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+++ Shuttle cleared for landing +++ Thales signs Watchkeeper contract with UK +++ RUAG to upgrade German Challengers +++ OHB gets more satellite orders +++ EADS sells Lake Charles unit +++ First production MH-60R flies +++ News in brief +++
Shuttle cleared for landing
Erstmals Reparatur des Shuttle im All
On 4 August, Space Shuttle mission managers completed their assessment of Discovery's fitness to handle the rigors of re-entry into the atmosphere. "We have cleared Discovery to re-enter," said Wayne Hale, chairman of the Mission Management Team (MMT), during a news conference at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. The MMT determined the Orbiter's heat shield and other systems are in good shape. They also decided a spacewalk is unnecessary to repair damage to a thermal blanket on Discovery's outer skin. Earlier this week, Discovery (STS-114) mission managers determined two components of the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System, tile and Reinforced Carbon-Carbon, were fit for re-entry and landing. Th MMT cleared the final element: thermal blankets. One blanket is slightly torn and billowing in orbit. The MMT considered the results of overnight testing at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Engineers ran samples of torn thermal blankets through wind tunnels at velocities many times faster than the speed of sound. Tests showed it was highly unlikely the blanket would tear off or strike the Orbiter. Other analyses showed the blankets would still protect Discovery from re-entry heat. Discovery is set to land Monday, Aug. 8 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The first opportunity for Commander Eileen Collins to land the Space Shuttle is at 4:46 a.m. EDT.
Earlier in the week, the crews of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station completed a delicate operation to remove loose material sticking out between heat-shielding tiles on the Orbiter's belly. Spacewalking astronaut Steve Robinson rode the Station's robotic arm to reach Discovery's underside, and he easily pulled out two ceramic cloth gap fillers protruding from the tiled surface. "It looks like this big patient is cured," Robinson said when the task was complete. This marked the first time an astronaut worked on the underside of a Shuttle in space. A large ground team of engineers, flight controllers and experienced astronauts spent several days planning the task. On Monday, mission managers decided to add the job to today's already-planned spacewalk. NASA wanted to ensure the protruding fillers would not add extra heating to the tiles, as Discovery re-entered the atmosphere. Aboard Discovery, STS-114 astronaut Andy Thomas coordinated the spacewalk, while astronauts Jim Kelly and Wendy Lawrence operated the Shuttle and Station robotic arms. Japanese astronaut and fellow spacewalker Soichi Noguchi kept an eye on Robinson and helped with communications.
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Thales signs Watchkeeper contract with UK
Großbritannien bestellt neue Aufklärungsdrohne
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Thales UK have signed a contract worth £700 million for the full Development, Manufacture and Initial Support (DMIS) phases of the Watchkeeper programme. Watchkeeper will provide the UK armed forces with an essential Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability based on an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system and will be a key component of the UK's Network Enabled Capability (NEC). This programme will deliver equipment, training and facilities, with the capability coming into service from 2010.
The Watchkeeper system consists of the WK450 unmanned air vehicle carrying day/night sensors and laser target designator connected by a data link to a network of containerised Ground Control Stations where Army operators will control the whole mission and interface within a network enabled environment. High resolution optical and radar imagery will be exploited and disseminated to provide valuable intelligence for operational commanders. The system is capable of rapid deployment and operations anywhere in the world. Watchkeeper will support the information requirements of all three services and will be operated by the Royal Artillery. Alex Dorrian, CEO Thales UK said, “As the largest single contract for Thales UK to date this is an important moment for us and one we have all worked toward for a long time. We will continue to work closely with the MoD in order to deliver an excellent operational capability on time, on budget and to requirement. Based on this endorsement of our solution, we expect to secure export sales of at least £400 million over the next ten years.” The Thales UK Watchkeeper solution will create or sustain up to 2100 jobs, all of which will be in the UK. These high technology jobs in systems integration, prime contracting, engineering and manufacturing will be within Thales UK, the Thales Watchkeeper team companies and throughout the UK supply chain. Exports are expected to increase this total to 2500.
