-DELAYED PEGASUS LAUNCH SET FOR MARCH
The U.S. Defense Department is inching toward the third flight of a
Pegasus air-launched booster, now expected in March, as DoD tries to
fix problems with both the booster and payload. A full-scale ground
test scheduled for late February is intended to verify that Orbital
Sciences Corp., the Pegasus contractor, has corrected a flaw that
prevented a protective shroud from separating correctly from the rocket
during the previous Pegasus flight July 17, 1991.
MARTIN TO SUPPLY JAPAN, U.S. WITH VLS SYSTEMS
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, Arlington, VA, has awarded Martin
Marietta Corp.'s Aero & Naval Systems unit, Middle River, MD, a $269
million contract to supply Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) to the U.S.
Navy and Japan. Under terms of the award, Martin will produce 15 VLS
for the U.S. Navy and Japan. The contract contains an option for
another seven VLS systems for the two navies. Production will begin
immediately, with deliveries expected through 1996. With the latest
award, Martin has received orders and options for 77 VLS systems worth
$2 billion.
MATRA TO SUPPLY MISSILES TO S. KOREA
The French Matra group won a 1 billion French franc ($180 million)
contract to supply Mistral very short-range air-defense missiles to
South Korea. The contact is the first awarded under a multiyear South
Korean program that eventually could be worth as much as 4 billion
francs ($720 million) to the company. Matra spokesman said that South
Korea may ultimately become their largest export customer for the
Mistral.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS TO BEGIN MSX LAUNCH SUPPORT SERVICES
McDonnell Douglas Corp. has received a $14.36 million contract from the
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) to begin launch
support services for the Mid-course Space Experiment (MSX) program.
The MSX spacecraft is scheduled to be launched on a McDonnell Douglas
Space Systems Co. Delta II 7920-10 booster in late 1993 or early 1994,
the company said. MSX will investigate sensors and phenomenology
related to the sensing of ballistic missile warheads during mid-course
flight. The MSX launch will mark the first SDIO mission from
Vandenberg AFB, CA.
RAYTHEON TO MODIFY EGYPTIAN HAWK MISSILES
The U.S. Army Missile Command has awarded a $31.6 million contract to
Raytheon Co., Lexington, MA, for production of modification kits to the
Hawk air-defense missile system for the Republic of Egypt. Under the
contract, existing Egyptian Hawk missiles will be converted to the
Phase III configuration over the next five years. The Phase III
configuration gives each Hawk fire unit the ability to engage multiple
targets using a new acquisition radar. It also converts the unit to
all digital functioning, reducing the number of necessary replacement
units and making diagnosis of malfunctions easier. The procurement
represents the first step in a multiyear Egyptian air Phase III defense
modernization program worth $75 million. The U.S. Army and Marine
Corps deployed Phase III assault fire units to the Persian Gulf during
Operation Desert Storm.
ROCKWELL LEAP ENGINES ARE SUCCESSFUL IN TESTS
Rockwell International Corp.'s Rocketdyne Division has successfully
test-fired three of the divert thruster rocket engines being developed
under the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's Light-weight Exo-
Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP) program. The lightweight liquid bi-
propellant engines are being developed as part of a kinetic energy
system that would destroy incoming warheads by sheer force of impact.
In addition to the LEAP flight test program, the new technology may
have applications to other interceptor programs.
SATELLITES:
CRIPPLED HIPPARCOS TO FULFILL MAPPING MISSION
Europe's Hipparcos astronomy satellite is expected to continue its
star-mapping mission until 1994 despite its crippled orbit, and to
complete its mission of cataloguing 120,000 stars, according to
European officials. The $400 million satellite, launched by an Ariane
Vehicle in August 1989, has been stuck in an elliptical orbit that
sends it through the Van Allen radiation belt around the Earth four
times a day. The satellite was prevented from reaching its intended
orbit well above the radiation belt when its on-board apogee motor
failed to ignite. Contact with the radiation belt has degraded the
spacecraft's solar panels and other equipment and requires that it use
more attitude-control fuel than intended. Still, officials said the
damage is not enough to prevent Hipparcos from compiling a stellar
atlas with a precision that is well beyond anything previously
attained.
EOSAT CUTS LANDSAT USE TO PRESERVE IN-ORBIT LIFE
Earth Observation Satellite Co. (Eosat) of Lanham, MD, will restrict
the use of the Landsat 4 and 5 remote-sensing satellites to preserve
them in orbit while awaiting the launch this fall of Landsat 6.
Landsat 4 and 5 have outlasted their predicted design lives and
officials want to limit their chances of failing before Landsat 6 is
launched. Eosat operates the satellites, which provide data through
ground stations spread around the world and through NASA's Tracking and
Data Relay Satellite System. That sophisticated system allows Eosat to
send data to orbiting communications satellites and then to a single
ground station at White Sands, N.M.
INDONESIAN SATELLITE COMPANY TO OFFER NEW SERVICE
A new Indonesian company will use an aging satellite to provide the
region with satellite capacity at rock-bottom prices, in an attempt to
satisfy a burgeoning need for telecommunications capacity in the
Pacific Rim, according to Indonesian space officials. Pasifik Satelit
Nusantara (PSN) of Jakarta, Indonesia, has signed a contract with the
Indonesian government to purchase the Palpa B-1. Since its launch in
1981, the B-1 served as part of the Indonesian-owned regional Palapa
Asean Satellite System.
IRIDIUM LAUNCH CONTRACTS DELAYED
Motorola and Iridium Inc. will award contracts by mid-1992 to two
suppliers of large launch vehicles, most likely Arianespace, Evry,
France, and McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., Huntington Beach, CA,
to deploy the 77-satellite Iridium constellation. The launch contracts
originally were to be awarded in 1991. The dual sourcing of launch
supply is a new strategy by Motorola aimed at reducing the program's
risk. By contracting with two suppliers, the project has greater
assurance of staying on schedule for a 1997 service start, even if one
of the launch systems is grounded.
LATEST INTELSAT 6 SUFFERS PARTIAL CAPACITY LOSS
Intelsat has discovered a flaw in its latest Intelsat 6 satellite,
launched Oct. 29, 1991, on an Ariane 4 rocket, that potentially could
disable five of the spacecraft's 48 transponders. Satellite engineers
will try to fix the satellite by firing small thrusters to change its
rate of rotation in space, in hopes of jarring loose a metal chip that
has caused the partial disabling of the satellite. The international
consortium began to investigate in early December 1991 the
malfunctioning of the satellite's spot beams during in-orbit tests,
according to several industry officials. Intelsat officials discovered
a faulty amplifier and are trying to resolve the problem quietly
without raising the concern of its member nations or the insurance
community.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
PROGRESS M-11 MISSION SUCCESSFUL DESPITE THREAT OF STRIKE
Progress M-11, an unmanned resupply spacecraft, docked with the Mir
space station Jan 27 after launch on the 25th from the Baikonur center
in Kazahkstan. The launch and docking followed attitude control
problems on Mir that were recently resolved and the threat of a strike
by space program employees at the mission control center in Moscow.
