April 10, 1995

April 10, 1995

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HEADLINE NEWS

BALANCING ACT IN CONGRESS

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

HEADLINE NEWS

BIG F-22 BUDGET DRIVES SEARCH FOR FLAWS

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

HEADLINE NEWS

SR-71 REVIVED TO FILL INTELLIGENCE GAP

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM

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2021
HEADLINE NEWS

BALANCING ACT IN CONGRESS

Compromise on the Fiscal 1995 Defense supplemental indicates reining in the deficit and cutting taxes will outweigh support for higher military spending

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

2021
HEADLINE NEWS

BIG F-22 BUDGET DRIVES SEARCH FOR FLAWS

WASHINGTON Lawmakers continue to snipe at the need for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 fighter, its performance and its $71-million flyaway cost, while eyeing the stealth aircraft as a target for raids to fund other defense programs. Senior Air Force officials have newly admitted the aircraft is several hundred pounds overweight and has a higher fuel consumption than planned in one part of the flight envelope.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

2223
HEADLINE NEWS

SR-71 REVIVED TO FILL INTELLIGENCE GAP

LOS ANGELES Congress gave final funding approval last week to Air Force operation of the Lockheed SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft, and the first flight is expected in May, five years after the service halted the program. The prospects appear good because of two changes in how the aircraft will be operated.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM

2425
HEADLINE NEWS

LOCKHEED MARTIN PROPOSES F-16 COST REDUCTION

WASHINGTON Lockheed Martin is proposing to commercialize F-16 production operations at its Ft. Worth Co., which could reduce the cost of the aircraft by up to 15% and eventually be applied to F-22 production. The proposal, provided to the Pentagon last month, seeks to capitalize on the Pentagon's move to replace military procurement specifications with commercial standards.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

2425
HEADLINE NEWS

RAYTHEON, E-SYSTEMS DEAL POSITIONS BOTH FOR GROWTH

WASHINGTON Raytheon Co. will realize a long-standing goal later this month when it purchases E-Systems, Inc., one of the U.S. aerospace/defense industry's most elusive acquisition targets of the last two years. "We've had E-Systems on our radar screen for a long time," Raytheon Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dennis J. Picard told AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

MiG-29, Su-30 BUY PLANNED FOR INDIA

WASHINGTON Russia has agreed to supply 30 new, advanced MiG-29 fighters worth $1.25 billion to India in late 1995 to modernize its force of Soviet-designed fighters and attack aircraft. The MiG sale is expected to be followed by the acquisition of as many as 48 two-seat, multirole Su-30MKs, according to Indian government officials.

By NEW DELHI

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

EGYPT EASES STAND AGAINST NUCLEAR TREATY

WASHINGTON Egypt is softening its opposition to the indefinite extension of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but the global pact's fate remains uncertain as a 171nation vote looms within five weeks. Officially, Egypt continues to reserve its position on whether it will sign in order to maintain pressure on Israel, a non-signatory long suspected of having a nuclear capability (AW&ST Mar. 20, p. 21).

By PAUL MANN

4445
COVER STORY

MD-11 KEY TO FEDEX'S ASIAN EXPANSION

Express package service's executives believe Asia's longer distances, faster growth will prevent another failure like FedEx's foray into Europe

By JAMES OTT

4647
COVER STORY

FEDEX'S NEW TRAINING MIXES PILOTS, MECHANICS

MEMPHIS, TENN. Introducing the new-technology MD-11 posed a challenge for FedEx pilots and mechanics, but their trials of recent years have paid off with an innovative training technique. FedEx has taken the unusual step of merging mechanics' training with that of pilots on the new automated equipment entering the fleet.
6465
HEADLINE NEWS

SHUTTLE OFFICIALS PROPOSE CUTS

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Space shuttle managers have laid out a detailed plan for paring $1 billion from their $3.15-billion budget through the end of the decade by relying on contractors to run day-to-day shuttle operations and cutting rules and workers not needed to support or audit those operations.

By JAMES T. McKENNA

April 31995 April 171995