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RUAG to upgrade German Challengers
Challenger der Luftwaffe werden modernisier
The Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB), Koblenz, placed to RUAG Aerospace Services, Oberpfaffenhofen, the order for renewal of avionics of the Challenger fleet of the Special Air Mission Unit - German MOD. The order volume comprises more than 17 million EUR. For more than 20 years Challenger aircraft of the German MOD have been supported at the Oberpfaffenhofen site. This new order must consequently be considered as an evidence of confidence in RUAG Aerospace Services. The six Bombardier Challenger CL-600-2A12 aircraft will be equipped with a Honeywell EPIC CDS/R Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), a new weather radar and an Electronic Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS). In addition, the HF communications system will be replaced with a digital system of Rockwell Collins and an iridium satellite communication system. Based on the operational requirements of the aviation authorities, this conversion also includes replacement of the civil transponder and the military IFF identification system (Identification Friend or Foe) with mode-S capability military transponders. These items will be furnished by the customer. The tight project schedule begins with making an aircraft available for type installation in October 2005, its certification in March 2006 and ends with completing the five series installations in the fourth quarter of 2007. It makes highest demands on the motivated and experienced RUAG Aerospace Services team.
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OHB gets more satellite orders
Neue Aufträge für OHB
The German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement has awarded OHB-System AG a project for the completion of a study on “global space-based reconnaissance” (WERA). This entails definitions of the next generation of SAR-Lupe. Upon being implemented next year, the SAR-Lupe system will provide the German Federal Armed Forces with space-based reconnaissance for a period of ten years. The Armed Forces are attaching importance to a seamless migration to the follow-up system upon the expiry of this period. In the WERA study, OHB will be defining a system characterized by such elements as heightened performance, even greater resolution and shorter image delivery times. As well as this, it will be determining whether the next-generation satellites will also be able to supply infrared images and other types of information from areas of interest in addition to radar images. The LUX model for small geostationary satellites developed by Bremenbased space-technology company OHB-System AG has found acceptance. The German Space Agency (DLR) is supporting the OHB program for “little GEOs” by awarding a project in this area. With this initiative, OHB-System AG is pursuing the aim of placing inexpensive satellites with a relatively small mass and volume in geostationary orbits. Under its LUX project, OHB started developing a highly efficient multipurpose satellite platform for communications, security and research at the beginning of 2004. The support being shown by the German Space Agency (DLR) testify to the merits of both the idea and the technical approach developed by OHB.
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EADS sells Lake Charles unit
Aeroframe wird von EADS North America verkauft
EADS North America has sold its EADS Aeroframe Services business unit to a company led by industry leader Roger Porter and which is to operate under the Aeroframe Services name. The acquisition of the Aeroframe Services business will add maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and capabilities to Mr. Porter's Linden Street Capital Corporation's growing portfolio of aircraft service operations. Porter, who currently is president of Linden Street Capital Corporation, also becomes president of the new acquisition. Terms of the business unit's sale by EADS North America were not disclosed. Aeroframe Services is located at Lake Charles, Louisiana, and offers MRO and line support for Airbus widebody and single-aisle jetliners, as well as interior refurbishment, cabin conversion and paint and strip services on all makes of aircraft up to the Airbus A340 and Boeing 747. "The Aeroframe Services business will be in good hands with Roger Porter, who is focused on the company's further development and on its success in a highly competitive marketplace," said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America's Chairman & CEO. "EADS North America is committed to transitioning Aeroframe Services in a way that positions the company for continued growth and reflects our commitment to our employees and the Lake Charles area. This step accomplishes those goals." "The acquisition of Aeroframe Services fits into the strategic growth plan of our aircraft services activity," Porter said. "We will continue Aeroframe Services' focus on Airbus jetliners, while also looking for opportunities to add other aircraft types to its portfolio of capabilities."
