October 8, 1990

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HEADLINE NEWS

Soviet Radar Satellite Shows Potential to Detect Submarines

WASHINGTON The Soviet Cosmos 1,870/Almaz radar spacecraft has demonstrated the ability to image the ocean floor hundreds of feet under water, a technology the Soviet Union is trying to develop for detecting U. S. submarines from space. If the Soviets can refine this research capability for use by advanced military spacecraft, it could help the USSR counter the nuclear deterrent capability of the U. S. ballistic missile submarine force, a key element of the U. S. Strategic Triad.

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

Soviets Near Completion of Massive Ulyanovsk Aircraft Production Site

ULYANOVSK, USSR The Soviet Union is nearing completion of its Ulyanovsk Aviation Industrial Complex, a massive aircraft and equipment factory that is one of the world’s largest aerospace production facilities. The Ulyanovsk complex was developed as one of the Soviet Union’s primary modem aircraft production sites for the 1990s and beyond. Many of the country’s other aviation factories were built in the 1930s.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ

HEADLINE NEWS

Lifting Body Concept Selected For National Aero-Space Plane

NEW YORK A lifting body incorporating small wings il. and twin vertical stabilizers has been selected by the National Aero-Space Plane National Contractor Team as the baseline design configuration for the hypersonic, single-stage-to-orbit X-30.

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Space Station Redesign Likely; Contractor Hiring Freeze Ordered

WASHINGTON Challenges to NASA’s plans for a U. S./intemational space station appear to be mounting. As Congress considers deep cuts to the program’s budget, some influential members of the aerospace community are criticizing the project.

By JAMES. R. ASKER

MILITARY ELECTRONICS

Boeing Developing Millimeter Wave Radar To Spot Soviet Union’s Mobile Missiles

SEATTLE Engineers at Boeing’s High Technology Center are developing an extremely sensitive, millimeter wave radar that they hope the Air Force will adopt as a sensor for its high-priority, strategic relocatable target mission. The Air Force is investigating the use of a suite of sensors to locate and identify the Soviet Union’s arsenal of rail and truck-mobile ballistic missiles.

By BRECK W. HENDERSON

SOVIET MILITARY POWER

Report Lacks Details on New Fighters, Reflects Changed Post-Cold War View

WASHINGTON The most striking elements of the Pentagon’s publication of Soviet Military Power 1990 are that it contains no information about the next generation of Soviet aircraft and that Defense Secretary Richard B. Cheney was not there for its delivery.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

NBAA SHOW

Optimism, Jet Debuts Dominate Annual Convention of NBAA

NEW ORLEANS New aircraft introductions and an upbeat, optimistic outlook for business flying characterized the National Business Aircraft Assn.’s 43rd Annual Meeting and Convention held here last week. As expected, business jets dominated the show, with only the Piaggio Avanti representing turboprop-powered aircraft, and with Mooney Aircraft and Aerospatiale exhibiting piston-powered, light aircraft.

By EDWARD H. PHILLIPS

AEROSPACE FORUM

Government Failed to Prove Charges In Prosecution of Northwest Crew

It is unfortunate for the aviation community and the flying public that the government failed to prove members of a Northwest Airlines flight crew were impaired when it convinced a jury to return a guilty verdict against them for flying under the influence of alcohol.

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October 151990

October 8, 1990

October 8, 1990