June 23, 1997

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HEADLINE NEWS

Alcatel, Loral to Combine High-speed Satcom Networks

LE BOURGET Alcatel and Loral are joining two planned satellite networks with the aims of being first to reach the high-speed multimedia telecommunications market and having the lowest cost. The combination of the two systems— Alcatel Alsthom of Frances SkyBridge and Loral Space & Communication Ltd.’s CyberStar—had been in the works for some time but was formally unveiled last week at the Paris air show.

By JAMES R. ASKER3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Iran Testing Chinese Missile

Washington Iran has begun test firing a Chinese anti-ship cruise missile capable of being launched from an aircraft, U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said last week. The missile, known as the C-801, is aversion of the ship-launched Chinese C-802 cruise missile first acquired by Iran last year.

U.S./RUSSIAN NUCLEAR TEAMWORK

Scientists Jointly Focus on Safeguarding Stockpile

ALBUQUERQUE LOS ALAMOS, N.M., LIVERMORE, CALIF. Scientists who, as ideological adversaries during the Cold War, developed nuclear weapons for U.S. and then-Soviet military forces are working together now to protect tons of plutonium, highly-enriched uranium and related weapons technology from falling into the wrong hands.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT13 min

PARIS AIR SHOW '97

BAe Joins Lockheed Martin in Joint Strike Fighter Bid

LE BOURGET British Aerospace has joined Lockheed Martin’s team in the battle to develop and build the Joint Strike Fighter, a decision which will inevitably lead to a deeper strategic alliance between the two companies. Officials from the two companies said British Aerospace will participate in all phases of the JSF program, which could ultimately be worth nearly $100 billion.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO8 min

U.S./RUSSIAN NUCLEAR TEAMWORK

Dangers Mount Despite Cooperative Efforts

WASHINGTON American assistance has helped Russia make some improvements in securing its vast stockpile of nuclear materials, but continued economic and political turmoil are threatening to offset the gains. Efforts such as the U.S. Energy Dept.’s “lab-to-lab” program are leading to the installation of new electronic security systems at Russian nuclear sites.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO7 min

PARIS AIR SHOW '97

Lockheed Martin Buys Russian Rocket Engines

LE BOURGET Lockheed Martin is buying up to 101 Energomash RD180 rocket engines for use on its nextgeneration commercial and military space launch vehicles. The intended $1-billion purchase becomes the U.S. aerospace giant’s third major undertaking with Russian space industry partners and represents an attempt to fortify its position in the launch services sector—a stake it now says is on a par with longtime commercial leader Arianespace.

By JAMES R. ASKER6 min

PARIS AIR SHOW '97

Airbus Entry Crowds Field of Large Business Jets

LE BOURGET Gulfstream Aerospace and Bombardier Aerospace, the world’s two principal manufacturers of long-range, largecabin business jets, appear unphased by the entry of yet another competitor: Airbus Industrie. At the Paris air show last week, the consortium of four European companies announced the launch of a program—with no orders booked—to introduce a modified version of the A319 commercial aircraft as a corporate jet.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI6 min

June 161997

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June 23, 1997

June 23, 1997

U.S.-China Trade Seen in Long-Term Trouble

By PAUL MANN6 min

$13-billion Satcom System Proposed

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO3 min