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First production MH-60R flies
MH-60R aus der Serie fliegt
The first new production MH-60R took to the skies July 28 at the Sikorsky Aircraft facility in Stratford, CT. The aircraft flew a total of 1.5 hours and performed the entire flight acceptance profile, which included flight control checks, vibration measurements and engine power checks, without incident. The MH-60R is the next generation submarine hunter and surface attack helicopter. It will replace the fleet's legacy SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft. The Navy is expected to order as many as 254 MH-60R aircraft through 2015, with production quantities increasing to 30 aircraft per year.
Lockheed Martin is the mission systems integrator for the MH-60R, and also provides the digital Common Cockpit avionics suite, which is common to all MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters. Sikorsky designs and manufactures the MH-60S and MH-60R aircraft and is responsible for the mechanical and electrical modifications on the airframe. “We are eagerly awaiting the arrival later this month of the first new production MH-60R helicopter at our systems integration facility in Owego, NY, where we will begin installation of the aircraft's integrated mission systems,” said Jeff Bantle, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Multi-Mission Solutions business unit. “This first aircraft also is important as a symbol of the enduring 30-year relationship between Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky and the U.S. Navy to develop helicopter weapons systems that keep vigilant watch over the Fleet.” Test MH-60R aircraft have been in Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) since May. Designed as a rigorous assessment of the aircraft and its mission systems in operational flight conditions, OPEVAL is the aircraft's final test phase before fleet introduction and delivery. The aircraft successfully completed the Navy's six-month-long developmental test phase, known as Technical Evaluation, in February.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
NASA has said a planet larger than Pluto has been discovered in the outlying regions of the solar system. The planet was discovered using the Samuel Oschin Telescope at Palomar Observatory near San Diego, Calif. The discovery was announced today by planetary scientist Dr. Mike Brown of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., whose research is partly funded by NASA. The planet is a typical member of the Kuiper belt, but its sheer size in relation to the nine known planets means that it can only be classified as a planet, Brown said. Currently about 97 times further from the sun than the Earth, the planet is the farthest-known object in the solar system, and the third brightest of the Kuiper belt objects. "It will be visible with a telescope over the next six months and is currently almost directly overhead in the early-morning eastern sky, in the constellation Cetus," said Brown, who made the discovery with colleagues Chad Trujillo, of the Gemini Observatory in Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and David Rabinowitz, of Yale University, New Haven, Conn., on January 8.
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CHC Helicopter Corporation announced that it is entering into an arrangement to sell its remaining interest in Canadian Helicopters Limited ("CHL"), which operates onshore helicopter services in Canada. CHC sold 55% of CHL to CHL's management and an equity investor in 2000. CHC's offshore oil and gas operations in Eastern Canada are not included in the sale. The sale is subject to various conditions and approvals including finalization of a definitive acquisition agreement and upon the closing of a public offering of trust units by Canadian Helicopters Income Fund (the "Fund") which has been formed to indirectly purchase CHL. The price to be received by CHC for its interest in CHL has not been determined and will depend upon market conditions at the time of the offering.
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Hot-firing tests of the new Vinci cryogenic upper-stage engine reached a new high on 27 July with a successful test lasting 60 seconds. This is the longest duration test since trials began and the first carried out under full test conditions. To meet these conditions the turbo-pumps ran at full revolution and full pressure was reached in both the thrust chamber and in the turbo-pumps. During previous tests, the engine was shut down at between 25% to 50% pressure level, well before these conditions were reached, to protect the hardware. Vinci, developed under ESA's Ariane-5 Plus launcher programme, is a new upper-stage launcher engine. This re-ignitable cryogenic engine uses a more efficient expander cycle, which does not require a gas generator to drive its two turbo-pumps: one for liquid hydrogen (LH2) and one for liquid oxygen (LOX). Vinci will provide 18 tonnes of thrust in vacuum with a specific impulse of 465 sec. The technologies involved in developing this new upper stage engine are of great importance for future developments in the European propulsion sector. Wednesday's ignition was as smooth as in previous tests and when the supersonic flame front stabilised it was thumbs up from all present for a long duration run. Vinci behaved as predicted and performed flawlessly; adding an important milestone to the engine's development. Since the first test in May this year, lasting just one second, the length of the firing has been gradually increased until full establishment of the combustion process and stable 60 seconds run in Wednesday's trial. This test, with all systems running at nominal conditions and for a longer duration, provided the certainty that the design objectives have been achieved.
