March 17, 1997

March 17, 1997

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HEADLINE NEWS

Key Downsizing Tool Comes Under Fire

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI,NEW YORK6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

France Advances Consolidation Efforts

By PIERRE SPARACO5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Decay Eats at Vitals Of Russian Air Force

By NICOLAY NOVICHKOV,PAUL MANN4 min

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HEADLINE NEWS

Key Downsizing Tool Comes Under Fire

Profitable U.S. contractors will have to fight to recover restructuring charges related to mergers and acquisitions

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI,NEW YORK6 min

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HEADLINE NEWS

France Advances Consolidation Efforts

PARIS Thomson-CSF is set to be privatized during the next three months, an initiative underscoring France’s renewed determination to boost its aerospace/defense industry’s long-waited restructuring. Offerings to acquire the state-controlled Thomson-CSF company are expected soon, and the winning bidder will be chosen no later than June 30, French government officials said last week.

By PIERRE SPARACO5 min

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HEADLINE NEWS

Decay Eats at Vitals Of Russian Air Force

MOSCOW WASHINGTON Russia’s air force continues to slide, worn down by scarce funds, a rising accident rate and serious dropoffs in readiness, maintenance, materiel and flight training. At the same time, the Defense Ministry has ordered a major restructuring that might cost combat aviation its standing as an independent arm of Russia’s military.

By NICOLAY NOVICHKOV,PAUL MANN4 min

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HEADLINE NEWS

Odd Ultralight Craft Handles Well, Tests Show

EL MIRAGE DRY LAKEBED, CALIF. AeroVironment has made 13 flights on a quarter-scale prototype of its giant Centurion solar-powered drone, measuring the handling of the unswept, high aspect ratio, flying wing. This Aviation Week & Space Technology editor witnessed three successive flights in a two-hour period and observed the unusual craft to be stable and controllable, with enough authority to recover from a frightening turbulence upset near the ground.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM4 min

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HEADLINE NEWS

Lunar Prospector Begins Ground Tests

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space has completed construction of the Lunar Prospector and has initiated testing of the 660-lb. spacecraft here in preparation for the most ambitious U.S. lunar expedition since the end of the Apollo era a quarter of a century ago.
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HEADLINE NEWS

GE Purchase of Greenwich Air Sets Stage for MRO Overhaul

NEW YORK The aviation services business will undergo a radical transformation if regulators approve General Electric’s proposed acquisition of Greenwich Air Services Inc. Assuming the deal closes this summer, as expected, independent companies essentially will become an insignificant component of the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services market.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI4 min

3235
HEADLINE NEWS

Review Expected to Bring End to Major Weapons Program

WASHINGTON The ongoing review of the Pentagon’s strategies and force structure is likely to result in the cancellation of a major weapons system, a fifth round of base closings and the realization that the goal of spending $60 billion a year for modernization may never be reached, says a top Pentagon official.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM3 min

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HEADLINE NEWS

ESA Swaps Hardware For U.S., Japanese Launches

WASHINGTON The cash-conscious European Space Agency has negotiated barter agreements with the U.S. and Japan for the launch of two of its major space projects. In return, ESA will build additional hardware for the international space station and provide satellite capacity to allow Japan to complete an experimental data relay network.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO3 min

3637
HEADLINE NEWS

Thaad Future Under Review

By Joseph C. Anselmo2 min

3637
HEADLINE NEWS

First Flight a Success For Outrider UAV

By DAVID A. FULGHUM2 min

March 101997 March 241997