November 19, 1990

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HEADLINE NEWS

USSR Conducts Extensive Design Work On Large, Unmanned Flyback Booster

WASHINGTON The Soviet Union has conducted extensive wind tunnel tests, materials studies and other design work on a completely reusable, unmanned flyback heavy-lift booster that would use highly modified Energia and Soviet shuttle components.

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

Soviet Recon Satellites Image Persian Gulf Area

WASHINGTON A Soviet strategic reconnaissance satellite launched Oct. 16 was commanded to drop into an extremely low orbit to observe troop concentrations in the Persian Gulf region through early November. While maneuvers by the Cosmos 2,102 spacecraft indicate the Soviets are using space reconnaissance to monitor the area, the USSR has not devoted extensive space reconnaissance assets to the region, according to Soviet space analysts Geoffrey E. Perry and Nicholas L. Johnson.

HEADLINE NEWS

Energia Facility, Space Studies Institute Agree to Market Launch Services, Satellites

WASHINGTON The Soviet industrial facility that builds the Energia booster and other spacecraft has agreed to allow the Space Studies Institute (SSI) of Princeton, N. J., to market the plant’s capabilities. SSI President Gerard K. O’Neill signed the agreement with officials of NPO Energia, according to Christopher J. Faranetta, SSI Soviet liaison.

HEADLINE NEWS

CBO Estimates Desert Shield Buildup To Add $4.5 Billion to Deployment Cost

WASHINGTON President Bush’s decision to order more troops to the Persian Gulf area and provide an offensive military option has swelled the cost of Operation Desert Shield to $12.1 billion, according to a new Congressional Budget Office estimate.

By PATRICIA A. GILMARTIN

HEADLINE NEWS

Navy, Facing Shortfall, Offers Carrier Air Wing Alternatives

WASHINGTON The Navy will present alternative carrier air wing force structures to Defense Secretary Richard B. Cheney next month in an effort to head off drastic cuts in the number of aircraft carriers and keep the A-12 program on track. The carrier air wing study, scheduled to be submitted in mid-October, was requested by Cheney as the Pentagon prepares for final deliberations on the Fiscal 1992 budget request.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

HEADLINE NEWS

Rockwell, FIAR Join Forces To Upgrade F-5 Avionics

Los ANGELES Rockwell and FIAR of Italy have agreed to compete together in the fighter avionics upgrade market, with the first target being the Northrop F-5 fighter. FIAR’s Grifo-F radar would be used in more sophisticated F-5 upgrades. The Grifo-F was designed to fit in the F-5 without airframe or radome modifications and is a modem, multimode, coherentpulse Doppler radar.

HEADLINE NEWS

Simmons Offers To Buy Lockheed For $1.6 Billion

NEW YORK Dallas investor Harold C. Simmons, who led an unsuccessful proxy battle for Lockheed Corp. earlier this year, has renewed his quest for control with a takeover proposal valued at $1.6 billion. Lockheed, the nation’s sixth largest military contractor, is considering the offer, but probably will reject it.

HEADLINE NEWS

SAR Helicopter Deliveries Begin

NEW YORK Sikorsky has begun deliveries of three search and rescue-configured S76A + helicopters to the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. The helicopters are fitted with a rescue hoist, a Spectrolab Illumination Systems Nightsun search light, a GEC TICM 2 Flir and an advanced navigation suite. The Racal RNAV 2 navigation management system includes a Racal 91 Doppler sensor, Honeywell SPZ-7000 dual digital automatic flight control system, Honeywell EDZ-705 electronic flight instrument system and integrating software (AW&ST Feb. 5, p. 46).

HEADLINE NEWS

Hubble to Require Most Extensive EVA Yet on Single Shuttle Mission

JAMES R. ASKER WASHINGTON Repairs being planned for the Hubble Space Telescope would require astronauts to perform more extravehicular activities than yet attempted on one space shuttle mission. NASA and the European Space Agency still are considering an array of options to fix and upgrade the $1.5 billion observatory.

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November 19, 1990

November 19, 1990