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Telephonics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Griffon Corporation, announced a subcontract award from General Dynamics Canada to supply radar system hardware for the Canadian Maritime Helicopter Project. For the award, Telephonics will provide 31 ship sets of integrated Maritime Surveillance Radar and Mark XIIA Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator sub-system hardware with options for initial spares and 20 years of in-service support. The subcontract, including all options, could exceed $50 million, the company said. The first test aircraft system will be delivered in July 2007.
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Boeing and Chorus Motors have demonstrated an exploratory technology that could lead to a more efficient way of moving airplanes when they are on the ground at airports. Successful tests in June of an onboard electric motor attached to the nose wheel of a Boeing 767 have shown that it may be a viable way of powering airplanes to move in and around gates, largely eliminating the use of airport tow tugs and jet engines now serving this purpose, as well as reducing emissions. "We are striving to help our aerospace customers operate more efficiently, cleanly and quietly at airports," said Jim Renton, a director of Technology Integration in Boeing Phantom Works, the company's advanced research and development unit. "Our testing has shown that onboard electric motors can be very useful in achieving that goal if packaging, weight and flight-related technical issues identified during these tests can be resolved." “We believe onboard electric motors have a great many advantages," added Bob Carman, Chorus Motors' WheelTug(TM) program manager. "They could reduce the need for ground tugs and their associated costs, allow faster flight turnarounds and increased fuel efficiency per trip, and reduce airplane noise and emissions at airports, to name just a few advantages." Phantom Works researchers, together with those from Chorus Motors, a developer of innovative electric motor technologies, have worked together this year to design, build and operate a prototype onboard electric drive system that may enable pilots of large airplanes to be in complete control of their airplanes from gate to gate.
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One of the two Galileo satellites currently under development, GSTB-V2/A, has arrived at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre to undergo testing. Two satellites are being developed for the Galileo System Test Bed – Version 2, which will make up the first phase of in the 'in-orbit validation' of the Galileo system. The primary mission of the first Galileo satellites is to secure the Galileo frequency filings, validate new technologies for operational use, characterise the radiation environment of the medium earth orbits that the operational satellites will occupy and enable experimentation with live Galileo signals. Galileo is a global navigation satellite infrastructure under civil control. It is a joint initiative of the European Commission and ESA. The GSTB-V2/A spacecraft is being developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), based in The United Kingdom. It is a 3-axis stabilized satellite with a body measuring 1.3 m × 1.8 m × 1.65 m and it has a lift-off mass of about 600 kg. Seven hundred Watts of electrical power will be provided by two sun-tracking solar arrays each 1.74 m long when deployed.
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NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, headed toward the first study of Mercury from orbit, swung by Earth today for a gravity assist that propelled it deeper into the inner solar system. Mission operators at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md, said MESSENGER's systems performed flawlessly. The spacecraft swooped around Earth, coming to a closest approach point of approximately 1,458 miles (2,347 kilometers) over central Mongolia at 3:13 p.m. EDT. The spacecraft used the tug of Earth's gravity to significantly change its trajectory. Its average orbit distance is nearly 18 million miles closer to the sun. The maneuver sent it toward Venus for another gravity-assist flyby next year. Launched Aug. 3, 2004, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., the solar-powered spacecraft is approximately 581 million miles (930 million kilometers) into a 4.9 billion mile (7.9 billion kilometer) voyage that includes 14 more loops around the sun. MESSENGER will fly past Venus twice and Mercury three times before moving into orbit.
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Historically the first contract on deliveries for EADS/Airbus, one of the two worldwide leading aerospace companies, was recently concluded by AERO Vodochody a.s. AERO will deliver to the Augsburg plant of EADS' business unit Military Aircraft subassemblies for Airbus A320 and A340 families. In the first stage, the subassemblies will be manufactured from the parts furnished by EADS Augsburg. In the second stage, manufacturing of parts as well as assembly should be performed by AERO.
