 June 2, 2009 | News for the aerospace industry |
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- Senate weighing export version of F-22
Defense appropriators in the Senate are studying the possibility of an export-only version of the F-22, something Japan has long been seeking. U.S. law currently bans exports of the high-tech fighter, but recent aggression by North Korea, plus a Pentagon decision to end production of the plane, could lead Washington to soften its stance. "There may be language inserted into the fiscal 2010 appropriations bill that would at least look at the possibility" of exports, an unnamed source tells Reuters. Reuters
(6/1)       
- Gates hints at more spending for missile shield
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says recent missile launches by North Korea have increased lawmakers' support for a missile shield. "If anything, I think what the North Koreans have done has won more adherence to the importance of our having at least a unified missile defense capability," Gates said during a visit to a missile defense complex in Fort Greeley, Alaska. Though the Pentagon's 2010 budget calls for a halt to expansion in Fort Greely, that is "not a forever decision," Gates said. "If capabilities in one of these rogue states should develop faster or in a more worrisome way than anybody anticipates right now, then I think the way is opened in the future to add to the number of silos and interceptors up here," he said. Google/The Associated Press
(6/1)
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| | Raytheon awarded $259M for Phalanx Close-In Weapon System
Raytheon Company is being awarded a $259.9 million U.S. Navy contract to overhaul and upgrade 57 Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems and to provide ancillary equipment, spares, as well as additional technical support. The agreement calls for 40 sea-based Phalanx systems and 17 Centurion Land-Based Phalanx Weapon Systems. News release. | |
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- As search intensifies, fate of Air France 447 remains a mystery
Rescuers are searching a vast swath of Atlantic waters for signs of wreckage from Air France Flight 447, which disappeared Monday in an area of intense thunderstorms. Though one French official said the chance of finding survivors is "very very small, even nonexistent," investigators are eager to recover the Airbus A330's two black boxes, which can emit signals for up to 30 days. The plane's computers sent out automated reports of electrical damage, but they were not sent as distress calls, and the crew never reported any emergency. Early speculation has centered on a debilitating lightning strike, but the four-year-old aircraft was equipped with an emergency generator to power critical systems after an electrical failure. Experts say it has been more than three decades since a large U.S. jetliner was brought down by lightning. NYTimes.com
(6/2), The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)
(6/2), Chicago Tribune/The Associated Press
(6/2), AviationWeek.com
(6/1)
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Airbus A330 has one of world's best safety records: The Airbus A330 is considered one of the world's safest planes, with not a single passenger fatality since it began service in 1993. In 16 years, the Airbus A330 has experienced only a handful of serious incidents, with about a dozen serious injuries. The Times (London) (subscription required)
(6/1)
- Airbus chief not looking for major orders in Paris
Airbus CEO Thomas Enders says he does not expect major orders at this year's Paris Air Show and that 300 orders for the entire year would be considered a "dream result." As for 2009 deliveries, Enders said the number could be lower than 2008 levels. "It will depend on a number of factors," he told a reporter. "We still lack visibility on 2010, and airlines lack visibility even more." Reuters
(6/2)
- Branson: Not all U.S. airlines assured of survival
Virgin Atlantic President Richard Branson believes this year will be the "worst in the history of aviation," and that even U.S. carriers will not emerge unscathed. "You have to prepare for these cycles," Branson said at a Tokyo press conference on Tuesday. "You reap the harvest and you build up a nest egg for the bad years." In a separate interview with Reuters, Branson said several U.S. airlines could fail in the next 12 to 18 months, and he doubts the government will step in. "I don't think that the American government will yet again put more billions into the airline industry. They've learned their lessons from the car industry." Reuters
(6/2), Google/The Press Association (U.K.)
(6/2)
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| Space |  | |
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- NASA touts Constellation technology in response to critics of costs
While the next-generation Orion crew capsule looks like a throwback to the Apollo program, NASA insists it is light years ahead of its predecessor in both safety and mission capabilities. Abort engines can lift astronauts clear of any emergency on the launch pad, and the cabin is engineered to temporarily withstand a puncture while in space. Orion can remain aloft for 210 days, and many of its components are interchangeable and upgradeable, meaning it could eventually serve as a platform for exploring Mars. Still, with a $44 billion price tag, critics say the entire Constellation program is a waste of taxpayers' money, and NASA should focus on cheaper, unmanned missions. Forbes
(6/1)
- 10-member panel announced for Constellation review
NASA on Monday announced the full makeup of the 10-member panel charged with reviewing plans for the future of manned spaceflight. The group, which will meet for the first time June 17, includes former astronauts, aerospace company executives, military experts, scientists and academics. Norman Augustine, a former CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp., will lead the review, with recommendations due by the end of August. NYTimes.com
(6/2)
| Homeland Security | | |
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- Defense firms race to defend U.S. networks
America's biggest defense firms are going after billions of dollars in federal contracts for cybersecurity, and a deep recession is helping to attract top talent that might once have gone to Silicon Valley. Young engineers fueled by caffeine race to write code that will protect U.S. data networks -- or potentially to attack enemies' computer systems. One Northrop Grumman official estimates the federal government is now spending $10 billion a year on such efforts, though that number is expected to rise quickly. NYTimes.com
(5/31)
- Airlines begin phasing in next stage of Secure Flight
The next phase of the TSA's Secure Flight program will be phased in over 18 months, with airlines required to ask passengers for their birth dates and gender when buying tickets. Some airlines are already collecting the additional information, according to a TSA official, who says the data will help reduce false positives among fliers whose names are similar to those on terrorist watch lists. Yahoo!/The Associated Press
(6/1)
| AIA News | | |
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AIA meets with Blue Dogs
AIA executives met with the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition on Capitol Hill April 1 for a discussion centering on the goal of both groups of keeping a strong national defense as well as other issues. Read more.
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DoD Manufacturing Technology Program -- Aug. 6, 2 p.m. ET
Learn about the Defense Manufacturing Technology Program, which is responsible for investments in Manufacturing Process Technologies for both new acquisition programs and support of existing production. Sign up now.
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