February 7, 2000

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WASHINGTON outlook

NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin’s patience with Russia has finally run out. Goldin has ordered that the station’s backup Interim Control Module (ICM) be launched by the end of the year, after Russian space officials said their “Zvezda” service module now won’t be launched until August.

By JAMES R. ASKER

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Budget Ceasefire Predicted Until After Elections

WASHINGTON Senior Pentagon and aerospace industry officials expect Congress to resist the temptation to slash the 2001 defense budget through the expedient of attacking major aviation programs and to instead turn its efforts to getting through budget duties early in order to focus on this fall’s presidential elections.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

WORLD NEWS AND ANALYSIS

CIA: China-Taiwan Clash Possible Soon

WASHINGTON CIA director George Tenet is telling Congress that the U.S. can expect tensions between China and Taiwan to escalate, with the possibility of a military encounter in the run-up to Taiwan’s presidential elections this spring.

By ROBERT WALL

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

NRO's Mission Under Scrutiny

WASHINGTON Acongressionally chartered commission created to undertake a broad review of the National Reconnaissance Office is expected to start its work this week to determine what changes are needed in the organization. The questions Congress wants answered include: “Is the NRO doing what it is supposed to be doing?

By ROBERT WALL

AIR TRANSPORT

LockMart Raises Bar For LM21 Initiative

NEW YORK Lockheed Martin, emboldened by better-than-expected results in 1999, has adopted a much more aggressive cost-savings target tied to the company’s “LM21” productivity initiative. By 2002, the defense contractor believes it can achieve sustained savings of $4 billion tied directly to LM21, said Michael Joyce, who heads up the initiative.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI

RADAR IN THE 21ST CENTURY

F-22, JSF Designed For Distinct Roles

WASHINGTON To get final congressional approval to buy both the F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter in the numbers it wants, the U.S. Air Force must clearly explain the differences between the aircraft and define the advantages each will provide in its own combat arena in some future conflict.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

January 312000

February 142000

February 7, 2000

February 7, 2000