March 20, 1989

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HEADLINE NEWS

Promise of Brilliant Pebbles Casts Doubt on Sdi Plan

WASHINGTON Strategic defense weapons would enter production in 1994-95, pending a deployment go-ahead, under a plan presented to Congress last week by the top Strategic Defense Initiative official. But doubts concerning the selected weapons mix have been raised by the former head of SDI.

By THERESA M. FOLEY6 min

262

HEADLINE NEWS

Cheney Pledges Swift Action on Pressing Defense Issues

WASHINGTON Defense Secretary-designate Richard B. Cheney pledged to assemble a Pentagon team quickly to confront policy and budget issues held in abeyance during the prolonged confirmation fight over John G. Tower. In marked contrast to the partisan controversy surrounding Tower’s suitability, Cheney’s nomination was greeted with praise last week from both Republicans and Democrats. Sen. Sam Nunn (D.-Ga.), who led the Democratic opposition to Tower, said Cheney was “highly qualified” for the job.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO5 min

266

HEADLINE NEWS

Pentagon Officials Expect to Field Asat System By Mid Or Late 1990s

WASHINGTON Defense Dept, officials told Congress last week that their proposed antisatellite (Asat) program will yield a system that can be fielded in the mid to late 1990s. But a political battle over the program lies ahead. The new effort described to a House Armed Services subcommittee emphasizes less risky kinetic energy weapons over directed energy technologies such as lasers that could take years to field.

By PATRICIA A. GILMARTIN4 min

264

HEADLINE NEWS

Discovery Crew Deploys Tdrs, Tests Space Station System

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER The astronauts on board the shuttle orbiter Discovery, launched Mar. 13, modified their testing of a space station thermal control system last week to understand why it was not performing as expected in orbit. The crew was preparing to end its fiveday flight with a landing at Edwards AFB, Calif.

By CRAIG COVAULT4 min

260

HEADLINE NEWS

Fire in V-22 Prototype Delays First Flight

DALLAS A small fire in the first Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey prototype tilt-rotor aircraft has delayed its first flight at least a week. The fire occurred on Mar. 12 during tests of the prototype on a tie-down stand at Bell Helicopter Textron’s Flight Research Center in Arlington, Tex. Officials said there was a fire in the exhaust area of the right-hand nacelle while the engine was winding down after completion of a series of engine response tests.

STATUS OF PROGRAMS

Status of Major U. S., European Defense, Aerospace Programs

A-6E medium attack aircraft (Grumman)—Grumman is fitting composite wings to the last 21 new-production A-6Es bought by the Navy with Fiscal 1987-88 funds. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery this October. The Navy is modifying its active fleet of about 340 Navy and Marine Corps A-6Es to the systems weapons integration program (SWIP) configuration, which gives the aircraft a composite wing, a digital armament system and standoff weapons capability.

March 131989

March 271989

March 20, 1989

March 20, 1989