June 17, 2002

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WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

European Clock Reset On Mergers, Takeovers

Recent rulings could encourage travel industry and aerospace deal-makers to pursue more linkups, but the jury is still out on GE/Honeywell

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Intel Aircraft Program Changes

WASHINGTON In a surprise move, the Air Force is mapping out a fundamental change in the development and acquisition of its next-generation, Boeing 767-based, intelligence-gathering aircraft by shifting key components into a separate competition.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Costs Spur Drive To Tweak Global Hawk

WASHINGTON Redesigning Global Hawk components and its ground station and buying less capable systems are some of the schemes the Air Force has identified to bring the price of the unmanned aircraft down to something the Pentagon considers affordable.

By ROBERT WALL

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

U.K. Spells Out UAV Ops Issues

LONDON Key airspace operation questions are emerging as a critical British intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle program draws closer to reality. The British Defense Ministry will select two final competitors for its 500-million-pound-($735-million)-plus Watchkeeper program, possibly as early as July or August.

By DOUGLAS BARRIE

30d

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

French Mull Boost In Procurement Spending

PARIS BRUSSELS France’s new right-wing government is poised to accede to pressing demands to boost military procurement spending and fund an upgraded antiterrorism arsenal. Despite tight budget constraints and the need to comply with the European Union’s strict rules on public deficits, the envisioned reorientation could soon become a reality with President Jacques Chirac’s full support.

By PIERRE SPARACO

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Navy Joins JSOW Exodus

WASHINGTON The U.S. Navy has pulled its funding for the antiarmor version of Raytheon’s Joint Standoff Weapon, effectively killing that model after the Air Force already abandoned it. Although the Navy manages the overall JSOW program, it planned to buy fewer of the antiarmor models, the AGM-154B, than the Air Force. The Air Force decision to pull out of JSOW-B forced the Navy to assess whether it could afford the effort alone— ently it didn’t think so.

By ROBERT WALL

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Joining Space and Strategic Commands Comes With a Price

COLORADO SPRINGS Pentagon officials are still weighing the pros and cons of combining U.S. Space Command and Strategic Command, but insiders claim the decision has essentially been made and could be announced any day. If they’re correct, the space commander’s flag—and some headquarters staff—could move to Offutt AFB, Neb., home of Strategic Command, by Oct. 1.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Italy To Come On Board As JSF Participant

GENOA, ITALY Italy is expected to sign up for the Joint Strike Fighter program in the next few days. The government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is scheduled to ink a memorandum of understanding after the program’s approval by the Italian House and Senate defense committees.

By ANDY NATIVI

June 102002

June 242002

June 17, 2002

June 17, 2002