Monthly Archives: August 2009
As Discovery launches, word shuttle program may be extended
The space shuttle Discovery launched August 28, to deliver, among other things, a new room for the International Space Station and a humorously-named treadmill. As the shuttle prepared to launch, it was getting a boost from a report commissioned by the president, The Observer reports:
The US space shuttle, scheduled to be scrapped next year, [...]
Posted in Space Leave a comment
Italians to get first Reaper installment
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. won a contract for $10,250,000 modified contract through the Foreign Military Sales Program to cover the Italian purchase of MQ-9 Reaper aircraft. So far, $5,022,500 of that contract has been obligated.
The contract is in response to an Italian request last August for four Reapers, over 5 years, including ground stations, [...]
Posted in Coalition/Allies, tech Leave a comment
Boeing puts moving land targets in the SLAM ER
Boeing has modified its SLAM ER air-launched attack missile to allow it to attack moving targets on land. The Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response was declared operational by the Navy in July, and now Boeing is preparing to roll it out to the fleet.
“Upgrading the SLAM ER’s system software to include LMT capabilities was [...]
Posted in Navy, tech, weapons systems Leave a comment
U.S. to shift ABM base focus from E. Europe to Turkey, Israel
A Polish newpaper has reported that the Obama administration will scrap plans for “missile shield” bases in Poland and the Czech Republic in favor of a sea-based approach and potential bases in Turkey and Israel.
The move comes on the heels of Obama’s recent meeting with Russian leaders, and recent revelations that Iran’s latest ballistic missile could [...]
Roadmap for Army’s future combat vehicles coming
Jane’s reports that the US Army will release its new direction for ground combat vehicles in September. After canceling the majority of the Future Combat Systems program’s vehicles, the Army is taking a new look at what new vehicles should be built, and how current vehicles should be incorporated across the Army’s Brigade Combat [...]
Posted in Army, Contractors & Vendors, Policy, tech Leave a comment
Boeing baffled by C-130 modernization program holdup
(UPDATE: The Air Force is reportedly considering C-130 AMP for cancellation. )
Jane’s reports that Boeing is chomping at the bit to move forward with Milestone C for its C-130 Avionics Modernization Program. The Air Force cancelled the scheduled Defense Aquisition Board meeting on July 3o a few days in advance, and has not yet rescheduled.
Mark [...]
South Korean satellite fails to orbit
YONHAP NEWS reports that South Korea’s first attempt to put its own satellite into orbit has failed. One of the two fairings — the aerodynamic covers for the satellite–failed to detach, resulting in it not achieving enough lift to make orbit. The satellite is suspected to have re-entered and burned up.
“Only one fairing was ejected [...]
Iran’s Sejil missile ‘threatens Europe’
Iran’s Sejil missile ‘threatens Europe’ .
“Uzi Rubin, former head of Israel’s ballistic missile defense program, says Iran has made a “technological and strategic breakthrough” with its Sejil-2 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which will be able to hit a swathe of European states in three to four years.That assertion…intensified concerns that Iran has stepped up its drive [...]
Posted in Defense Department, Iran, Policy, Soutwest Asia 1 Comment
Navy 2nd Fleet drops own network for NMCI