February 10, 2003

February 10, 2003

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WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Basic Ariane 5 Phaseout Delayed

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA4 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Paris and London Push Defense Efforts

By DOUGLAS BARRIE,MICHAEL A. TAVERNA3 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Singapore Offered British Training Base

By DOUGLAS BARRIE3 min

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4647
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Basic Ariane 5 Phaseout Delayed

PARIS Arianespace will delay the phaseout of its basic Ariane 5 booster and study the possible introduction of an interim model to tide it over until the upgraded EC-A version becomes available. The two measures, approved by the board of directors on Jan. 31, are part of an action plan intended to allow the struggling launch company to recover from the failed maiden flight of the EC-A in December.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA4 min

4647
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Paris and London Push Defense Efforts

LONDON PARIS Britain and France are attempting to reinvigorate Europe's increasingly wan efforts to bolster defense capabilities—touting the creation of a pan-European procurement agency—and also exploring cooperation on future aircraft carrier programs.

By DOUGLAS BARRIE,MICHAEL A. TAVERNA3 min

4647
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Singapore Offered British Training Base

LONDON The British government has informed Singapore it would be able to permanently station a squadron of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft in the U.K. if it was selected as the winner of Singapore’s ongoing fighter competition. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) intends to replace its aging A-4SU Sky-hawks around 2007.

By DOUGLAS BARRIE3 min

4445
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

RAF Prepares For Gulf War

London Following government authorization late last week, the British Defense Ministry is to begin deployment of a 100-aircraft force to the Persian Gulf region in preparation for potential war with Iraq. The deployment represents around one-third of the total operational strength of the Royal Air Force, according to defense officials.

By Douglas Barrie2 min

5051
HELI-EXPO 2003 PREVIEW

Weak Market, High Costs Hammer Helo Industry

Threat of war, security issues and a sluggish economy are key concerns for operators and manufacturers

By EDWARD H. PHILLIPS,PIERRE SPARACO,MICHAEL A. TAVERNA10 min

2223
THE SHUTTLE LOSS

USAD Imagery Confirms Columbia Wing Damaged

Pictures from ground camera in Southwest shortly before breakup show jagged edge on left wing

By CRAIG COVAULT9 min

5455
HELI-EXPO 2003 PREVIEW

Westland Pursues Future Lynx Family

LONDON Midway through an industry assessment phase, the British Defense Ministry is casting an eye over the progress on a key procurement for both army and naval aviation. The Defense Ministry is now beyond the halfway point in the 18-month assessment phase for its Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter/Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (BLUH/SCMR).

By DOUGLAS BARRIE7 min

6263
U.S. BUDGET

Larger Pentagon Budget Boosts Select Technologies

Six-year plan would see annual funding grow to $484 billion, and procurement would top $ 112 billion

By ROBERT WALL6 min

4041
THE SHUTTLE LOSS

Improved Tiles and Foam Still Pose Maintenance Headaches

LOS ANGELES Space shuttle thermal protection and external tank foam insulation have both undergone significant changes during the 22 years of shuttle operation, yet both continue to create maintenance headaches and safety concerns. The falloff of tank insulation on STS-107 was part of a recent flareup of such incidents that started two flights earlier.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM6 min

1617
WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP

World News Roundup

Pentagon spending on unmanned combat aircraft is going to increase dramatically over the next five years, predicts Boeing’s chairman and CEO, Phil Condit. Boeing lost the F-32 Joint Strike Fighter competition to Lockheed Martin, but Boeing’s UCAVs are expected to compete with the manned fighter late in its production run.
February 32003 February 172003