SHUTTLE GETS EXTRA DAY IN SPACE FOR SCIENCE
Shuttle mission managers extended the STS-42 International Microgravity
Laboratory-1 (IML-1) mission by a day to allow more time for crystal-
growth experiments and to give the seven-member crew an easy day before
landing after a week of around-the-clock labor. The extra time will be
particularly useful to scientists running the various crystal-growth
experiments in the IML-1 Spacelab module because it will allow larger
crystals to form. Experiments requiring intensive crew participation,
and particularly life sciences experiments designed to study space-
sickness, will be halted as part of an effort to rest the crew of six
men and one woman prior to landing.
SPACEHAB GETS NASA REPRIEVE
A major commercial space project won a reprieve recently, when NASA and
Spacehab Inc. managers convinced Congress to provide the effort with
$39 million in 1992, $19 million more than the House and Senate
appropriated for 1992. The project to provide a pressurized module for
the space shuttle payload bay faced termination without the additional
money, according to officials from the space agency and the Washington-
based company. The appropriators showed less sympathy for the National
Launch System and National Aerospace Plane programs, which would create
new space vehicles for the next century. For the time being, Congress
rejected attempts by NASA to boost 1992 funding for either effort,
above the current level of $38 million for the launch system and $5
million for the aerospace plane.
|
| 20.144 | 02/03, Aerospace News | MR4DEC::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Mon Feb 10 1992 22:13 | 569 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007818
Date: 10-Feb-1992 03:44pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@SELECT@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 02/03, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of February 3, 1992
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 3, 1992
GENERAL:
BAe AGREES TO SELL AEROSTRUCTURES SUBSIDIARY
CANADIAN SUB FORCES TO USE MARCONI SOFTWARE
DARPA BEGINS COMPUTER EFFORT
IBM TO SUPPORT NAVY'S SUB COMBAT SYSTEM
NORTHROP TO CUT 1,500 B-2 JOBS
RECESSION SLAMS BFGOODRICH, LEAVES NET LOSS FOR 1991
SOFTWARE PROBLEMS AFFECT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AF TO ABORT PLAN FOR F-16 UPGRADE
B-2 TESTING
DAMAGED C-130 LANDS SAFELY IN ALASKA
KUWAIT TO RECEIVE FIRST SIX F/A-18s
LOCKHEED RECEIVES F-22 ADD-ON CONTRACT
NORTHROP TO UPGRADE SAUDI F-15C AIRCRAFT
RUSSIA TESTS SCRAMJET
AVIONICS:
CAE TO SUPPLY BELGIUM WITH A-109 SIMULATOR
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE DEVELOPS A DIGITAL VISUAL SIMULATOR
HONEYWELL TO UPGRADE BELGIAN C-130 FLEET
HUGHES AIRCRAFT DEVELOPS LOW-COST RADAR MODULE
PULAU CORP. WILL MAINTAIN NAVY KC-130 SIMULATORS
ROCKWELL BEGINS AVIONICS UPGRADES ON AUSTRALIAN F/RF-111C
MISSILES:
ARMY SELECTS DRAGON II
BAe DYNAMICS OFFERS ACTIVE SKYFLASH FOR RAF TORNADO ADVs
MILLIMETER WAVE MAVERICK TEST IS SUCCESSFUL
NAVY CHOOSES MCDONNELL TO RECERTIFY TOMAHAWK
RAYTHEON TO BUILD STANDARD MISSILES FOR CANADA, JAPAN
SATELLITES:
COMPANY INKS NETWORK SYSTEM DEAL IN PHILIPPINES
FRANCE TO WIDEN SPACE EFFORTS
HUGHES TO SUBMIT TMI PROPOSAL
JAPANESE SATELLITE STUDIES EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD
METEOSAT 5 FINISHES TESTS; EUMETSAT TAKES CONTROL
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ASRM TERMINATION ADDS NINE MONTHS TO STATION CONSTRUCTION
CANADIAN STATION CONTRACT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
BAe AGREES TO SELL AEROSTRUCTURES SUBSIDIARY
British Aerospace plans to sell its Aerostructures Hamble Ltd.
subsidiary for a little less than $80 million, the first of what could
be several sales of non-core business during the next year. BAe said
it agreed to sell AHL with its land and buildings to a new company
formed by Legal and General Ventures Ltd. as part of an ongoing review
of non-core units. AHL makes aircraft parts for Sweden's Saab-Scania
and McDonnell Douglas, as well as BAe itself, with about 55% of its
$112 million annual business done in civil aircraft with the rest in
defense. The Hampshire, England-based company employs about 1,800.
CANADIAN SUB FORCES TO USE MARCONI SOFTWARE
Software supplied by Britain's Camberly, Surrey-based Marconi Radar and
Control Systems (MRCS) will be used for submarine periscope training at
the Canadian Forces Flet School, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Marconi
officials did not reveal the value of the contract. The software will
be integrated into the Royal Canadian Navy's submarine experimental
periscope simulator by Atlantis Aerospace Corp. of Brampton, Ontario,
supplier of a periscope simulator for submarine commander training.
The software provides simulation of realistic, three-dimensional waves,
detailed ship models and targets and variable time-of-day and
visibility effects. Weather effects and image-intensified scenarios of
actual data bases are included.
DARPA BEGINS COMPUTER EFFORT
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched an
effort with two leading U.S. computer companies to help develop high-
performance computers capable of sustaining speeds up to 1 trillion
calculation steps per second. DARPA, Arlington, VA, awarded contracts
to Intel Corp., Santa Clara, CA, and Cray Research Inc., Mendota
Heights, Minn., on Jan 21 as part of its High Performance Computing
program. Under a five-year, $21 million contract, Intel will build
upon existing research to produce computers able to handle complex
problems, such as the flow of air or water over a high-speed vehicle.
Cray's three-year, $12.7 million contract calls for work on integrating
its supercomputer technology with parallel processing technology.
IBM TO SUPPORT NAVY'S SUB COMBAT SYSTEM
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, Arlington, VA, is awarding IBM's
Federal Sector Division, Manassas, VA, a two-year $75.5 million
contract for continued support to the U.S. Navy's BSY-1 submarine
combat system. Under terms of the contract, IBM will provide systems
engineering software development, logistics support, training repair
services and shipyard services for the sophisticated submarine combat
system. The BSY-1 provides improved SSN-688 Los Angeles-class attack
submarines with upgraded mine detection-avoidance, under-ice navigation
and expanded weapon capabilities.