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Boeing has confirmed that Chile-based LAN Airlines recently placed additional firm orders for six Boeing 767-300 airplanes. The order includes a combination of 767-300 freighters and 767-300ERs (Extended Range). These six 767s were previously designated to an "unidentified" customer on the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Orders and Deliveries Web site. These orders are in addition to six 767s ordered by the airline last year. The announcement came during a delivery ceremony late last week for the first of the 12 airplanes on order. Absa Cargo, an affiliate of LAN Airlines, took delivery of a 767-300 freighter. A second 767 freighter is scheduled for delivery to LAN in October with the other airplanes on order to be delivered through October 2008.
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Raytheon has been awarded a $10 million contract for an advanced concept technology demonstration of Advanced Tactical Targeting Technology (AT3). The technology will be demonstrated in 2007 on three F-16 Block 30 aircraft using Raytheon's digital radar warning receiver, the ALR-69A(V). The award was received from the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The phase one contract calls for the demonstration of rapid and accurate location of RF (radio frequency) emitters associated with enemy air defenses. Three F-16 aircraft will be networked to share precise signal measurements in a timely manner, providing 360-degree coverage to rapidly and accurately locate RF emitters from any angle of arrival without use of external hardware. This demonstration will build upon the success of a U.S. Air Force Research Labs/DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Agency) AT3 advanced technical demonstration completed in 2003 by Raytheon Missile Systems. The contract also contains $11 million in options for additional test phases of the program.
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Alenia Aeronautica and Boeing have signed a formal agreement that defines a major role for Finmeccanica in the 787 Dreamliner programme. The Finmeccanica company has been awarded an initial order of components for 150 aircraft valued at approximately US$1.1 billion. This is one of the most significant contracts ever secured by Finmeccanica in the civil aircraft business. Boeing has already received 143 firm orders since launching the program in April 2004. The original agreement with Boeing was initially the production of components for both the fuselage and the tail section of the 787 aircraft. In addition to this Alenia Aeronautica's structures laboratory in Pomigliano d'Arco (near Naples) will now also perform static and fatigue testing on the horizontal stabilizer built at [Alenia Aeronautica's] Foggia facility, and will carry out research and engineering activities. The company will also run development and production programmes at its Taranto-Grottaglie and Foggia plants. “This agreement” said Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, President and CEO of Finmeccanica ” will enable our group to further strengthen the collaboration with Boeing as well as our presence in the USA, where we will use our facility in Charleston to assemble the fuselage sections of the 787”.
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Boeing announced the completion of its sale of its Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power business to United Technologies Corporation, effective August 2. Boeing and United Technologies first announced the sale agreement Feb. 22, 2005, and the financial implications were disclosed with Boeing's results for the second quarter on July 27. Rocketdyne is primarily a rocket engine developer and builder, and provides main engines for the Space Shuttle and the Delta family of expendable launch vehicles, as well as propulsion systems for missile defense systems. The sale includes sites and assets in California, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
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Boeing announced it is selling its operations in Arnprior, Canada, to Arnprior Aerospace, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated Industries, Inc. Boeing did not disclose terms of the sale. The transaction will include a long-term, single-source supply agreement for all parts and assemblies currently produced for Boeing at the Arnprior facility. Arnprior Aerospace, Inc., plans to extend job offers to all of the approximately 370 employees working at the plant. The transaction is expected to close sometime during the third quarter of 2005.
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Aermacchi delivered to the Italian Air Force the first two new primary trainers SF-260EA, as part of the contract signed last year, which comprises the acquisition of 30 aircraft for the total amount of Euro 33 million. The two aircraft were accepted by the General Manager of Air Armaments General Directorate, Inspector General Giovanni Perrone Compagni, on behalf of the Italian MoD. One of these aircraft, already carrying the military tail number, will now be used to qualify four Pilot Instructors of the 70 th Wing of the Latina Air Force Base. The new SF-260EA obtained type certification by the National Armaments Directorate on the last 10 th May. Over the forthcoming months of 2005 twelve more aircraft will be tested and delivered to be used by the Italian Air Force from 2006 for the screening and primary training of new pilots.
