May 18, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

Eavesdropping Satellite Parked Over Crisis Zone

CAPE CANAVERAL An advanced 6-ton National Reconnaissance Office signal intelligence spacecraft launched over the Western Pacific Ocean on May 8 will help the U.S. secretly monitor government and military communications in India and Pakistan where tensions are growing following the Indian nuclear weapons tests on May 11 and 13.

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

Test Ban Pact In Jeopardy

WASHINGTON Non-proliferation efforts have suffered a serious blow from India’s resumption of nuclear testing, clouding the future of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, nuclear specialists here caution. The CTBT was in trouble in the U.S. Senate anyway, and any chance of ratification this year is out of the question, they fear.

By PAUL MANN

HEADLINE NEWS

Thaad Fails Intercept Attempt; Congress Grows Impatient

WASHINGTON The Theater High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) program’s fifth successive failure to achieve its first intercept has caused widespread consternation within the Defense Dept, and is prompting even strong congressional supporters to tighten the screws on the missile defense program’s management.

By ROBERT WALL

HEADLINE NEWS

United Arab Emirates Orders 80 F-16s

PORT WORTH LONDON The United Arab Emirates’ $7-billion order for 80 Lockheed Martin F-I6s represents not only a strong vote of confidence in the aging but potent lightweight fighter, but strengthens its position in a number of upcoming international competitions and keeps production lines active through at least 2004.

By EDWARD H. PHILLIPS,JOHN D. MORROCCO

HEADLINE NEWS

Turkey Sets Framework For Attack Helo Buy

ANKARA LONDON Competition in Turkey’s $3.5-billion project to procure 145 attack helicopters is heating up as bidding companies seek to win a spot on a list of two or three finalists now set to be selected in September. Five competitors are in the running— Boeing’s AH-64D Apache Longbow, Bell Helicopter Textron’s AH-1Z King Cobra, Eurocopter’s Tiger, Agusta’s Al 29-International and Kamov’s Ka-50-2.

By METEHAN DEMIR,JOHN D. MORROCCO

HEADLINE NEWS

Senate Panel Bolsters 1999 Arms Procurement

WASHINGTON The Senate Armed Services Committee has hoisted Pentagon weapons spending somewhat higher for next year than its House counterpart did, while following the House panel’s lead in holding total dollar amounts close to balanced budget ceilings.

By PAUL MANN

HEADLINE NEWS

Energia Contracts For Yamal Satellites

Moscow Paris Energia Space Rocket Corp. (RKK) and Russian gas monopoly GazProm have contracted to provide four Yamal telecommunicatons/broadcasting satellites for the Russian space agency (RSA). The geosynchronous-orbit satellites are part of a plan to modernize the country’s fixed space telecom network, currently served by 10 aging Horizont satellites.

By Nicolay Novichkov,Michael A. Taverna

HEADLINE NEWS

Defense Panels Back NMD

Washington Congressional military panels are united on next year’s funding for a national defense against a small number of intercontinental ballistic missiles, but at odds about counterpart theater defenses against shorter-range missiles.

HEADLINE NEWS

Commercial Satellite Completes Lunar Flyby

LOS ANGELES The Hughes commercial communications satellite being recovered from a failed launch attempt passed within 3,883 mi. of the Moons surface during a gravity-assist boost that swung the spacecraft back toward Earth with an improved orbital inclination.

By BRUCE A. SMITH

May 111998

May 251998

May 18, 1998

May 18, 1998

India Blasts Upend Nuclear Status Quo

By PAUL MANN