AF could lose tanker oversight

Pentagon officials have not decided whether an upcoming tanker competition between Boeing and a Northrop Grumman/EADS North America will be managed by the Air Force or the Defense Department’s acquisition chief, according to David Van Buren, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. (Source: Aviation Week, 05/18/09) Gulf Coast note: If Boeing wins the planes would be built in Washington State; if Northrop/EADS wins planes would be assembled in Mobile, Ala.

China Airbus completes flight

The first A320 aircraft assembled outside Europe completed a four-hour, 14-minute flight Monday. It was assembled at the Final Assembly Line China, a joint venture between Airbus, a 51 percent stakeholder, and a Chinese consortium that includes Tianjin Free Trade Zone and China Aviation Industry Corp. The aircraft, which will be operated by Sichuan Airlines, took off from Tianjin International Airport. An Airbus official said the plane has the same quality as those assembled in Hamburg and Toulouse. (Source: Airbus, 05/18/09) Gulf Coast note: Airbus parent EADS plans to build an assembly facility in Mobile, Ala., if it wins all or a part of an Air Force contest to build tankers.

Tanker fleet showing age

WICHITA, Kan. - McConnell Air Force Base is the largest tanker base in the world, and personnel know the problems keeping airborne a fleet built in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Metal fatigue, corrosion, and replacing parts never intended to be replaced are common. As the debate continues in Washington over the Boeing vs Northrop Grumman contract to replace the fleet, those in the field struggle to keep aloft aircraft so critical for the nation’s defense. (Source: Wichita Eagle, 05/17/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop and partner EADS plan to assemble the tankers in Mobile, Ala., if they win all or part of the contract.

Hunter UAV hits milestone

HERNDON, Va. - Northrop Grumman's Hunter unmanned aircraft, used by the Army since 1996, has surpassed 75,000 flight hours in service - 50,000 flown in combat. The MQ-5B Hunter is used for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, weapons delivery and communications relay. The model designated RQ-5A was the Army's first fielded UAV. (Source: Northrop Grumman via Globe Newswire, 05/15/09) Gulf Coast note: The Northrop Grumman Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss., has done refurbishing work on the Hunter.

Panel to get split buy data

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Defense Secretary Robert Gates will provide data to Congress on the cost of buying tankers from both Boeing and the Northrop Grumman/EADS team. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye planned to insert language requiring the data in the fiscal 2009 war spending bill, but dropped the plan after talking to Gates. Pentagon officials oppose splitting the contract, saying it would be too costly. Some in Congress say a split buy would prevent a losing side from filing a protest and delaying the important procurement. (Source: Reuters via Forbes, 05/14/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop/EADS will assemble the tankers in Mobile, Ala., if they win all or part of the contract.

Contract: Raytheon, $53.9M

The Air Force is awarding a firm fixed price contract to Raytheon Missile Systems Co. of Tucson, Ariz., for $53,919,693. This action will provide miniature air launched decoy Low Rate Production for 25 month production effort to include all 162 up rounds, 81 containers, warranty rotable spares and a 12-month Interim Contractor Support. 692 ARSS/PK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/14/09)

Eglin to get AFOTEC personnel

KIRKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center will begin realigning manpower to improve mission effectiveness pending completion of an environmental impact assessment. The realignment will shift 33 percent of the personnel from AFOTEC’s Kirtland Air Force Base headquarters to four AFOTEC detachments at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Edwards AFB, Calif., Nellis AFB, Nev., and Peterson AFB, Colo. The change affects 20 civilian and 71 military billets. (Source: AFNS, 05/12/09)

General wants to improve synergy

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The new commander of the Air Armament Center plans to improve the synergy between weapons and aircraft. Maj. Gen. Charles R. Davis, who previously was program executive officer of the Joint Strike Fighter, has managed other aircraft programs as well and wants to incorporate that knowledge into Eglin’s weapons programs. "We at the AAC can do a better job trying to help build a strategic plan on how we produce more synergy between the weapons and the airframe," Davis said. The "levels of technology and capability between the two have always been out-of-sync and mismatched,” and he wants to “rebalance the equation.” Eglin is scheduled to become home to the Joint Striker Fighter Training Center and the 7th Special Forces Group. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 05/12/09)

Tanker boom tested

An Airbus A330 tanker transport completed a test of the in-flight handling characteristics of its refueling boom system. The flutter testing of the first A330 built for Australia was done under a variety of conditions. In a different test last month, the A330 was refueled by a French C-135. Northrop Grumman plans to use the A330 platform for its KC-45, which is competing against the Boeing KC-767 for a $40 billion Air Force contract. (Source: EADS, 05/12/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop/EADS plans to build the KC-45 in Mobile, Ala., if it wins the contract.

Boeing moves MDS to Alabama

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Boeing Co. will relocate headquarters for its Missile Defense Systems division from Arlington, Va., to Huntsville, starting immediately. Boeing initially will shift division management and support functions to Huntsville and will evaluate moving other MDS employees. Between 40 and 50 positions may be transferred by the end of this year. Boeing says customers have been locating more operations to Huntsville and it wants to remain close to them. Boeing Huntsville operations include the defense work and work associated with the space program. (Source: Boeing, 05/12/09) Gulf Coast note: Boeing also has operations in New Orleans and Northwest Florida.