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The Boeing Airborne Laser (ABL) team has completed flight testing of the system's passive mission payload, moving the program through another phase of critical testing. This test event, called the Low Power Systems Integration-Passive test, included ground and flight tests of ABL's battle management command and control system and the Beam Control/Fire Control segment. "Completion of this test phase for the Airborne Laser program further demonstrates the air worthiness and the functionality of the airborne mission payload," said Boeing Missile Defense Systems Vice President and General Manager Pat Shanahan. "With each testing increment, the ABL Team is making steady progress in bringing the ABL into the hands of the warfighter to defend against ballistic missile threats." During this latest phase of testing the ABL, the ABL Team demonstrated the stability and alignment of the two beam control and fire control optical benches with the turret. That test demonstrated the system's pointing and vibration control functions as well as its ability to acquire targets as directed by the battle management segment.
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Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was awarded July 29, 2005, a $477,101,260 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for engineering services to the command, control and communications and for the modification, maintenance and enhancement for avionics and the avionics architecture for following helicopters: CH-47, MH-47, MH-6, MH/UH-60 and other variants.
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ESA's Venus Express spacecraft has just completed its last phase of testing in Europe and is ready to be shipped to its launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. One and a half years after its sister spacecraft Mars Express arrived at Mars, Europe's newest planetary probe is ready to depart on the first leg of its journey to Earth's own sister planet, the mysterious Venus. Venus Express was proposed in 2001, as a mission concept to take as much as possible of the Mars Express design and use it for another planetary mission. The mission to Venus was officially approved in 2002 by ESA's Science Programme Committee, and the industrial contract to build the spacecraft was awarded in October 2002 to EADS Astrium, leading a team of 25 subcontractors from 14 European countries. The spacecraft is currently at the Astrium-owned Intespace facility in Toulouse, France where it has been undergoing testing since October 2004.
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Rockwell Collins has been selected by German airline Hapagfly (former Hapag-Lloyd Flug) to provide its Programmable Audio Video Entertainment System (PAVES) on 10 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with an option for 10 additional aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin in January 2006. "Staying informed and entertained during flight is increasingly important to today's travelers. With Rockwell Collins PAVES in-flight entertainment system, Hapagfly´s passengers can enjoy quality audio and video entertainment on a system that has been proven in the marketplace," said Tommy Dodson, vice president and general manager, Passenger Systems for Rockwell Collins. PAVES provides Hapagfly with overhead video on 10.4-inch retractable liquid crystal displays featuring wide viewing angles and crisp, bright picture quality. The system offers 22 channels of high-fidelity digital in-seat audio programming. PAVES enables airlines to provide passengers a variety of entertainment options that utilize available flying time.
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AAI Corporation, the defense subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation, has received a $129 million award from the U.S. Army for 12 additional Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) systems. Each system includes 4 advanced RQ-7B air vehicles, 2 ground control stations, and associated components and support equipment, and will be delivered over the next 18 months. The 7B block upgrade for Shadow systems incorporates changes to the wing, tail, and avionics. The Aug. 2004 upgrade was the first major system upgrade since Shadow TUAVs went into production in 2002. The RQ-7B's wing has been made larger to accommodate the anticipated addition of the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) to the battlefield by the U.S. Army, which also improves the aerodynamic properties of the wing and enhance vehicle performance. In addition, the size of the tail of the air vehicle has been increased to aerodynamically balance the changes in the wing.
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Finmeccanica reaches a relevant step in Germany through its company SELEX Sistemi Integrati, which signed a contract with the Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB), the Procurement department of the Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, to supply two Long Range 3D air surveillance Mobile Radars (RAT 31 DL/M) for the German Air Force. The contract has been totally financed by German national funds and the supply is expected to be completed by 2007. SELEX Sistemi Integrati has been selected among highly qualified world-wide competitors. The RAT 31 DL/M Radar systems ordered by the BWB are the first of this model ever sold to a NATO country, totally responding to the latest ACCS (Allied Command & Control Systems) criteria and standards. RAT 31 DL/M Radar systems are based on the technology used for the RAT 31 DL/FADR (Fixed Air Defence Radar) systems, in service or on delivery to a large number of NATO/European and extra European countries, both in fixed or transportable configuration. The compact D-band RAT 31 DL/M Radar system derives from successful RAT 31 DL, a NATO standard, already selected by eight countries. The current production of these systems carries the highest maturity and technological level.
