May 8, 1995

View Full Issue Table of Contents

HEADLINE NEWS

PENTAGON BACKS PRECISION WEAPONS OVER MORE B-2s

WASHINGTON The Pentagon has endorsed an independent study that concludes procuring additional precision munitions and pursuing conventional upgrades to existing bombers will be more cost effective than buying 20 more Northrop Grumman B-2s.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

HEADLINE NEWS

C-l7 GAINS CLEARANCE FOR PARATROOPER TESTING

LOS ANGELES The C-17 program has been authorized to begin operational paratrooper testing following completion of a month-long series of flight tests at the Yuma Proving Ground to resolve potential air drop problems, according to program officials.

By BRUCE A. SMITH

HEADLINE NEWS

LOCKHEED ASTOVL TESTS TO START IN JUNE

LOS ANGELES Lockheed delivered its 86% scale vertical takeoff model for the Joint Advanced Strike Technology program to NASA's Ames Research Center on May 1, and plans to start hover-testing it in June. The model is powered by a unique Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220+ engine that provides both conventional thrust as well as shaft power to drive a lift fan(AW&ST Mar. 6, p. 48).

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM

HEADLINE NEWS

CRITICS QUESTION PLAN TO TRANSFER EW FACILITIES

WASHINGTON Knowledgeable critics are challenging the savings claimed by the Pentagon for the proposed transfer of two of the nation's key electronic warfare simulation test facilities to Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.

By PHILIP J. KLASS

HEADLINE NEWS

TRW WINS BRILLIANT EYES

LOS ANGELES The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center selected a TRW/Hughes team on May 2 to proceed with design of the "Brilliant Eyes" space and missile tracking system. If an option to flight test two satellites is exercised in 1996, the contract could be worth a total of about $484 million.

HEADLINE NEWS

DISCOVERY LAUNCH TO MARK 1OOTH MANNED U.S. MISSION

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. NASA plans to launch three space shuttle missions in six weeks as it strives to maintain its schedule for conducting joint operations with the Russian Space Agency, upgrading its orbiter fleet and supporting construction of the international space station.

By JAMES T. McKENNA

HEADLINE NEWS

STATION HEADS STRUGGLE TO STABILIZE SCHEDULE

COCOA BEACH, FLA. NASA and Boeing officials are struggling to negotiate industry and international contracts and stabilize the development of hardware that are critical to the assembly of the planned international space station.

By JAMES T. McKENNA

HEADLINE NEWS

FINAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS ON G5 WINGS

A fifty-two-ft.-long wing top panel for the second Gulfstream 5 business jet undergoes autoriveting at Northrop Grumman's Commercial Aircraft Div. factory in Dallas. Northrop Grumman, a risk-sharing partner on the G-5 program, has begun final assembly of G-5 wings and will deliver the first unit to Gulfstream's Savannah, Ga., factory this summer.

HEADLINE NEWS

AMR COMBS, BOMBARDIER LAUNCH SHARED JET PROGRAM

NEW YORK AMR Combs and Bombardier are joining forces to offer fractional ownership in business jets in a venture scheduled to begin operations later this month. Business Learjet 31As JetSolutions and 60s and will Canadair sell shares Chalin lengers, which are made by Bombardier units.

By MICHAEL O. LAVITT

May 11995

May 151995

May 8, 1995

May 8, 1995

HOLLAND PRESSED TO REASSESS TIGER

By CRAIG CONVAULT