Contract: McDonnell Douglas, $8.8M

McDonnell Douglas Corp., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded an $8,823,078 contract which purchase 100 focused lethality munitions-small diameter bomb I variant. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 681 ARSS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/10/10)

Contract: BAE Systems, $23.2M

BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Md., is being awarded a $23,237,133 modification to a previously awarded contract for maintenance, logistics, and life cycle services in support of communication-electronic equipment/systems and subsystems for various Navy, Army, Air Force, special operations forces and other federal agencies. Two percent of the work will be done in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Other locations are in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Florida, California, Texas, the District of Columbia and Germany. Work is expected to be completed in March 2011. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/09/10)

Despite tanker loss, opportunity calls

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Despite the Northrop Grumman/EADS decision to drop out of the $40 billion competition to build tankers for the Air Force, two local leaders say Jackson County is still ripe for aerospace development. George Freeland, executive director of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, said the Gulf Coast region "still possesses all the ingredients necessary to support new aerospace and technical development and job creation." Jerry St. Pe, former president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, agreed, saying that there are "other opportunities in this whole sphere of aerospace technology that this region is ideally positioned to take advantage of." Northrop and EADS planned to build the tankers in nearby Mobile, Ala. (Source: Mississippi Press, 03/09/10)

Forum set to discuss NASA future

President Obama will spell out his vision for the future of American astronauts in space at a conference in Florida on April 15. The president has been criticized over his plans to kill the Constellation Program, designed to return astronauts to the moon and beyond. NASA has spent $9 billion on the program. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said he hopes Obama will use the meeting to lay out a goal and a timetable for sending astronauts to Mars. Nelson has suggested continuing parts of Constellation, including the Orion crew capsule and the Ares I rocket as a test vehicle for a future heavy-lift rocket. Although Constellation is under the gun, the program passed a two-day preliminary design review last week. (Source: New York Times, 03/08/10) Gulf Coast note: Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and Stennis Space Center, Miss., are both involved in Constellation.

EADS, like Northrop, scraps tanker bid

The parent company of Airbus, EADS, has dropped out of the contest to build the next generation of tankers for the U.S. Air Force, leaving Boeing as the sole bidder. EADS accused the U.S. government of skewing the competition in rival Boeing's favor. Ralph Crosby, chairman of EADS North America, said the methodology for the contest "would heavily weigh in the favor of the smaller, less capable Boeing tanker." EADS and Northrop planned to offer a military version of the A330, while Boeing has opted for the 767. Northrop earlier announced it would drop out. Northrop and EADS had complained that the RFP was changed from the previous competition. Northrop and EADS won the last competition in February 2008, but it was overturned after a protest by Boeing. (Source: Telegraph, 03/08/10) Gulf Coast note: Northrop and EADS wanted to assemble the tankers in Mobile, Ala., at Brookley Industrial Complex, creating at least 1,500 jobs.

Contract: McDonnell Douglas, $148.7M

McDonnell Douglas Corp., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded a $148,668,470 contract which will provide for 6,565 Lot 14 guided vehicle kits procured for Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) purposes. 678 ARSS/PK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/08/10)

Contract: Boeing, $69.7M

Boeing Co., St Louis, Mo., was awarded a $69,702,919 contract which will provide for the QF-16 full scale aerial target basic contract. 691 ARSS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/08/10)

Northrop won't bid on tanker or protest RFP

Northrop Grumman says it won't compete for the U.S. Air Force's multibillion-dollar aerial tanker contract, and furthermore will not protest the request for proposals. The decision forces Airbus parent EADS to decide whether it will submit a solo bid. Northrop had complained that the RFP was changed from the previous competition, and that this one favors the smaller tanker being proposed by Boeing. Northrop and its partner EADS won the last competition in February 2008, but it was overturned after a protest by Boeing. In a statement from Northrop CEO Wes Bush, he said the company "will not protest," even though it feels it has substantial grounds to support a GAO or court ruling to overturn the revised source selection process. Bush said America's warfighters have waited too long for a tanker. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala., said he was "deeply disappointed" Northrop won't be bidding. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said the Air Force had a chance to provide the most capable plane for warfighters and "blew it." (Source: Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Mobile Press-Register, Tcp, 03/08/10) Gulf Coast note: Northrop and EADS wanted to assemble the tankers in Mobile, Ala., at Brookley Industrial Complex, creating at least 1,500 jobs.

F-35 carrier variant engine gets ISR

The Pratt and Whitney F135 conventional takeoff and landing/carrier variant engine for the F-35 fighter has received approval for operational use. Called initial service release, it indicates the engine, with more than 13,000 test hours, meets all requirements for safety, reliability and performance. It's now approved for low-rate initial production. Pratt and Whitney has delivered 17 flight test engines and the first production F135 engine, and expects to deliver the final short take off and vertical landing flight test engine early this year. The F-35 will be used by the Air Force, Navy and Marines, as well as eight international partners. (Source: PRNewswire, 03/05/10) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., will be the joint strike fighter training center.

