Push on for new gunships

FT. WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Special Operations officials want to begin developing a new gunship to replace the AC-130H/U in the fiscal 2010 budget. But in a tight budget environment it may be hard. Replacement candidates include the L-3 Communications/Alenia North America C-27J and Lockheed Martin’s C-130J. The topic was discussed at the Precision Strike Association’s annual review conference here March 10. (Source: Aviation Week, 03/12/09)

Murtha presses foward on tankers

The chairman of the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee plans to use the upcoming war emergency supplemental bill to jumpstart the aerial tanker program. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., advocates splitting the purchase between Boeing, which would build them in Washington State, and the Northrop Grumman/EADS team, which would build them in Mobile, Ala. Murtha has been working on a proposal that would fund two tankers to be built a month, instead of just one, as initially projected. (Source: The Hill, 03/12/09)

Lakotas delivered to D.C. Guard

Three Mississippi-built UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters were delivered by EADS North America to the District of Columbia National Guard. The helicopters are the first of 16 Lakotas to be operated in the region. The D.C. National Guard will get eight, as will the Military District of Washington. All 16 will be based at Fort Belvoir, Va. The UH-72A is built at the American Eurocopter plant in Columbus, Miss. (Source: EADS North America, 03/12/09) Gulf Coast note: EADS also has a maintenance center and engineering facility in Mobile, Ala.

Contract: Imedia.it, $8.4M

Imedia.it, Houston, Texas, is being awarded an $8,370,187 contract for education/training products and support services managed by the Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center, Pensacola, Fla. Contract includes a base year and four option periods with a value of $43,850,230. Five percent of the work will be done in Pensacola, the rest in Houston. Work is expected to be completed by September 2009. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk Detachment Philadelphia is the contracting activity (Source: DoD, 03/12/09)

Contract: Bell-Boeing, $11M

Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded an $11,066,515 modification to a previously awarded contract for Increment II of the CV-22 aircraft Block 20 upgrade program. The project is to integrate and test the V-22 Multi-Mission Advanced Tactical Terminal Replacement Receiver, an improved crew interface of broadcast data. Nine percent of the work will be done in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Other sites are Philadelphia, Pa., and Fort Worth, Texas. Work is expected to be completed in September 2012. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/12/09)

BAMS team wins award

HERNDON, Va. - The Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration team was recognized with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Commander's Award in a ceremony at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The award is the result of the team's achievements during 2008, which include providing support during Hurricane Ike and the California wildfires. (Source: Globe Newswire, 03/12/09) Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.

White House denies seeking tanker delay

The Mobile Press-Register is reporting that the White House is not seeking to delay plans to buy new aerial refueling tankers. That's according to Ken Baer, a spokesman for the administration, who called reports that the Office of Management and Budget requested a five-year delay “inaccurate.” Defense analyst Loren Thompson said the White House budget office lists tankers among items that could be cut or delayed to save money. But Thompson said the administration gave no indication that it wanted to delay the program. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 03/12/09)

Contract: Raytheon, $11.4M

The Air Force is extending a firm fixed price contract with Raytheon of Tucson, Ariz., for $11,397,736. This action will extend the period of performance to provide contractor logistics support for CY09. 695 ARSS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/11/09)

Contract: Lockheed, $265M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an advance acquisition contract with an estimated value of $265 million for long lead materials and effort associated with the Joint Strike Fighter Air System Low Rate Initial Production Lot IV procurement of 12 Air Force Conventional Take Off and Landing air systems, 14 Marine Corps Short Take-off and Vertical Landing air systems, one Navy Carrier Variant air system, and one Netherlands CTOL air system. In addition, this contract provides for associated ancillary mission equipment, sustainment support, special tooling/special test equipment and technical/financial data. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, El Segundo, Calif., Warton, United Kingdom, Orlando, Fla., Nashua, N.H., and Baltimore, Md., and is expected to be completed in January 2010. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/11/09) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is scheduled to be home of the JSF training center

Reaper to get more muscle

The armed MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft system will be getting an additional weapon system: the Joint Direct Attack Munition. Results of tests in California are still being evaluated, but it appears the 500-pound GBU-38 JDAM could be certified in July. The Reaper can carry the GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb and the AGM-114 Hellfire missile. The JDAM adds a weapon with global positioning system guidance along with adverse weather capability. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.’s 678th Armament Systems Squadron and 679th Armament Systems Squadron participated in the tests. (Source: Air Force, 03/10/2009)

Ares I igniter tested

NASA completed a successful test firing of the igniter that will be used to start the Ares I rocket first stage motor. The March 10 test paves the way for the initial ground test of the Ares I first stage later this year. Ares I is the first launch vehicle in NASA's Constellation Program, which will return astronauts to the moon and beyond. The test, conducted at ATK Launch Systems test facilities near Promontory, Utah, generated a flame almost 200 feet long. (Source: NASA, 03/10/09) Gulf Coast note: Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and Stennis Space Center, Miss., are involved in Constellation

Delay tanker five years?