NORTHROP TO CUT 1,500 B-2 JOBS
Northrop Corp. will eliminate about 1,500 jobs from the B-2 program
this year in the wake of President George Bush's decision to curtail
bomber production after 20 aircraft are delivered to the U.S. Air
Force. Company officials told the company's 13,400 B-2 employees that
three full-scale development (FSD) and 15 production aircraft have yet
to be delivered. The Administration budget requests authorization to
build the last four of 21 total aircraft is Fiscal 1993. One bomber,
B-2 No. 2, will be kept in test status and is not counted as a
production vehicle. Unless contract adjustments change current
schedules, a substantial Northrop workforce will be required through at
least 1995. The other five FSD bombers will be converted to
operational configurations after the flight test program ends, as well.
RECESSION SLAMS BFGOODRICH, LEAVES NET LOSS FOR 1991
The recession hit BFGoodrich's fourth quarter results much harder than
management expected, and the company recently posted a net loss of
$106.7 million in writeoffs on its vinyls and chemicals business. The
company said last month it expected a fourth quarter loss of about $20
million because of problems stemming from its Geon Vinyl Products
segment, and also planned to take about $81 million in charges to cover
restructuring much of that business. While the loss turned out to be
closer to $17 million, the writeoff came to $89.8 million, sending net
earnings for the full year tumbling from $136.3 million in 1990 to a
loss of $80.6 million on slightly higher sales of $2.47 billion.
SOFTWARE PROBLEMS AFFECT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM
Software problems continue to adversely affect the U.S. air traffic
control system, according to the General Accounting Office. The FAA
has relied too much on patches, which increase the risk of future
software problems. The agency was faulted for being too slow to
include those fixes in new versions of software. Of the 1,661
unresolved software problems, 61% are more than a year old, the GAO
said. The FAA attributes its inability to reduce the backlog of
problems to a lack of staffing. The long-term prognosis for contractor
support is not good either - more than 50% of the contractor's en route
software support staff will retire by the end of 1994.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
AF TO ABORT PLAN FOR F-16 UPGRADE
The U.S. Air Force is planning to terminate a $700 million F-16
modification program intended to render the fast-flying plane more
suitable for the Close Air Support (CAS) mission of protecting Army
ground troops. Termination of the CAS upgrade to Block 30 models of
the F-16 will appear in the service's 1994 multiyear budget plan, the
details of which will be submitted for senior Pentagon review this
spring. It follows years of often rancorous debate among Air Force,
Pentagon and congressional officials about the service's commitment to
the Army support role. Air Force officials prevailed in 1990 over
proponents of a slower-speed A-10, or mudfighter, largely through their
assurances that dedicated, night-attack upgrades for CAS would be
incorporated on F-16 planes. Now the service intends to rely on
capabilities inherent in the Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting
Infrared system for Night (LANTIRN) pods equipped on Block 40 models of
the F-16.
B-2 TESTING
The fourth USAF/Northrop B-2 bomber is in final checkout at Northrop's
Palmdale, CA, facility and is expected to make its first flight within
a few weeks. Three test aircraft now at Edwards AFB, CA, had completed
88 flights for 388.3 hr. as of last week. President George Bush
announced in his State of the Union address that production would be
halted at 20 bombers, but testing is expected to continue.
DAMAGED C-130 LANDS SAFELY IN ALASKA
The Coast Guard and Allison Gas Turbines are investigating a massive
in-flight gearbox failure on a Coast Guard C-130H that landed safely
despite damage that included loss of a propeller, an 8-ft.-diameter
fuselage hole and holes in the right wing, fuselage and empennage skin.
The failure occurred on Jan. 24 during a routine flight when the front
reduction gearbox and propeller on the aircraft's No. 3 engine
separated from the nacelle and struck the fuselage. The aircraft was
transporting Coast Guardsmen from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to Kodiak and
was operating at about 21,000 ft. altitude, about 40 mi. from Dutch
Harbor, when the incident occurred. Sixteen people were on board. The
Allison T-56-A-15 series 2 engine involved in the incident had
accumulated about 30 hr. since its last overhaul, and the failed
gearbox had about 7,400 hr.
KUWAIT TO RECEIVE FIRST SIX F/A-18s
Three additional F/A-18s will be delivered to Kuwait in time for a six-
aircraft national independence day flyover on Feb. 25 in Kuwait City.
McDonnell Douglas eventually will deliver 40 F/A-18s to update the
Kuwaiti air force and to replace A-4s and Mirage F-1s lost during the
Persian Gulf war. The F/A-18s are the first delivered with 17,754-lb.
thrust F404-GE-402 engines. All U.S. Navy F/A-18s delivered after
March will have the same improved powerplant. General Electric is
offering to retrofit some of the improvements to F/A-18s of the U.S.
Navy, Australia, Spain and Canada.
LOCKHEED RECEIVES F-22 ADD-ON CONTRACT
Lockheed Corp. recently received a $36.8 million add-on to the F-22
fighter contract to revise the air vehicle and support system
integrated master plans and an early commitment to conduct live-fire
ballistic testing of the wing box structure. The Air Force
Aeronautical Systems Division let the contract, to be completed in
September 1998.
NORTHROP TO UPGRADE SAUDI F-15C AIRCRAFT
Northrop Corp. will continue to upgrade the Royal Saudi Air Force's
fleet of F-15Cs under a new U.S. Air Force contract potentially worth
$25.5 million, an official from the Los Angeles based company said in a
statement. According to the announcement, Northrop will provide spares
and component parts for the company's advanced version of the AN/ALQ-
135 electronic countermeasures system. The new system will provide
Saudi F-15Cs with expanded frequency coverage and the ability to handle
multiple threats.
RUSSIA TESTS SCRAMJET
Russia has test-flown a revolutionary engine that marks a significant
advance in the international quest for hypersonic propulsion to power
tomorrow's aerospace planes, according to Western experts. The test
flight of a hydrogen-fueled scram-jet engine took place in late
November 1991 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and was
conducted by officials from the Central Institute of Aviation Motors of
Moscow. The test flight was of a missile-like vehicle powered by a
conventional rocket engine to an altitude of 30 kilometers (18.6
miles0. A ramjet engine then ignited and accelerated the craft to a
speed of nearly six times the speed of sound.
AVIONICS:
CAE TO SUPPLY BELGIUM WITH A-109 SIMULATOR
The Belgian Armed Forces has awarded a contract worth about 19.5
million Canadian dollars ($16.7 million ) to CAE Electronics Ltd.,
Montreal, to develop and build the world's first full-flight simulator
for the Agusta A-109 helicopter. The simulator is scheduled to be
delivered to Bierset, Belgium, in early 1994. The simulator will
feature CAE's blade element rotor model. This simulates each part of a
helicopter rotor blade - the hub, hinges and other associated elements
- providing a more authentic simulation. CAE also has built simulators
for the Bell UH-1D, UH-1H, the Boeing CH-47 Chinook and Sikorsky CH-53G
Sea King.
