March 6, 2000

March 6, 2000

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WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

USAF Weighs Slipping Funds for More C-17s

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

France Disputes Europe’s Defense Gap

By PIERRE SPARACO

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

U.K. Short-Term Transport Decision Could Set Tone for Future Airlift

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

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2627
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

USAF Weighs Slipping Funds for More C-17s

ORLANDO, FLA. Even before the dust had settled from a U.S. Air Force revelation that it was cutting production funding of three Boeing C-17s from the Fiscal 2001 budget, some planners have begun looking at slicing yet another three of the large-body airlifters in 2002 and again sliding payment into later years.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

2425
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

France Disputes Europe’s Defense Gap

Defense minister says spending gap is narrowing and alliances are possible with U.S. industry

By PIERRE SPARACO

2829
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

U.K. Short-Term Transport Decision Could Set Tone for Future Airlift

LONDON The U.K. is set to decide as early as the end of the month on how to meet a short-term airlift requirement which could have major implications for a long-term solution. The short-term competition pits Boeing with its C-17 against U.K. charter operator Air Foyle, which is offering to provide Antonov An-124s.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

2425
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Profit Incentives Urged For Defense R&D

WASHINGTON The Pentagon is calling for profit incentives to encourage the defense industry to pursue high-risk research in new technologies. Industry also needs greater latitude in allocating the independent research and development (IR&D) funds it invests in military-related projects, Undersecretary of Defense Jacques S. Gansler told a House panel last week.

By PAUL MANN

3233
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

ICO Plan Evolves As First Launch Nears

LOS ANGELES The Sea Launch platform and command ship are en route to the mid-Pacific to boost the first ICO Global Communications satellite into orbit as operational plans for the system are being reevaluated. Officials of the restructured ICO organization are laying out an aggressive strategy to expand the capabilities of the mobile satellite system.

By BRUCE A. SMITH

3233
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Northrop Grumman Protests Exclusion

ORLANDO, FLA. With the stealthy Joint Strike Fighter scheduled to dominate the Pentagon’s tactical fighter budget within a decade, Northrop Grumman executives were infuriated when the announcement of a study aimed at preserving companies that can build manned combat aircraft mentioned only Boeing and Lockheed Martin, say U.S. Air Force and aerospace industry officials.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

3031
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Readiness Up, But Slowly

By PAUL MANN

2627
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Studies Juggle Airlift Numbers

Orlando, Fla. The Air Force will have to decide in the next two years whether it wants to buy 60-75 additional C-17s offered by Boeing at prices that eventually fall to $149 million per aircraft. If they do not, production numbers —without substantial commercial or foreign sales—shrink to the point that Boeing would have to shut down the production line.

By David A. Fulghum

3031
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Army Grounds Helicopters

4445
A WEEK INSIDE THE FAA

Riding Jump Seat With Garvey’s Crew

The first FAA administrator with a fixed, five-year term is struggling to restore credibility to the agency

By JAMES T. McKENNA

February 282000 March 132000