CQPolitics reports that the White House wants to delay buying aerial refueling tankers by five years. The recommendation is part of negotiations between the Office of Management and Budget and the Defense Department. If the guidance survives the internal budget process, Capitol Hill is likely to protest. According to Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., whose state would assemble the planes if the Northrop Grumman/EADS team wins: "For a group who has been in the OMB for just a matter of weeks to come in and suggest the cancellation of the No. 1 Air Force priority for procurement is stunning, and I don’t think Congress will accept that." Boeing is also competing to build the tankers. (Source: CQPolitics, 03/09/09)

F-35 suit topic of meeting

VALPARAISO, Fla. - Valparaiso residents packed into Monday’s city commission meeting to discuss the city’s plan to sue the Air Force. Signatures of close to 500 residents and more than 1,000 from those outside the city who oppose the suit were presented to the commission. The commission took no action. The city is suing because of concerns about the noise that will come when the Joint Strike Fighter training center is established. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 03/10/09)

Supporters rally for F-35

VALPARAISO, Fla. - Supporters of the plan to bring the Joint Strike Fighter training center to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., gathered a petition Friday. The group opposes Valparaiso's plans to sue the Air Force, and wants to present the petition to the city commission Monday. Rally organizer Rick Woelfl said F-35 supporters collected more than a 1,000 signatures online and on paper. Valparaiso officials are concerned over the noise the F-35 will bring, and claim it will lower property values. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 03/06/09)

Contract: Northrop, $107.6M

The Air Force is modifying a contract with Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. of San Diego, Calif., not to exceed $107,575,999. This action will provide for long lead items associated with Lot 8 Global Hawk Block 40 air vehicles. 303 AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/05/09) Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.

Turkish company delivers F-35 parts

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. has delivered its first composite parts for the F-35. The structural composite panels are used to form the outer surface of the fighter. Northrop Grumman will integrate the parts into the center fuselages of the first two production F-35s. Northrop Grumman is a founding member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 Lightning II team, and is responsible for the design and production of center fuselages for all three variants of F-35 aircraft. The F-35 has multiple international suppliers. (Source: PRNewswire, 03/05/09) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is scheduled to be home to the F-35 joint training center

Parachute test successful

NASA successfully completed the second drop test of a drogue parachute for the Ares I rocket. The test was Feb. 28 at the Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Ares I, part of the Constellation Program, will send explorers to the International Space Station, the moon and beyond in coming decades. The drogue parachute is designed to slow the descent of the spent first-stage motor that will be jettisoned by the Ares I during its climb to space. The first-stage solid rocket motor powers Ares I for the first two minutes of launch. (Source: NASA, 03/02/09) Gulf Coast note: Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi are both involved in the Constellation Program

Teledyne cuts jobs

MOBILE, Ala. - Teledyne Continental Motors laid off about 20 workers late last month, officials said. Like other companies, the airplane piston engine maker has been hit by the economic downturn. It has 400 workers at Brookley Industrial Complex location. The company is a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies of Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 03/03/09)

EDC launches J-35 support effort

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County has launched a campaign in support of the Joint Strike Fighter mission at Eglin Air Force Base. EDC is asking residents to take an online poll on U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller's Web site. The City of Valparaiso, right outside Eglin, voted last month to sue the Air Force over plans to bring the F-35 training center to Eglin. The poll is designed to show how much support the basing has, despite Valparaiso's actions. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 03/01/09)

Gilbrech returning to Stennis

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – NASA has appointed Richard Gilbrech associate director of Stennis Space Center. He's the former director of Stennis, serving between January 2006 and August 2007, when he was appointed associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Last November Gilbrech announced his retirement from that headquarters post. Gilbrech will return to Stennis in early May. (Source: NASA, 03/02/09)