May 21, 1984

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British Minister Supports Emerging Technology Plan

London—The U. S. proposal to use emerging technological advances to meet the needs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the early 1990s is supported here by the minister of state for defense procurement as a method to exploit the West’s capacity for innovation and invention.

124

NATO: Reshaping the Alliance

Germans, French Tighten Security Ties

Bonn—Security cooperation between West Germany and France is intensifying with stated goals of the two nations to improve economic and political ties that would strengthen the role of each country within the Atlantic alliance, according to Ministry of Defense officials here.

114

NATO: Reshaping the Alliance

New Resources Strategy Seeks Improved Weapons

Brussels—New resources strategy for the Western allied nations is gaining strong political support in an effort to reestablish the credibility of conventional forces by gaining improved weapons systems for the funding invested. U. S. permanent representative to the North Atlantic Council, Ambassador David M. Abshire, and his staff have offered the resources strategy concept to make better use of transatlantic resources in strengthening conventional forces.

166

Satellite Communications

RCA Develops Upper Stage for Shuttle

East Windsor, N. J.—RCA Astro Electronics Div. is developing an upper stage compatible with the space shuttle to provide payload capacity in geosynchronous transfer orbit up to 6,000 lb. and to avoid dependence on launch hardware similar to that which failed after shuttle deployment of Westar 6 and Palapa B-2.

By Jay C. Lowndes10 min

Air Transport

Slack Oil Funds May Force Saudis to Cut Airport Plans

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—Saudi Arabia may be forced to revise a portion of its ambitious airport modernization program because of anticipated cuts in government spending due to the falloff in Saudi oil export revenues. The economy measures to be taken in the next few years are being defined as the government prepares its 1985-90 five-year plan.

By Jeffrey M. Lenorovitz10 min

102

NATO: Reshaping the Alliance

Mbb Presses Laser, Sensor Research

Munich—Advanced technology research and development programs for military systems such as tactical high-energy lasers and electro-optical and imaging infrared sensors are being conducted here by Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm. Some of the most advanced technology in Europe is being pursued at the MBB Ottobrunn research center 7.7 mi. southeast of this Bavarian city, according to U. S. and West German government officials.

NATO: Reshaping the Alliance

Soviets Reequip Forward Air Forces

Brussels—Soviet Union is completely reorganizing and reequipping its forward-deployed air forces opposite North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations to facilitate rapid transition from peacetime training to offensive air operations against the alliance.

156

Aeronautical Engineering

Germans Prepare Fantrainer for Rollout

Monchengladbach, West Germany—First production version of the Rhein-Flugzeugbau Fantrainer is set to roll out this week, and first flight is scheduled three weeks later. The production Fantrainer is a larger, improved version of the prototype, which has been flying since 1977 (AW&ST Oct. 1, 1979, p. 37).

By Michael Feazel8 min

May 141984

May 281984

May 21, 1984

May 21, 1984

Economics, Politics Portend Shifts