DEUTSCHE AEROSPACE DEVELOPS A DIGITAL VISUAL SIMULATOR
A digital visual simulator to train apron controllers in the tower of
the new Munich 2 International Airport will permit modification of
procedures before the airport opens on May 17. The simulator,
developed by Deutsche Aerospace, also will prevent training from
interfering with construction activities. The simulator will provide
simultaneous visual, radar and flight plan data and allow the trainees
to coordinate the corresponding taxi, towing, passenger buses and other
ground vehicle movements. It includes a 36 X 144 degree screen with
three-channel digital image generator, digital radar simulator, central
communication system, playback system and traffic control stations that
offer integrated computer graphic display and communication systems.
HONEYWELL TO UPGRADE BELGIAN C-130 FLEET
The Belgian Air Force will upgrade its fleet of C-130 airlifters under
a $20 million contract awarded to Honeywell's Defense Avionics Systems
Division. According to Honeywell, the avionics upgrade package
includes a flight management system, digital autopilot, electronic
flight instrument system, weather radar and a ring laser gyro inertial
navigation system.
HUGHES AIRCRAFT DEVELOPS LOW-COST RADAR MODULE
The first prototype of a new, low-cost X-bank active array radar module
delivered to the U.S. Air Force by Los Angeles-based Hughes Aircraft
Co. was developed under a $13.3 million Manufacturing Technology
(Mantech) contract. Active array radar modules are expected to be used
in radars for next-generation weapons, with potential applications for
electronic warfare and automotive applications. The goal of the
Mantech program is to reduce the cost of modules to $400 or less per
channel in high-rate production. The prototype modules, miniature
radar transmit-receivers that measure 3.82 inches long, 0.49 inches
wide and 0.21 inches high, use ceramics and advanced chip mounting
technologies developed by Hughes.
PULAU CORP. WILL MAINTAIN NAVY KC-130 SIMULATORS
The Naval Training Systems Center has awarded a $1.9 million contract
for the operation and maintenance of KC-130 operational flight
simulators to Pulau Electronics Corp.'s Orlando branch. The contract,
to run until September 1996, involves the provision of operation,
maintenance and logistics support at sites in El Toro, Ca, and Cherry
Point, N.C. Pulau Electronics Corp. is headquartered in Chatsworth,
CA.
ROCKWELL BEGINS AVIONICS UPGRADES ON AUSTRALIAN F/RF-111C
A Royal Australian Air Force F/RD-111C lands at Palmdale, CA, where it
is being modified as the Avionics Update Program (AUP) prototype by
Rockwell International's North American Aircraft division. Under the
AUP, 22 Australian F/RD-111Cs will be upgraded with new navigation and
weapon delivery systems, extending aircraft mission life another 20
years. Led by Rockwell's Defense Electronics unit, the five-phase
program is being conducted by a joint Australian and U.S. team. A one-
year prototype modification and ground test phase begins this month,
followed by certification and performance flight test in the U.S. The
remaining 21 aircraft will be modified and tested at RAAF Base Amberley
in Australia between 1993 and 1996.
MISSILES:
ARMY SELECTS DRAGON II
After four years of political disputes, the U.S. Army has nominated the
already deployed Dragon II as its interim antitank missile. This meets
a congressional requirement to select a weapon for rapid deployment
forces, pending production of the Javelin shoulder-fired missile. The
selection of the Dragon II for the Supplemental Interim Medium Antitank
System follows last summer's field tests against the Bill missile,
built by Swedish Ordnance AB, Karlskoga, Sweden. The decision to rely
on the Dragon, built by McDonnell Douglas Missile System Co., St.
Louis, will cost $320 million for the next 10 years, instead of $750
million for the Bill missile.
BAe DYNAMICS OFFERS ACTIVE SKYFLASH FOR RAF TORNADO ADVs
British Aerospace is proposing its Active SkyFlash missile as an
alternative to the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile and its
medium-range counterpart on the Royal Air Force's air defense Tornado
fighter/bombers. The U.K. Defense Ministry recently decided against
buying either the short-range ASRAAM or medium-range AMRAAM air-to-air
missiles for the Tornado F.3, prompting BAe's recent bid. BAe
submitted the proposal alongside a best-and-final offer to put its AIM-
132 ASRAAM on the U.K.'s European Fighter Aircraft. EFA's ASRAAM buy
has reportedly been cut more than 50% to only 1,000-1,500 missiles.
Teamed with Thomson-CSF, BAe Dynamics has been developing Active Sky
Flash - a fully active version of its original semi-active SkyFlash
medium-range missile - since the early 1980's as a private venture.
BAeD said the missile is now in the same league with AMRAAM, but for a
"significantly" lower cost.
MILLIMETER WAVE MAVERICK TEST IS SUCCESSFUL
Hughes Aircraft Co. said recently that a Maverick missile equipped with
a millimeter wave seeker scored a lethal hit against an air defense
vehicle target in a test at Eglin AFB, FL. The launch was the second
in a series intended to test the Hughes MMW seeker against a variety of
targets and validate its ability to detect and prioritize moving and
stationary targets. The first Hughes launch was on Dec. 6. It
resulted in a direct hit on an air defense unit target with a rotating
antenna. The Hughes seeker is designed to autonomously locate a
target, even in bad weather, and guide a missile to a target without
further communication from the launching aircraft.
NAVY CHOOSES MCDONNELL TO RECERTIFY TOMAHAWK
The U.S. Navy has awarded McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Co., St.
Louis, a $14.7 million contract to recertify Tomahawk cruise missiles.
In competition with General Dynamics Convair Division, San Diego,
McDonnell Douglas won 65 percent of the 1992 contract. Under the
contract, McDonnell Douglas will test Tomahawk missiles and perform any
unscheduled maintenance before the missiles are recertified and
returned to the fleet.
RAYTHEON TO BUILD STANDARD MISSILES FOR CANADA, JAPAN
Raytheon received a $12.6 million contract modification from the Naval
Sea Systems Command for the production of 51 Standard Missiles (SM-2)
and ancillary equipment. The missiles, which will be delivered to
Japan and Canada under the foreign military sales program, are
scheduled for completion by December 1993. The contract also increases
from 263 to 314 the number of missiles to be manufactured under the
FY'91 production agreement. It also boosts the number of section
spares from 20 to 41 and includes production of 240 shipping containers
as well as batteries and steering control units. Work will be
principally carried out at Raytheon's Missiles Systems Div. plant in
Bristol, TN, with final assembly performed at division facilities in
Chattanoga, TN.
