September 21, 1998

September 21, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

France Readies Rafale, Tiger

By PIERRE SPARACO

HEADLINE NEWS

RAF Moves To Secure Transports, Tankers

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

HEADLINE NEWS

Ariane Orbits PanAmSat

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO

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3233
HEADLINE NEWS

France Readies Rafale, Tiger

PARIS The French defense ministry will slightly increase military procurement spending next year, for the first time since the early 1990s. In addition, major programs such as Dassault Aviation’s Rafale and Eurocopter’s Tiger will gain momentum soon, when long-awaited multiyear orders are signed.

By PIERRE SPARACO

3233
HEADLINE NEWS

RAF Moves To Secure Transports, Tankers

LONDON The U.K. Ministry of Defense is expected to issue invitations to industry this week to bid for an interim requirement for up to four “C-17 equivalent” strategic airlifters, while at the same time moving ahead with longerrange plans to acquire additional transports and aerial refueling tankers.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

3637
HEADLINE NEWS

Ariane Orbits PanAmSat

KOUROU, FRENCH GUIANA Arianespace has successfully lofted a PanAmSat communications spacecraft into a geostationary transfer orbit following liftoff here of an Ariane 44LP at 3:31 a.m. local time on Sept. 16. The 3,838-kg. (8,444-lb.) PAS 7 satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral, will be located over the Indian Ocean at 68.5 deg. E. Long.

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

NASA Plans $660-Million Station Bailout for Russia

Payments would be part of $1.2 billion U.S. fix. Completion slips to 2005; more shuttle flights needed.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

Boeing Adds To Delta 4 Launch Line

LOS ANGELES Boeing has added three models to its Delta 4 launch vehicle lineup in an attempt to fill a commercial payload gap between the capabilities of the original Delta 4 medium-lift and heavylift boosters (AW&STSept. 14, p. 22). One of the three new Delta-4 Medium-plus launchers will have a 4-meter fairing, while the two others will have the larger 5-meter fairing of the planned Delta 4 heavy-lift vehicle.

By BRUCE A. SMITH

2829
BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT

Israel Lobbies Hard For Antimissile Defense

By PAUL MANN

2829
BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT

Israeli Launch Tests Entire Arrow System

2829
BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT

Summit Takes Up Japanese TMD

WASHINGTON President Clinton and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi are slated to discuss Japan’s role in theater missile defense at a New York-area summit this week. But U.S. officials do not expect the two leaders’ first meeting to produce a major security declaration, despite the furor touched off in Japan by North Korea’s recent long-range missile test (see p. 32).

By PAUL MANN

3031
BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT

North Korean Space Attempt Verified

WASHINGTON The Pentagon and State Dept. have concluded the North Koreans tried to launch a satellite with what U.S. officials now say was a three-stage Taepo Dong 1 booster. They won’t say precisely how they reached that belated conclusion but clues abound.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

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WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP

WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP

Top officials of six carriers—US Airways, United, TWA, Tower, Delta and Continental—jointly urged Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater to disapprove the proposed alliance between American Airlines and British Airways unless a number of “competitive guarantees” are in place.
September 141998 September 281998