May 13, 1991

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HEADLINE NEWS

Senior Navy Officials Doubt AX Adaptable to Multirole Capability

WASHINGTON Senior Navy officials said requirements for the new AX would not preclude a multirole aircraft design, but they thought such a capability would not be feasible for cost and technical reasons. Vice Adm. Richard Dunleavy, assistant chief of naval operations for air warfare, said the Navy would like an AX aircraft that has some air-to-air capability, particularly in terms of defensive air, if it is affordable.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Air Force Prepares to Restart Small-ICBM Full Development Program

LOS ANGELES U. S. Air Force is preparing for the second phase of the restructured fullscale development program for the small intercontinental ballistic missile (SICBM) system. The service’s Ballistic Missile Organization (BMO), at Norton AFB, Calif., has all contracts in place to prepare for full restart of SICBM full-scale development this fall.

By BRUCE A. SMITH4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Hubble Scientists Expect Go-Ahead for 'Costar’ Optics

WASHINGTON One year after the Hubble Space Telescope was launched, NASA is nearing a decision on how to fix the flawed spacecraft that is likely to call for corrective optics estimated to cost $30-40 million. Lennard A. Fisk, NASA’s associate administrator for space science, told AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY last week that no “showstoppers” were uncovered in a 2.5-day preliminary design review of a unit called Costar, for Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement.

By JAMES R. ASKER3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

House Arms Panel Rejects B-2 Request, Slashes SDI

WASHINGTON The House Armed Services Committee rejected the Bush Administration’s request for $3.2 billion to procure four more B-2 stealth bombers and made sweeping changes in its refocused Strategic Defense Initiative program. The actions taken by the panel during deliberations last week on the Fiscal 199293 Defense budget have set the stage for a battle with the White House and Senate over the Administration’s strategic priorities.

By PATRICIA A. GILMARTIN3 min

May 61991

May 201991

May 13, 1991

May 13, 1991