SATELLITES:
COMPANY INKS NETWORK SYSTEM DEAL IN PHILIPPINES
Satellite Technology Management Inc., Costa Mesa, Ca, signed a contract
worth more than $6 million to supply a satellite-based
telecommunications network to the Philippine Long Distance Telephone
Co., Manila. The network includes a master Earth station and
approximately 79 very small aperture terminals, which are smaller,
remote Earth stations located throughout the country. The new network,
which will transmit traffic over C-bank transponders on Indonesia's
Palapa satellite constellation, will provide the Philippines with
nationwide telecommunications coverage for voice and data traffic.
FRANCE TO WIDEN SPACE EFFORTS
The French government will launch a small satellite in 1994 to test
electronic eavesdropping techniques as part of its widening military-
space effort, according to government and industry officials. The
satellite, called Cerise, is being built by Alcatel Espace of
Courbevoie, France, and is expected to be placed into low-Earth orbit
as a secondary payload to the Helios spy satellite to be launched
aboard an Ariane rocket.
HUGHES TO SUBMIT TMI PROPOSAL
NASA picked Hughes to negotiate for a contract to build the Tropical
Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager (TMI) for a joint U.S./
Japanese mission to be launched in 1997, Goddarde Space Flight Center
reported. Hughes' Space and Communications Group estimated the cost
portion of the cost-plus-award-fee contract at $23.7 million. The
mission will study tropical rainfall and its impact on the global
energy and water cycle to improve forecasting of global circulation and
rainfall variability. The TMI is a multi-frequency microwave
radiometer. Aerojet also submitted a proposal.
JAPANESE SATELLITE STUDIES EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD
A Japanese satellite originally launched to observe Halley's Comet -
having far outlived its expected lifetime - now is beginning a new
assignment studying the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's
magnetic field. The Sakigaki satellite, launched in 1985 by Japan's
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), came within 55,800
miles of Earth on January 8, its closest approach. The M3S2-1 rocket
carried the rocket to orbit. In making the approach, which required a
change in the orbit the satellite had been in for several years,
Sakigaki passed through the Earth's geomagnetic tail, affecting the
solar wind pattern as it did so. The solar wind is the steady stream
of charged particles - primarily protons and electrons - emitted by the
sun. The solar wind is significantly distorted by Earth's magnetic
field.
METEOSAT 5 FINISHES TESTS; EUMETSAT TAKES CONTROL
The Meteosat 5 weather satellite has completed its testing phase, and
the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meterological
Satellites (Eumetsat) has taken control of the spacecraft. Eumetsat
paid the European Space Agency (ESA) about 75 million European Currency
Units to build, launch and check out the satellite. It was launched
March 2, 1991, by an Ariane 4 launch vehicle. Once the satellite
passed its tests, ESA handed control of it to Eumetsat, which
distributes cloud images to national meteorological services throughout
Europe, Africa and parts of South America. Meteosat 5 is the second in
a series of three weather satellites launched by ESA for Eumetsat, an
intergovernmental organization based in Darmstadt, Germany.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
ASRM TERMINATION ADDS NINE MONTHS TO STATION CONSTRUCTION
Termination of the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM), as proposed in
NASA's fiscal 1993 budget request, will add nine months to construction
of the Space Station on orbit and about a flight a year in Shuttle
missions to the orbiting laboratory after it becomes permanently
inhabited. Loss of Space Shuttle payload capability associated with
the ASRM, calculated at 12,000 pounds, will also require a new
integrated propulsion system to lift the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics
Facility (AXAF) to a long-term orbit. NASA has requested $8 million in
its expendable launch vehicle line item for FY '93 to begin development
work on the new upper stage.
CANADIAN STATION CONTRACT
SPAR Aerospace, Ltd., will supply electrical, electronic and electro-
mechanical parts for the U.S./international space station's mobile
servicing system. The Canadian Space Agency awarded two contracts
worth a total of $77 million to Spar which is based in Mississauga,
Ontario. As prime contractor, Spar will be responsible for the
system's robotic arm, including the special-purpose dexterous
manipulator, and for its mobile transporter. The system will be used
for assembly of the station and for maintenance after construction is
complete to reduce the number of extravehicular activities. Work on
the contracts will continue through 1993. Most of it will be
subcontracted to other Canadian companies.
|
| 20.145 | 02/10, Aerospace News | HOPER::ROACH | TANSTAAFL ! | Wed Feb 19 1992 17:18 | 568 |
|
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Doc. No: 007970
Date: 18-Feb-1992 04:45pm EST
From: IMSIS
IMSIS@ICS@DKAS@MRGATE@NRGATE@NRO
Dept:
Tel No:
TO: PATRICK ROACH@LMO
Subject: 02/10, Aerospace News
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
For the Week of February 10, 1992
-------------------------------------
Provided By
CSP Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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Marketing & Sales Information Service (IMSIS) videotext infobase. IMSIS is
located on ACCESS under "Target Industries" and on VTX under "Marketing
Information" or "Computer Industry News." Keyword access from the $ prompt
is 'VTX IMSIS.'
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HEADLINES FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10, 1992
GENERAL:
APPLIED DATA TO PROVIDE AF WITH DISPLAY SYSTEMS
BAe, NORTHROP TOGETHER CUT ANOTHER 4,350 JOBS
DUTCH MILITARY ORDERS THOMSON RADIO SYSTEM
GD REVERSES LOSSES FROM A YEAR AGO
GE, CFMI POST THIRD BIGGEST YEAR DESPITE SALES DECLINE
HUGHES, RAYTHEON GET PRISM AWARDS FROM ESD
LOCKHEED, MERCURY TEAM ON MILITARY COMPUTER
MARTIN, LOCKHEED BUY LTV UNIT
NEW U.S. NAVY RULES FAVOR COMMERCIAL COMPUTERS
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ATARS FACES YEAR DELAY
FIRST NOSE SECTION SHIPMENT
KAMOV REVEALS DETAILS OF HOKUM HELICOPTER
AVIONICS:
BALL TRAINER WILL OFFER FLEXIBILITY
CAE GETS FLIGHT SIMULATOR JOB
NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR VMS
NEW F/A-18C/D SOFTWARE TO INTEGRATE SENSOR INPUTS
TURKEY UPGRADES AWARD TO AYDIN FOR RADAR WORK
MISSILES:
BAT DEVELOPMENT ON TRACK, FIRST MODELS BY END OF YEAR
DESIGN CHANGE CONCERNS BRING JOUST TO HALT
LITTON GETS $17.1 MILLION FOR TRIDENT ACCELEROMETERS
RAYTHEON RECEIVES CONTRACT TO MAKE AIM-9M SIDEWINDER COMPONENTS
SDIO AWARDS MCDONNELL LAUNCH SERVICE CONTRACT
SATELLITES:
JANUARY ENDS WITH SEVERAL COMMONWEALTH LAUNCHES
JAPAN LAUNCHES ITS FIRST EARTH RESOURCES SATELLITE AFTER DELAY
JUNE DELIVERY SET FOR FIRST HISPASAT SATELLITE
TELECOM 2A PICKS UP COVERAGE FOR OLYMPICS
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CONTRAVES UNIT TO BUILD TELESCOPE FOR AIR FORCE
FIRST SPACEHAB MODULE ARRIVES IN UNITED STATES
SHUTTLE LIFE
U.S., ITALIAN FIRMS MAKE PACT FOR STATION MODULES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:
APPLIED DATA TO PROVIDE AF WITH DISPLAY SYSTEMS
Applied Data Technology, Inc. (ADTI) of San Diego, CA, will provide
next-generation display systems for U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard,
Navy, Marine Corps and Army combat training ranges under a $4.9 million
Air Force contract. The Advanced Display and Debriefing Subsystem
(ADDS) features three-dimensional, solid-model graphics and
communications that will permit air crew debriefings to be held at
widely dispersed locations. Ada software will be used to simplify
future expansions. Organizations scheduled to receive the new range
instrumentation include Red Flag at Nellis AFB, NV.; Navy Fighter
Weapons School (Top Gun) at NAS Miramar, CA; the Army's National
Training Center at Ft. Irwin, CA, and several Air National Guard sites
throughout the U.S.
