June 9, 1997

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HEADLINE NEWS

Darpa Pitches Small Sats for Tactical Reconnaissance

WASHINGTON Two major defense organizations are at odds over a proposal to design and orbit a constellation of two dozen or more small satellites that could track mobile targets with radar and relay images to battlefield commanders within seconds.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM,JOSEPH C. ANSELMO6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Eurofighter 2000 Reaches Critical Stage in Germany

LONDON PARIS German Defense Minister Volker Ruehe told his British counterpart that he expects a solution to Germany’s budget problems on the Eurofighter 2000 by early July, as German industry officials warned they would have to stop work if a commitment to production did not come before the summer parliamentary recess.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO,MICHAEL A. TAVERNA4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Hyper-X Undergoes Design Review

LOS ANGELES Major participants in NASA’s Hyper-X program are scheduled to gather at Edwards AFB, Calif., this week for a preliminary design review (PDR) of the small air-breathing vehicle that within two years is scheduled to fly at seven times the speed of sound.

By BRUCE A. SMITH4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Balky Solar Arrays Afflict Goes-10

WASHINGTON The solar arrays on the newest U.S. geosynchronous weather satellite have quit tracking the Sun, prompting controllers to put the $200-million spacecraft into a powered-down safe mode. Late last week, engineers at NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and satellite builder Space Systems/Loral were working to develop a detailed trouble-shooting plan.

By JAMES R. ASKER3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

C-17 Focus of Advanced Manufacturing Techniques

Dallas Northrop Grumman is fabricating an all-composite horizontal stabilizer and redesigning the engine nacelle for the U.S. Air Force’s C-17 as part of a government/industry effort to use advanced manufacturing techniques to reduce the aircraft’s acquisition cost and weight.

By Edward H. Phillips2 min

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HEADLINE NEWS

U.s. Navy Resuming T-2C Operations

Dallas The U.S. Naval Air Training Command is gradually resuming operations of T-2C aircraft following a series of flight control anomalies and possible contamination of the aircraft’s hydraulic system’s components. The Naval Air Training Command halted flight operations of the T-2 “Buckeye” on Apr. 28, following a control anomaly that occurred during a routine training flight from Andrews AFB, Md., to NAS Meridian, Miss.

By Edward H. Phillips2 min

INDUSTRY REPORT CARD ON COMPETITIVENESS

Index Points to Weakness in U.S. Market Response

A window of opportunity may be opening for Europeans and Asians who can more quickly meet customers’ needs

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI10 min

June 21997

June 161997

June 9, 1997

June 9, 1997

Darpa Pitches Small Sats for Tactical Reconnaissance

By DAVID A. FULGHUM,JOSEPH C. ANSELMO6 min

French Left Wing to Reorient Aerospace

By PIERRE SPARACO5 min

Eurofighter 2000 Reaches Critical Stage in Germany

By JOHN D. MORROCCO,MICHAEL A. TAVERNA4 min

Darpa Pitches Small Sats for Tactical Reconnaissance

By DAVID A. FULGHUM,JOSEPH C. ANSELMO6 min

French Left Wing to Reorient Aerospace

By PIERRE SPARACO5 min