February 26, 1996

February 26, 1996

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HEADLINE NEWS

FRANCE TO CONSOLIDATE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

By PIERRE SPARACO

HEADLINE NEWS

PROTON LOSS MARS RUSSIA'S MIR SUCCESS

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

NEW PRIORITIES REFOCUS BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

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2021
HEADLINE NEWS

FRANCE TO CONSOLIDATE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

The plan calls for two major groups—pivoting on Aerospatiale and Thomson—to emerge, with industry privatization, government's ultimate goal, to follow

By PIERRE SPARACO

6465
HEADLINE NEWS

PROTON LOSS MARS RUSSIA'S MIR SUCCESS

PARIS The explosion of a Russian Proton heavy booster stage last week threatens to delay a major U.S./Russian commercial launch initiative. At the same time, however, the launch of a new Russian flight to Mir, and planned return from Mir this week of a European astronaut, further bolsters cooperation among Russia, the U.S. and Europe.

By CRAIG COVAULT

2425
HEADLINE NEWS

NEW PRIORITIES REFOCUS BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE

WASHINGTON The Pentagon has reshuffled priorities for $14 billion worth of missile defense programs in trying to meet the conflicting demands of Congress and the nation's top military leaders. Defense Secretary William Perry and Pentagon acquisition chief Paul Kaminski found themselves pressed by Congress to field a near-term national anti-missile defense that could be arrayed against a possible third-world or a resurgent Russia's intercontinental missile threat.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

2223
HEADLINE NEWS

ARPA EXPLORES UNMANNED COMBAT AIRCRAFT DESIGNS

By DAVID A. FUIGHUM

2021
HEADLINE NEWS

NH-90 GO-AHEAD PLANNED FOR 1998

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE France's share in the European NH-90 military helicopter is expected to survive cuts in military procurement spending, which are scheduled to begin in 1997. But uncertainty about the program's survival has not entirely vanished—France's withdrawal would seriously endanger the four-nation joint venture.

By PIERRE SPARACO

6869
HEADLINE NEWS

WEST TELLS CHINA TO COME CLEAN

WASHINGTON HONG KONG China Great Wall Industry Corp.'s fledgling position in the commercial launch market may be irreparably damaged if the company doesn't conduct an open investigation into the latest deadly accident involving its Long March booster.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO,AICHAEL MECHAM

4445
COVER STORY

MIG-29SE GETS REFUELING EDGE

Flight testing has been completed on a new in-flight refueling system for the MiG-29SE. Malaysian aircraft will be the first to exploit this new capability

By NICOLAY NOVICHKOV,JOHN D. MORROCCO

6667
HEADLINE NEWS

NEAR ON TARGET FOR TWO ASTEROIDS

By JAMES R. ASKER

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

USAF U-2 SATCOM LINK EMPLOYED IN BOSNIA OPERATION

PARIS U.S. Air Force U-2 imaging radar data of Bosnia are being transmitted from the aircraft via satellite 8,000 mi. to Beale AFB, Calif., where they are processed and then sent via satellite back to NATO troops in the theater. At least five U-2R and U-2S aircraft are operating from Istres (France) air force base for the NATO Bosnian reconnaissance missions.

By CRAIG COVAULT

6667
HEADLINE NEWS

TETHER LAUNCHED

February 191996 March 41996