BAe, NORTHROP TOGETHER CUT ANOTHER 4,350 AEROSPACE JOBS
Another 4,350 aerospace jobs have been cut in the past two days, with
British Aerospace and Northrop Corp. slashing military and civil
positions to account for the worldwide decline in defense spending and
the recession. The reductions come on top of more than 8,000 jobs
slashed in the U.S. alone during the five business days following
announcement of the Pentagon's fiscal 1993 spending plan. Northrop
said it would have to cut 2,000 more jobs, in addition to 1,500 it said
recently it would have to eliminate, to respond to defense cuts
proposed by President Bush last month. About half the 2,000 cuts in
Northrop's Aircraft Div. will come from layoffs, while the other half
will come from attrition, and should be completed by the end of this
year. BAe said it would have to cut 2,350 positions, including 1,450
from the company's military divisions, as its Tornado fighter-bomber
line winds down and delays lengthen in finalizing the massive al
Yamamah II arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
DUTCH MILITARY ORDERS THOMSON RADIO SYSTEM
The Dutch military has awarded a $185 million contract to Thomson-CSF,
Paris, for the supply of more than 8,000 tactical radios. The
company's radios, which are based on the PR4G series used in the French
Army, beat out the U.S. Army's Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio
System, offered by ITT Corp.'s Aerospace/Communications Division, Fort
Wayne, Indiana. Much of the work is to be performed at Thomson-CSF's
Dutch subsidiary, Signaal, based in Huizen, the Netherlands.
GD REVERSES LOSSES FROM A YEAR AGO
General Dynamics Corp., Falls Church, VA, showed net earnings of $505
million, or $12.06 per share, for the year ending Dec. 31. The company
lost $578 million, or $13.86 a share, a year earlier, which included
special after-tax charges of $881 million because of write-offs and
restructuring. Revenues for 1991 totaled $8.75 billion, compared with
$9.46 billion in 1990. The backlog of funded orders as of Dec. 32
stood at $18 billion, up from $17.8 billion on Sept. 30. Fourth-
quarter net earnings were $166 million on sales of $2.33 billion.
Sales in the military aircraft segment declined to $702 million from
$864 million during the same period in 1990, while submarine sales rose
to $487 million from $451 million.
GE, CFMI POST THIRD BIGGEST YEAR DESPITE SALES DECLINE
General Electric Aircraft Engines and its CFM International joint
venture with France's SNECMA won almost $11 billion in orders, options
and commitments for more than 1,350 engines last year, GE reported.
The sales volume marked 1991 as the third biggest year on record for
the two companies - but it also marked the second straight year of
declines, from a record-high $20 billion in 1989.
HUGHES, RAYTHEON GET PRISM AWARDS FROM ESD
Hughes Aircraft Co. and Raytheon Co. have received contracts from the
Air Force's Electronic Systems Div. for a research and development
effort to produce reusable software that could sharply reduce the
development time for command center systems. An ESD spokesman said
recently that contracts were awarded last Dec. 24 to Hughes Aircraft's
Ground Systems Group, Fullerton, CA, and Raytheon's Equipment Div.,
Lexington, MA, for work on the Portable, Reusable, Integrated Software
Modules (PRISM) program, a five-year initiative aimed at reducing
command center systems development time from six years to one year of
less. Hughes, which received $6.4 million, is teamed with Systems
Research and Applications Inc. (SRA) and Alphatech Inc. Raytheon, which
got $7.1 million, is working with Arca Systems and Logicon Strategic
Informations Systems Inc.
LOCKHEED, MERCURY TEAM ON MILITARY COMPUTER
Lockheed Sanders Inc., Nashua, N.H., and Mercury Computer Systems Inc.,
Lowell, MA, will enhance and adapt for military use a Mercury-designed,
high-performance computer, the companies announced in a statement.
Under the agreement, Lockheed Sanders will incorporate Mercury's
computer architecture and system software to produce a military version
of the Mercury computer for government programs. Work on the project
began in September at Sanders' Digital Design Center. Delivery of a
qualified product is scheduled for November.
MARTIN, LOCKHEED BUY LTV UNIT
Martin Marietta Corp. and Lockheed Corp. plan to run LTV Corp.'s
aerospace operations as a jointly owned, independent unit to avoid
antitrust problems and minimize financial risk. The involvement of all
three companies in missile defense programs created concern within the
companies about possible antitrust problems, an industry official said.
In addition, the change in total overhead expenses charged to contracts
would have complicated existing programs. Among the space programs
affected are the Scout rocket, LTV's participation in the U.S. Army's
Extended Range Intercept Technology program and radiators for space
shuttles and for international space station contractors. LTV
announced February 3 that it reached an agreement in principle to sell
its aircraft and missile business to Lockheed of Calabasas, CA, and
Martin Marietta of Bethesda, MD. A new company called Vought Corp.
will be formed.
NEW U.S. NAVY RULES FAVOR COMMERCIAL COMPUTERS
The U.S. Navy soon will overhaul its computer acquisition regulations
to make greater use of commercial computers and depend less on the
Navy's unique computers. The new rules will force program managers to
use computers built to commercial technical standards unless they
obtain a waiver to use the Navy's unique set of UYK-44 and UYK-43
computers. The new regulations are likely to be signed by the end of
August. There is a debate within the Navy, however, over the scope of
the regulations, which are expected to go through official review by
early April.
COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT:
ATARS FACES YEAR DELAY
The U.S. Air Force and Navy's Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance
(ATARS) program has fallen nearly one year behind its planned low-rate
production schedule. Service and industry sources say scheduled flight
tests of the sensor suite on F/A-18 aircraft could be pushed back until
the end of the year. ATARS is planned for installation on F-16, F/A-18
aircraft as well as the Mid-Range Unmanned Air Vehicle. Sources
attribute delays to the rough transition from Control Data Corp., the
Minneapolis-based prime contractor that sold the program in late 1990,
as well as Martin Marietta's difficulty in managing subcontractor
deliveries and integration work.
FIRST NOSE SECTION SHIPMENT
China has shipped its first nose section for the McDonnell Douglas MD-
80. Chengdu Aircraft Corp. is subcontracted to produce 99 more nose
sections for MD80/90 series transports. The 1.1 ton assembly is the
largest foreign aviation component assembled in China. Since 1988 the
Chengdu-based company has invested almost $19 million in upgrading its
21 assembly lines and 12 workshops to meet U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration requirements.
KAMOV REVEALS DETAILS OF HOKUM HELICOPTER
Kamov's single-seat Hokum combat helicopter has been selected over the
tandem-seat Mil Mi-28 Havoc as the Russian army's next-generation
antitank helicopter. The president of the now renamed Kamov Helicopter
& Scientific Co., said the Hokum is not a fighter helicopter, as U.S.
intelligence officials initially. He said it is an assault helicopter
designed to suppress ground forces on the battlefield. Preliminary
designs of the Hokum, which were influenced by U.S. combat experience
in Vietnam and that of the Soviet army in Afghanistan, were completed
in 1977, two years after the first flight of a McDonnell Douglas AH-64
Apache prototype. The Hokum, which made its first flight on July 27,
1982, was conceived as a rival rather than a copy of the Apache.
AVIONICS:
BALL TRAINER WILL OFFER FLEXIBILITY
Ball Systems Engineering Division is linking a fighter cockpit with an
image generator, avionics rack and personal computer that adds
threatening aircraft or missiles to the simulator. The project is
allowing Ball and its customers to try out new radars and computers.
For example, if a foreign government were interested in buying a new
radar for F-5 fighters, Ball would modify the trainer to simulate an F-
5. Then, the new radar would be linked into the system to let the
customer see how it would change the aircraft's performance. The
aircraft simulator was conceived as a marketing tool to show potential
customers Ball's ability to integrate complex avionics. In the past,
Ball built integration facilities at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, and
Douglas Aircraft Co. in Long Beach, CA. However, it was difficult to
gain approval to bring potential customers to see those facilities.
CAE GETS FLIGHT SIMULATOR JOB
CAE Electronics, Montreal, has won a $17 million contract to develop a
flight simulator for the Augusta A.109 helicopter being purchased for
the Belgian armed forces. The contract is being awarded to CAE through
Siemens of Belgian armed forces. The simulator will feature CAE's
special rotor-blade simulation package, which visually identifies each
element of the helicopter's rotor system, including the rotor blade,
hub, hinges and other associated elements.
NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR VMS
NASA, McDonnell Douglas and Smiths Industries are flight testing a new,
highly integrated computer system that will form the basis of the
Vehicle Management System (VMS) on NASA's F-15 Highly Integrated
Digital Electronic Control (HiDEC) aircraft. The VMS computer is made
up of parallel RISC processing elements which integrate flight critical
systems such as avionics, navigation, flight control, propulsion,
hydraulics and electrical power to provide improved performance,
control and survivability. Smiths developed the VMS computer and
McDonnell Douglas engineers have written the software using the Ada
language.
NEW F/A-18C/D SOFTWARE TO INTEGRATE SENSOR INPUTS
A software package being developed for the Navy/Marine/McDonnell
Douglas F/A-18C/D will integrate surveillance, tracking and
identification data outputs from radar, infrared and other sensors to
improve air-to-air combat performance while reducing pilot workload.
Officers conducting flight tests of what is called "Multi-Source
Integration" or MSI software said the F/A-18 is the first U.S. tactical
aircraft in which automatic sensor fusion is being attempted on this
scale. An integrated, fused sensor suite is planned for the U.S. Air
Force's F-22, but the suite is several years away from testing and will
not enter service until the late 1990's. The decision to develop this
complex operational flight program (OFP) update for the F/A-18 was
driven by advancing threat technologies, particularly low observables
(stealth) and more effective countermeasures. These dictate that U.S.
fighters have improved surveillance and fire control capabilities,
while not increasing an already demanding pilot workload.
TURKEY UPGRADES AWARD TO AYDIN FOR RADAR WORK
The Turkish government has asked Aydin Corp. to add an air traffic
control capability to electronic systems it is supplying the Turkish
radar network. The potential value of the extra work could increase by
$55 million the Turkish Mobile Radar Complex Command, Control and
Communications contract, worth roughly $216 million when it was awarded
to Aydin in 1990, according to a company statement. Aydin Corp. is
based in Horsham, PA.
MISSILES:
BAT DEVELOPMENT ON TRACK, FIRST MODELS BY END OF YEAR
The first developmental models of the Northrop-made BAT (Brilliant
Anti-Tank) weapon are expected to be completed by the end of 1992,
after a series of static and flight tests this summer, the Army
recently reported. Critical Design Reviews (CDR) will be conducted
this spring of all subcontractors' and vendors' endeavors, culminating
in a program-wide CDR with Northrop Corp. The BAT is a self-guided
submunition intended to be carried on the ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile
System) and the Tri-Service Standoff Attack Missile (TSSAM). It uses
acoustic and infrared sensors and carries a tandem shaped-charge
warhead.
DESIGN CHANGE CONCERNS BRING HOUST TO HALT
A suborbital rocket effort for commercial space researchers has ground
to a halt out of concern that design changes by Orbital Sciences Corp.
could diminish the rocket's performance. The changes were made after a
June 1991 launch failure. The Prospector rocket, built by Orbital
Sciences' Space Data Division, Chandler, AZ, is designed to loft
experimental payloads into space and provide them with 12 to 15 minutes
of microgravity. The payloads then re-enter the atmosphere and are
retrieved. Future Prospector launches are suspended until new design
options for the rocket are approved by Orbital Sciences' customer, the
Consortium for Materials Development in Space at the University of
Alabama in Huntsville.
LITTON GETS $17.1 MILLION FOR TRIDENT ACCELEROMETERS
Litton's Guidance & Control Systems Div. has received a $17.1 million
Navy contract for production of 120 more accelerometers for the Trident
II missile program. The Pendulous Integrating Gyroscopic Accelerometer
(PIGA) instruments are used in the Mk. 6 inertial measurement unit,
which is the guidance set for the Trident II D5 fleet ballistic
missile. Litton's Salt Lake City, UT facility, which has been in the
program since 1986, has received about $74.1 million in contract
awards. The new contract brings to 538 the number of units ordered by
the Navy from Litton.
