September 27, 1999

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HEADLINE NEWS

BAe Primed for Further Consolidation Moves

LONDON British Aerospace, confident of formalizing its merger with Marconi Electronic Systems by year-end, is looking across the Atlantic for its next consolidation move while at the same time trying to revive stalled negotiations among Airbus partners.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Atlas Returns with Echostar

CAPE CANAVERAL The Lockheed Martin/International Launch Services Atlas IIAS and its Pratt & Whitney RL10-powered Centaur upper stage successfully returned to flight on Sept. 23, after being grounded for four months due to the failure of a similar RL10 engine in a Boeing Delta III.

By CRAIG COVAULT5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Improved Missiles Trigger Jammer Need

WASHINGTON If Yugoslav air defense troops had fielded Russia’s S-300 family of long-range antiaircraft missiles, the battle over Kosovo would have been longer, harder and bloodier, say senior U.S. Air Force officials. The expectation that these weapons may proliferate soon is driving reconsideration of the Air Force’s decision to retire its radar-jamming aircraft last year and turn the role over to the limited and aging force of Navy and Marine Corps FA-6Bs.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Boeing Shakes Up Its Supplier Chain

SEATTLE Boeing got tough with its aircraft parts suppliers here last week, setting strict new performance, cost and delivery standards. It also pledged to streamline and consolidate its own acquisition activities and form closer, long-term relationships with on-time subcontractors.

By PAUL PROCTOR4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Engine Makers Target Greater MRO Share

NEW YORK Rolls-Royce's recent purchase of National Airmotive is just the latest spasm in the continuing realignment of the maintenance, repair and over haul sector, with engine manufacturers determined to garner a larger share of the booming MRO market for themselves.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Russia’s Premier Sams Seen Proliferating Soon

WASHINGTON U.S. intelligence officials see an ever-increasing demand for Russia’s most advanced class of surface-to-air missile systems which will likely end up in the hands of rogue states as soon as they can afford them. The recent success of NATO aircraft against Yugoslav air defenses and Iraq’s inability to shoot down a U.S. aircraft despite almost daily attempts have highlighted the weakness of older air defense systems.

By ROBERT WALL4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Recce Funding Increase Pits U-2 Against Global Hawk

WASHINGTON The Pentagon’s post-Kosovo interest in improving reconnaissance coupled with the unanticipated willingness of top Defense Dept. officials to find funding for new long-endurance aircraft may have triggered an unexpected competition.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Lockheed Martin Astronautics Appoints New Slate of Executives

COLORADO SPRINGS Lockheed Martin Astronautics shuffled several of its executives into new positions last week as part of the parent corporation’s larger effort to implement changes recommended by its Independent Assessment Team and the Air Force’s Broad Area Review.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT2 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Airlift Critical to East Timor

Perth, Australia The concentrated airlift of troops and supplies is to continue for at least two weeks as the Australian-led United Nations peacekeeping mission to East Timor establishes a logistics base in the capital of Dili. The operation commenced on Sept. 20, with units of Australia’s Special Air Services (SAS) arriving in C-130 Hercules transports, securing Dili’s airport.

By Geoffrey Thomas2 min

September 201999

October 41999

September 27, 1999

September 27, 1999

NASA Grapples with Mars Orbiter Failure

By BRUCE A. SMITH6 min