Loud jet noise played at meeting

VALPARAISO, Fla. - A Valparaiso resident recorded the sounds of an F-35, F-15 and F-16 last month and played them Monday at a Valparaiso City Council meeting. Bob Webb, an audio professional, played the 45-second clip during an hour-long presentation attended by about 50 people. According to his estimates, the average person would find the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter two to three times louder than the F-16. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 05/11/09) Gulf Coast note: The Air Force plans to locate the JSF training center at Eglin Air Force Base.

Coast Guard ponders UAVs

The U.S. Coast Guard is still in the market for an unmanned aerial system to extend the surveillance reach of the new National Security Cutter fleet, the head of acquisition for the service said May 11. The Coast Guard ended its planned vertical takeoff UAV program, and has been monitoring other UAV programs, said Rear Adm. Gary Blore, assistant commandant for acquisition. He said the Navy’s Fire Scout appears to be the farthest along but "we’re still waiting for [maritime] radar to be integrated on Fire Scout." (Source: Aviation Week, 05/12/09) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss., and the first National Security Cutter was built in Pascagoula, Miss.

EADS: Plans still on track

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. on Monday refuted a published report that indicated the economy may force it to scrap plans to build cargo planes in Mobile, Ala. Aerospace Daily quoted Airbus executive Domingo Urena as saying the company was re-evaluating the plan to assemble a cargo version of the A330 in Mobile because of slack demand for the planes. EADS and teammate Northrop Grumman are competing for the Air Force contract to build aerial tankers in Mobile, Ala. The company had said in the past it would build the cargo planes as well if it wins all or part of the tanker contract. (Source: Mobile Press Register, 05/12/09)

Contract: Raytheon, $521.2M

The Air Force is awarding a firm fixed price contract to Raytheon Co., of Tucson, Ariz., for $521,236,837 for 105 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air, Missile Air Intercept Missile All-Up-Round missiles, 11 AIM-120 D air vehicles instrumented, two AIM-120D Integrated test vehicles, 72 AIM-120D captive air training missiles, 495 AIM-120C7 FMS and more. 695ARSS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/11/09)

Former LM chief named to panel

The long-term plan for human spaceflight will have to wait until the end of the summer at the earliest while a panel headed by former Lockheed Martin CEO Norman Augustine reviews it at the request of the White House. The panel will include NASA insiders and outside experts to review the Bush-era "Vision for Space Exploration." Among topics to be covered will be narrowing the post-shuttle gap in delivering crews to the International Space Station on U.S. vehicles; pushing human exploration beyond low Earth orbit to the moon and beyond, and boosting commercial human spaceflight, according to John Holdren, Obama's science adviser. (Source: Aviation Week, 05/08/09) Gulf Coast note: Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans are both involved in the space program.

Drone washes ashore

OKALOOSA ISLAND, Fla. - A target drone that had been shot down Feb. 25 over the Gulf of Mexico was found washed ashore over the weekend. The BQM-167 subscale drone had been shot down as part of a weapons evaluation test by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. It washed up on Air Force property a quarter mile west of El Matador Condominiums. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 05/11/09)

BAE Systems marks milestone

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – BAE Systems employees gathered at Lake Terrace Convention Center Friday to celebrate the 500th M777 howitzer made in Hattiesburg. The plant is the only supplier of the M777 howitzer, producing 14 of the lightweight howitzers each month. The company is under contract for 737 howitzers by January 2011. The Hattiesburg facility opened in 2003. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 05/09/09) Gulf Coast note: BAE Systems also has operations in Gautier, Miss., and Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Flight academy construction OKd

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The National Naval Aviation Museum Foundation's board of directors voted this week to begin construction on the National Flight Academy at Pensacola Naval Air Station. The $26.5 million construction project includes a 100,000-square-foot academy facility and a 55,000-square-foot addition to the National Naval Aviation Museum. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 05/09/09)

Program aims to inspire students

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - High school students in communities near Stennis Space Center can participate in NASA's Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research Experience, or Inspire. Selectees will participate in an online learning community in which students and parents have the opportunity to interact with peers and NASA engineers and scientists. Inspire is designed to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/education/INSPIRE. (Source: NASA, 05/08/09)

NASA budget, planned study unveiled

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Along with the unveiling of NASA’s fiscal year 2010 budget on Thursday, the White House announced the launch of an independent review of NASA's human spaceflight activities. The review will examine NASA programs and possible alternatives. As for the budget, NASA is requesting $18.69 billion to advance Earth science, complete the International Space Station, explore the solar system and conduct aeronautics research. All totaled, an additional $2 billion has been added to NASA's 2009 and 2010 budgets under the Obama administration and funds a program of space exploration involving humans and robots with the goal of returning Americans to the moon and exploring other destinations. (Source: NASA, 05/07/09) Gulf Coast note: Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans are both involved in NASA programs.