RAYTHEON RECEIVES CONTRACT TO MAKE AIM-9M SIDEWINDER COMPONENTS
Raytheon Co. received an $11.2 million contract to provide AIM-9M
Sidewinder missile components for the U.S. Navy and Air Force as well
as five allied countries, the company said. Raytheon will build 317
guidance control sections for the Navy, Air Force, Special Defense
Acquisition Fund and the governments of Israel, Australia, The
Netherlands and Turkey. It also will supply 882 coolant tank
assemblies for the Air Force, the SDAF, Israel, Australia, The
Netherlands, Turkey and New Zealand. The work will be performed at
company facilities in Lowell, MA, and is scheduled for completion by
June 1993.
SDIO AWARDS MCDONNELL LAUNCH SERVICE CONTRACT
The Strategic Defense Initiative Organization has awarded a $14.36
million contract to McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., Huntington
Beach, CA, for launch support services for the Mid-course Space
Experiment program. The Mid-course Space Experiment will be launched
on a Delta II expendable launch vehicle in late 1993 or early 1994 to
investigate sensors needed to detect ballistic missile warheads in
flight.
SATELLITES:
JANUARY ENDS WITH SEVERAL COMMONWEALTH LAUNCHES
The end of January saw a flurry of space launches by the Commonwealth
of Independent States, with the former Soviet Union lofting six
automated spacecraft in eight days. The burst of activity began
January 21, with the launch of Cosmos 2175, a photoreconnaissance
satellite. On January 23, the commonwealth launched Cosmos 2176, a
missile-detecting spacecraft. January 25 saw the launch of Progress M-
11, an automated cargo ship that carried supplies to the Mir space
station. Three Global Navigation Satellite System (Glonass) spacecraft
were launched January 29 aboard a single Proton booster from Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Glonass spacecraft, generally similar to the
U.S. Navstar Global Positioning System, broadcast precise navigational
signals for use with special terrestrial receivers.
JAPAN LAUNCHES ITS FIRST EARTH RESOURCES SATELLITE AFTER DELAY
Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) launched its first
Earth resources satellite (JERS-1) Feb 11 after a week-long delay
caused by problems with the satellite's H-1 launch vehicle, according
to Japanese press reports. Kyodo news service reported the launch from
Tanegashima space center occurred at 10:50 a.m. local time. An earlier
launch attempt was delayed Feb. 3 because of a malfunction in the H-1
flight control system. The 1.4 metric ton satellite is one of the
largest launched by Japan. It carries synthetic aperture radar with a
60-meter resolution for resource exploration, as well as visible and
near-infrared cameras. NASDA officials told Kyodo that the satellite
will begin observations in mid-April from a 350-mile orbit that will
take it over a particular point on the surface every 44 days.
JUNE DELIVERY SET FOR FIRST HISPASAT SATELLITE
Spain's first Hispasat telecommunications satellite has reached an
advanced stage of integration at the Matra Marconi Space facility in
Toulouse, France. The mixed civil/military relay spacecraft is
scheduled to be delivered in June for launch on a European Ariane
booster in August. Integration of the second Hispasat has started in
Toulouse, and it is planned for launch in the first half of 1993.
Hispasat is one of the Eurostar series of communications platforms
designed by France's Matra with British Aerospace. Hispasat will weigh
2,100 kg. (4,620 lb.) at launch and last at least 10 years.
TELECOM 2A PICKS UP COVERAGE FOR OLYMPICS
The French telecommunications satellite that will carry television
coverage of the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, went into
service January 30, French government officials said. In an unusual
twist on the traditional method of starting a satellite's operation,
the Telecom 2A satellite will operate for the Olympic Games and then
will return to the custody of the French space agency, Centre national
d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), for further testing. After the Olympics,
the satellite will finish testing and be moved to its permanent
position, 8 degrees West, where it will handle telecommunications
between France and its territories. The French government also will
use the satellite for military telecommunications, as well as
television and radio distribution among its territories.
SPACE SYSTEMS:
CONTRAVES UNIT TO BUILD TELESCOPE FOR AIR FORCE
The U.S. Air Force's Systems Command Phillips Laboratory at Kirtland
Air Force Base, New Mexico, has awarded Pittsburgh-based Contraves USA
a $20 million contract for a 3.67 meter (12.1 foot) telescope and base.
The system, which will be built by Contraves' Electro-Optics Systems
Division, Pittsburgh, will design, build and install the system. It
will be located at Haliakala in Maui, Hawaii, and used as a universal
tool to complement the facility's other telescopes and measuring
instruments. Contraves is nearing completion of its contract with the
Air Force for its 3.5 meter (11.6 foot) telescope. Under the $10.5
million contract, Contraves designed a 35-foot-high, 275,000 pound
system capable of viewing and plotting the trajectory of satellites and
stars, essential for studying atmospheric turbulence.
FIRST SPACEHAB MODULE ARRIVES IN UNITED STATES
Spacehab's first pressurized module was scheduled to arrive February
13, at the firm's Payload Processing Facility at Port Canaveral,
according to a Spacehab official. The module was constructed at the
Turin, Italy, facility of Alenia Spazio, contractor for the project.
It was sent to the United States aboard a ship, which arrived recently
in South Carolina. The module will be trucked to the facility in
Florida. Alenia Spazio is fabricating two modules for Washington-based
Spacehab under a $40 million contract. The contract also included a
structural and engineering test module that will not be used for
flight.
SHUTTLE LIFE
NASA long-range planners predict the space shuttle will be used in its
present configuration through the year 2020, with an average of eight
missions a year for the four-orbiter fleet. They expect that the
shuttle eventually will be replaced by a manned vehicle that will be
launched by the joint NASA/USAF National Launch System, which is now
being defined and designed. The NLS will be used initially for
unmanned payloads.
U.S., ITALIAN FIRMS MAKE PACT FOR STATION MODULES
U.S. and Italian aerospace industry officials have signed a memorandum
of understanding to cooperate in the construction of two mini-
pressurized modules for the planned international space station.
Representatives from Boeing Defense and Space Group, Huntsville, AL,
and Alenia Spazio, Rome, signed the agreement in Italy January 29.
NASA and the Italian Space Agency signed the initial memorandum of
understanding for the project in December 1991. In an estimated $400
million venture, Alenia will design and fabricate two modules, which
are to carry experiments and supplies between Earth and the orbiting
laboratory inside the cargo bay of the U.S. space shuttle. In return,
Italy will have access to a fraction of U.S. scientific space aboard
the outpost, independent of its access through the European Space
Agency. Boeing, NASA's prime contractor for the space station
laboratory and habitation modules, will serve as the project's systems
engineering and integration manager. It will certify for NASA that the
final hardware is complete and ready for launch.
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