December 19, 1988

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HEADLINE NEWS

Budget Constraints Force One-year Delay in Peak Production of B-2

WASHINGTON The Air Force has restructured its Fiscal 1990-94 budget plans to include a one-year delay in reaching peak production rates on the Northrop B-2 bomber, according to the Defense Dept. The restructuring will not delay, however, the bomber’s scheduled initial operating capability date or extend the planned production period for the aircraft, Air Force officials said.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO7 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Asat Tests to Be Conducted with Upgraded Miracl Laser

WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Frank C. Carlucci has approved a plan to upgrade an existing high-energy laser facility for nearterm antisatellite tests against objects in space. Carlucci approved the plan Dec. 9 to upgrade the Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (Miracl) and the Sky Lite Beam Director for antisatellite (Asat) and satellite vulnerability research.

By THERESA M. FOLEY5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Nato Fighter Training Flights in Germany Halted Until Jan. 2

BONN The air forces of seven NATO countries have suspended all fighter and attack aircraft training flights over West Germany until January. The Canadian, U. K. and U. S. air forces along with the Luftwaffe agreed to stop training activities for the rest of the year because of pressure from the Bonn government and out of respect for victims of the Dec. 8 crash of a USAF/Fairchild A-10 in Remscheid, Germany (AW&ST Dec. 12, p. 40).

By KEITH F. MORDOFF3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

U.s. Military, Civilian Transports Join Airlift of Relief Supplies to Armenian Quake Victims

WASHINGTON U.S. military and civilian aircraft carried relief supplies to earthquake victims in Soviet Armenia last week on a scale unseen since the lend-lease effort of World War 2. U. S. Air Force Military Airlift Command C-141s brought medical supplies, doctors, rescue workers, tents, blankets and other supplies to the Yerevan airport from the U. S., West Germany, Italy and Turkey.

HEADLINE NEWS

General Dynamics Awarded Contract to Develop In-flight Simulator Aircraft

General Dynamics Ft. Worth Div. last week received a $31.5-million contract from the U. S. Air Force to produce a Variable Stability In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA) that will serve as a high-performance simulator for fighter aircraft.

By DALLAS2 min

SPACE BUSINESS: NEW REALITIES

Small Space Service Firms Do Well But Large Ventures Find Tough Going

WASHINGTON Small-scale space service businesses are succeeding in growing numbers after several difficult years, but larger, privately financed platform ventures have not kept up the pace. The pressurized-platform builders have found it more difficult to raise capital and find users than their founders had predicted several years ago.

By THERESA M. FOLEY10 min

December 121988

January 21989

December 19, 1988

December 19, 1988