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Marsis, the sounding radar onboard ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, is collecting the first data about the surface and ionosphere of Mars. This radar started its science operations on 4 July, the same day as its first commissioning phase ended. Due to the late deployment of Marsis, it was decided to split the commissioning, originally planned to last four weeks, into two phases; the second will take place in December. It has thus been possible to begin scientific observations with the instrument earlier than initially planned, while it is still Martian night-time. This is the best environmental condition for subsurface sounding, as in daytime the ionosphere is more 'energised' and disturbs the radio signals used for subsurface observations. As from the start of commissioning, the two 20m-long antenna booms have been sending radio signals towards the Martian surface and receiving echoes back. “The commissioning procedure confirmed that the radar is working very well and that it can be operated at full power without interfering with any of the spacecraft systems,” says Roberto Seu, Instrument Manager for Marsis, of University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy. Using the lower frequencies, Marsis has been mainly investigating the northern flat areas between the 30° and 70° latitudes, at all longitudes. “We are very satisfied with the way the radar is performing. In fact, the surface measurements taken so far match almost perfectly the existing models of the Mars topography,” said Prof. Picardi. Thus, these measurements have proved to be an excellent test. The scientific reason for concentrating on flat regions with the first data analysis is the fact that the subsurface layers are in principle easier to identify, though the task is still a tricky one. “As the radar appears to work so well for the surface, we have good reason to think the radio waves are also propagating correctly below the surface,” added Prof. Picardi.
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Lockheed Marti, in ceremonies at its Fort Worth, Tex., facility on August 4 to celebrate the delivery of the first F-16 aircraft to the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO). Air Vice Marshal Yahya Al-Juma, commander of the RAFO, accepted the aircraft on behalf of his nation. Also present were Mohammed Al-Khusaiby, ambassador of Oman to the United States, and other senior officials from the Oman Ministry of Defense and Royal Air Force. "The state-of-the-art capabilities of the F-16 will contribute significantly to the modernization of our armed forces and the protection of our nation, and will improve our interoperability with other F-16 operators in the region," said Air Vice Marshal Al-Juma. In May 2002, the Sultanate of Oman signed an agreement with the U.S. government to purchase 12 Advanced Block 50 F-16s in the Peace A'sama A'safiya (Clear Skies) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The agreement includes eight single-seat F-16Cs and four two-seat F-16Ds, powered by the General Electric F110-GE-129 engine.
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Northwest Airlines has selected Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines for its new fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The order, potentially worth up to $2 billion at list prices, is for installed and spare engines for 18 firm aircraft, plus up to 18 option aircraft, and includes a long-term TotalCare maintenance agreement, managed by Rolls-Royce. Northwest will be the first North American-based airline to introduce the Boeing 787 into commercial service. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in August 2008. Mike Terrett, President, Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, said: "The partnership of the Dreamliner and the Trent 1000 will enable Northwest to grow its international route network with world-best levels of technical efficiency and operating economics. This selection marks the beginning of what we hope will be a long and fruitful relationship between Northwest and Rolls-Royce."
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Ryanair announced record passenger figures for a European low fares airline, by carrying over 3 M passengers in one month for the first time. Ryanair now operates 250 routes across 21 countries. Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary said: “We are delighted that Ryanair is the first low fares airline to carry over 3 M passengers in July. This is more passengers in 1 month than we carried in all of 1997 or almost half of Aer Lingus' total annual passenger numbers.” “Our 3M passengers in July saved over Euro300M compared to the high fares charged by our flag carrier competitors airlines and is supporting over 3,000 jobs in Europe. We look forward to doubling our passenger numbers so that by 2010 we will be able to carry 6M passengers in 1 month.”
