October 19, 1987

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MANAGEMENT

Pentagon Reviews Trade Pacts To Standardize Joint Projects

Washington—The Defense Dept, has initiated a major review of its cooperative trade agreements with allied nations in an effort to develop a standard approach to U. S. international arms cooperation agreements in light of the changing defense trade environment.

By John D. Morrocco

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

General Dynamics Begins Tests In New Anechoic Chamber

Ft. Worth—General Dynamics Ft. Worth Div. has begun using a new $9.3-million anechoic chamber for secure, all-weather avionics integration and self-compatibility testing of its aircraft. The chamber, measuring 120 X 85 ft., with a height of 40 ft., also will be used for antenna development tests and radar cross-section evaluations.

By Carole A. Shifrin

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AEROSPACE FORUM

Streamlining the U. S. Acquisition System

Acquisition streamlining can be applied to any program. The Navy has put this principle to work and acquisition streamlining is saving millions of dollars. The following illustrates how streamlining in one product line—aircraft and avionics equipment—is carried out by the Naval Air Systems Command.

AVIATION EXPO/CHINA

International Involvement Highlights Chinese Show

The continuing attraction of the People’s Republic of China as a potentially vast aerospace market was demonstrated again last week at the opening of Aviation Expo/China in Beijing, with participation by an assortment of exhibitors from throughout the world. Editor-in-Chief Donald E. Fink and San Francisco Bureau Chief Richard G. O’Lone attended the exposition and filed the following report.

Editorial

Picking Up the Space Banner

Another shot has been fired in the ongoing skirmish swirling around the issue of space leadership in the U. S., this one in the form of a report by a special task force NASA’s Advisory Council had commissioned to study how the agency is measuring up to the dual challenges of international cooperation and competition.

INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTICAL FEDERATION MEETING

British Refusal to Boost Space Funding Threatens European Space Agency Unity

British government reluctance to provide increased funding for that country’s space activities has introduced new turmoil in Western Europe’s laboriously constructed multinational space program. European editor Jeffrey M. Lenorovitz and London bureau chief David A. Brown explore these developments in the following report from the 38th Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, which was held last week in Brighton, England.

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STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE

Soviets to Extend Duration of Manned Missions

Moscow—The Soviet Union plans to extend the duration of its manned space missions in a phased effort based on experience gained on board its space stations and backed by data gathered from both ground-based research and flights with animal and insect payloads.

October 121987

October 261987

October 19, 1987

October 19, 1987