Michoud working on final tank

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Lockheed Martin workers at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility expect to finish the last of 134 space shuttle external tanks by the end of June before shutting down the production line for the aluminum-lithium structures. Completion of the tank for shipment to Kennedy Space Center, Fla., is scheduled for June 29. MAF, the government-owned fabrication facility, was scheduled for assembly by Boeing of the upper stage of the Ares I crew launch vehicle, but the Obama administration has proposed canceling the program of post-shuttle vehicles. (Source: Aviation Week, 03/04/10)

State money for Michoud on hold

A project that won a commitment of state dollars is now in a "holding pattern" because of the uncertainty of federal support. Louisiana allocated $102 million to help Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans transition from making external fuel tanks for the space shuttle to helping with NASA's Constellation program. President Obama's 2011 budget proposal canceled Constellation, so the state put an "informal hold" on the remaining $46 million for Michoud, according to Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret. On another matter, Moret told legislators his agency is shifting resources from out-of-state recruiting to retaining existing businesses and helping them expand. He said the business-retention program has proven popular. (Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune, 03/04/10)

Boeing to offer 767

Boeing said today that it will offer a 767-based aerial refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force's multibillion-dollar competition, according to Reuters. The 767 will have an updated digital flight deck and a fly-by-wire refueling boom. Boeing said the tanker would meet all the Air Force's 372 requirements and offered a low-risk manufacturing option. Dow Jones Newswires reports Boeing will present a proposal by May. 10. There's no word yet on whether the Northrop Grumman/EADS team, which said the current rules favor the smaller Boeing plane, will bid. (Sources: Reuters, 03/04/10) Gulf Coast note: The Northrop/EADS team wants to assemble the planes in Mobile, Ala.

Commander permanently removed

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The commanding officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola has been permanently relieved of command following an inquiry into alleged "inappropriate conduct." Capt. William P. Reavey was relieved by Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, commander of Navy Region Southeast, Wednesday due to loss of confidence in Reavey's judgment and ability to command. Reavey was temporarily removed from his command at NAS Pensacola last week. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 03/03/10)

NO airport ranks low in satisfaction

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Louis Armstrong International Airport ranks next-to-last among 24 small American airports in customer satisfaction. That’s according to a biennial survey released by J.D. Power and Associates. At least 100 passengers provided ratings for 27 attributes in six major categories: airport accessibility, baggage claim, check-in process, terminal facilities, security check and food and retail services. (Source: Times-Picayune, 03/02/10)

EADS still wants to bid on tanker?

Northrop Grumman said Tuesday it's getting closer to a decision on whether to bid on a multibillion-dollar aerial tanker contract. But a European source told Reuters that partner EADS wants to bid. The Northrop Grumman/EADS team won the contract in February 2008, but it was overturned following a Boeing protest. Northrop said in December that the new contest's rules favor Boeing's smaller plane, and it threatened not to bid. A European source said EADS remains interested in gaining a bigger foothold in the United States. (Source: Reuters, 03/02/10) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman and EADS want to assemble the tanker in Mobile, Ala.

F-35 suit settled

VALPARAISO, Fla. - Valparaiso and the Air Force reached a settlement in the legal battle over the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. City residents have been concerned over the noise expected when Eglin opens the F-35 joint training center. The suit was filed over use of a runway close to the city of Valparaiso. The agreement has the Air Force using it only when necessary. The Air Force also agreed to pay Valparaiso attorney fees of $60,000, and will set up a committee to address any future noise issues. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 03/01/10)

Stennis gets new director

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Patrick Scheuermann, deputy director of Stennis Space Center, has been named the new director of the NASA facility. He replaces Arthur "Gene" Goldman, who will become deputy director of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The announcements, effective immediately, were made today by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. Before being named deputy director of Stennis, Scheuermann was associate director at the center and previously served as chief operating officer of NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. (Source: NASA, 03/01/10)

Orion marks milestone with heat shield

The Lockheed Martin-led team developing the Orion crew exploration vehicle completed fabrication of the world's largest heat shield structure. The shield is 16.4 feet in diameter and protects the spacecraft and its crew from the extreme temperatures experienced during re-entry. The work was completed at Lockheed Martin's composite development facility in Denver, Colo. The heat shield will be applied to the Orion ground test article, which is the first full-sized, flight-like test article for Orion, being built at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 03/01/10)

Brookley gets new aerospace tenant

MOBILE, Ala. - Regent Aerospace of Valencia, Calif., will open a facility at Brookley Industrial Complex adjacent to ST Aerospace Mobile. The company plans a two-phase entry into the Mobile market, first with 90 people at the former DHL building to perform aircraft interior refurbishing work, then later with the purchase, lease or construction of a larger facility to double the workforce. Regent has seven facilities in the United States and one each in China and France. The company performs aircraft refurbishments for airlines and manufactures aircraft parts and survival equipment. (Source: Mobile Airport Authority, Mobile Press-Register, 02/26/10)

Contract: Northrop Grumman, $49M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Annapolis, Md., is being awarded a $49,099,073 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for services and materials for depot level repair and maintenance of airborne mine countermeasures systems. Systems include: AN/AQS-14A sonar detecting set; AN/AQS-24 mine hunting system; AN/ALQ-141 acoustic minehunting/minesweeping system; CP-2614/T common post mission analysis; and USM-668 intermediate level test equipment and swivel slip-ring assembly. Work will be performed in Panama City, Fla., and is expected to be completed by February 2015. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division, Panama City, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/25/10)