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UAL Corporation and its Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors today issued the following joint statement: "United and the Committee have agreed, at the Committee's request, that the company will not file its Disclosure Statement, Plan of Reorganization and supplements at this time in order to provide an additional opportunity to continue collaborating on and reviewing the complex, extensive documents as part of the overall confirmation process.Both parties agree that this approach and timing can help facilitate an even smoother exit process."
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Helispec announced the receiving the first of ten CH-47. The aircraft are at the Helispec facility for refurbishment (the aircraft are part of the reset program). The aircraft belong to the US Army at FT Rucker, Alabama. Helispec is a complete helicopter repair and overhaul facility and is a Female, American Indian; Disabled Veteran owned small business located in a hub zone in Brantley, Alabama.
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MEADS International (MI) has expanded its Orlando technical management organization to lead development of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). The current executive management team of President Jim Cravens (Lockheed Martin - U.S.), Executive Vice President Dr. Axel Widera (EADS/LFK - Germany) and Technical Director Pietro Ragonese (MBDA - Italy), continues unchanged. Also, Stefano Zalonis (MBDA - Italy) will continue as business management director. Joining the program management team in Orlando are: Volker Weidemann (EADS/LFK - Germany) has been named director of the Systems Engineering and Integration Team (SEIT) ; Robert Grubbs (Lockheed Martin - U.S.) has been named SEIT deputy director; Martin Coyne (Lockheed Martin - U.S.) has been named Business Development director for MEADS International.
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China Eastern General Aviation Corporation (EGAC) has agreed to purchase two Sikorsky S-76 helicopters to serve offshore oil support missions in the Bohai Bay areas in northern China. Nine S-76 helicopters are currently flown by Chinese offshore oil operators. Additionally, the Ministry of Communications has two S-76 helicopters for offshore search-and-rescue.
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Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Space Propulsion recently completed fabrication of a hypersonic Ground Demonstration Engine (GDE-2) successfully completing a three-phase, nine-year, $58 million contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The GDE-2 is unique in that it features a variable geometry inlet and a bolted construction, simulating the configuration of a reusable access-to-space or global-reach propulsion system. The GDE-2 is undergoing preparations for testing at NASA-Langley Research Center (LaRC). The first phase of the test program, which will evaluate the engine's operation and performance at Mach 5 conditions, is scheduled to begin in October. "GDE-2 is a fully integrated engine that will lead to advances in hypersonic flight systems," said P&W's Hydrocarbon Scramjet Engine Technology (HySET) Program Manager Denis Medwick. "This will be the first time a hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet propulsion system, which includes a single integrated flow path, fuel control system, closed-loop thermal management system and a Full Authority Digital Engine Control, is tested at hypersonic conditions." P&W is developing hypersonic propulsion systems for strike, global-reach and access-to-space applications. The GDE-2 program will examine the functionality of these integrated technologies during Mach 5 ground testing. A second test program to evaluate the operation of the engine at Mach 7 conditions is planned for next year. A P&W, U.S. Air Force and Boeing team will use results from the GDE-2 test program in their Scramjet Engine Demonstrator - Wave Rider flight demonstration program scheduled to fly in 2008. The GDE-2 engine was developed under the HySET program, a three-phase hypersonic technology program sponsored by the AFRL to develop and demonstrate a Mach 4-8 hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet propulsion system.
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Barry Eccleston, 58, has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus North America Holdings, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Airbus SAS. In this position, Eccleston will oversee all efforts of Airbus in the United States and Canada, including sales and marketing, service and training. He will report directly to Airbus COO - Customers John Leahy. Mr Eccleston formally takes the post on August 1, 2005. His predecessor, former President and CEO Henri Courpron, earlier in July accepted a position on the Executive Committee of Airbus as Executive Vice President – Procurement at the company's Toulouse, France headquarters. Barry Eccleston joins Airbus from Honeywell's Engines, Systems and Services division, where he served as vice president and general manager of the Propulsion Systems Enterprise.
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