March 4, 1996

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HEADLINE NEWS

KINETIC-KILL BOOST PHASE INTERCEPT REGAINS FAVOR

The advent of high-payload Tier-family unmanned aerial vehicles is prompting the resurrection of lightweight hit-to-kill boost phase intercept weapon technologies shelved several years ago. Under a Ballistic Missile Defense Organization $10-million/year study, the Pentagon is assessing several concepts for mounting high-speed missiles on UAVs, turning them into cost-effective interceptors (AW&STFeb. 19, pp. 19, 53).

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

HEADLINE NEWS

FRANCE DROPS FLA AS BUDGET SHRINKS

PARIS France's new defense procurement plan calls for preserving major weapon programs already in development, but withdraws France from the European Future Large Aircraft (FLA) project. It also calls for eliminating land-based nuclear missiles, stripping the air force of more than 100 aircraft, and slashing purchases of the NH-90 and Tiger helicopters.

By PIERRE SPARACO

HEADLINE NEWS

BOARD CULLS FLIGHT DATA FOR CLUES TO TETHER BREAK

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER U.S. and Italian space engineers are scouring reams of processing and test data and snippets of telemetry for clues to why their Tethered Satellite System-1R snapped free of the shuttle Columbia and shot off into space last week trailing 11 naut. mi. of electrical wire.

By JAMES T. McKENNA

HEADLINE NEWS

NRO CHIEF, DEPUTY FIRED IN AGENCY SHAKEUP

WASHINGTON The two top officials at the agency that builds U.S. intelligence satellites have been fired in the wake of congressional outrage over their failure to keep track of more than $2 billion. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Director Jeffrey K.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

COVER STORY

U.K. ADVANCES STOVL RESEARCH

LONDON The U.K.'s Defense Research Agency is moving into the second phase of a program designed to investigate new technologies and concepts for next generation STOVL aircraft. The vectored thrust aircraft advanced flight control, or VAAC, program is primarily looking at handling and control concepts with the aim of reducing pilot workload for these new and highly complex aircraft.

HEADLINE NEWS

VERTICAL INTEGRATION LOOMING LARGER AT MCDONNELL DOUGLAS

NEW YORK McDonnell Douglas Corp. is reexamining its view of vertical integration, with an eye toward possible acquisitions that would complement the company's existing core technology. Herbert J. Lanese, who last week was named president of McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, told AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY the firm is strongly considering such opportunities.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI

February 261996

March 111996

March 4, 1996

March 4, 1996

X-36 TO TEST AGILITY OF TAILLESS DESIGN

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM

BOEING PLANS UNMANNED FIGHTER

By DAVID A. FULGHUM