Aerospace & Defense News - Defense North America

AirGuide Business, June 1, 2009

May 31, 2009

William Cohen, who served as defense secretary in the Clinton administration, says in an op-ed for the Washington Times that the recent saber-rattling by North Korea reinforces the need for a U.S. missile shield. May 28, 2009

In an effort to better protect the country's data networks, the government has been collaborating with private defense contractors and sharing the Pentagon's cyberthreat data with IT officials in related industries for almost two years. The program, designed to help stem the estimated USD 100 billion in losses associated with defense-industry breaches in the last two years, is now on track to expand to include other critical industries as part of the Obama administration's push to improve the nation's cybersecurity efforts. May 26, 2009

From missile defense to FCS to presidential helicopters, the cost of shutting down weapons programs will be high, Politico reports. Even the F-22 Raptor, which has reached the end of its contract, could incur costs as high as USD 200 million related to shutting down its production line. With 14 different platforms, terminating a portion of the FCS program could be much more complicated and expensive, as the Pentagon attempts to isolate ground vehicles from existing contracts, then renegotiate with firms for the remaining work. May 26, 2009

The U.S. Air Force is conducting fatigue tests on Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15C/D/Es to assess whether the aircraft are suitable for a service life extension program (SLEP). The fleet is expected to be good for about 8,000 flying hours, and Lt. Gen. Mark Shackelford, military deputy for the Air Force acquisition czar, says a SLEP could take them to 12,000 flying hours. The service is also exploring a SLEP for the F-16, which would take the aircraft from 4,000 flying hours to 8,000 flying hours. Extending the lives of the legacy, fourth-generation fleet is a potentially attractive option as the Air Force faces a shortfall during the transition from F-16s and F-15s to new F-22s and F-35s reported AWST. May 26, 2009

Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences has developed a version of its Orion unmanned air vehicle that uses a commercially available internal combustion engine for a 454kg (1,000lb) payload capability and five-day endurance. May 26, 2009

BlueBird Aero Systems

BlueBird Aero Systems, the Israeli unmanned air vehicle manufacturer, is planning a test launch of its MicroB system using a standard assault rifle equipped with a bullet trap-based launching device. Chief executive Ronen Nadir says the test will be performed soon, after the receipt of permission from Israel's civil aviation authority. May 28, 2009

Boeing, Eurofighter, Lockheed Martin

Boeing and Eurofighter have launched a public challenge to Lockheed Martin's widely presumed control of a next-generation fighter contract in Canada. Both challengers unveiled the outlines of a new push to respectively market the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Typhoon to Ottawa as replacements for the Canadian air force's Boeing CF-18 (F/A-18A/B) Hornets by the end of the next decade. May 27, 2009

BVR Systems

BVR Systems, a diversified world leader in advanced military training and simulation systems, today announced, entering into an agreement with Yuval Golan Investments Ltd. and Michael Golan Securities Holdings Ltd. (collectively the "Investor") pursuant to which the Investor shall provide to the Company USD 3,500,000 by way of a debenture (the "Debenture Amount"). Of the Debenture Amount USD 2,000,000 shall be provided to the Company no later than May 31, 2009 and the balance of USD 1,500,000 shall be provided on June 21, 2009. The Company shall repay the debenture twelve months from the date of its issuance by payment to the Investor of USD 3,850,000. In the event of a M&A transaction during the 12 months period commencing as of the provision of the Debenture Amount the Company shall immediately repay the debenture by payment to the Investor of USD 4,550,000. In addition, the Company shall grant to the Investor an option to purchase 3,000,000 Ordinary Shares of the Company, at an exercise price per share of USD 0.18, exercisable for a period of five years. May 28, 2009

General Electric, Rolls-Royce

GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team Launches Path to Flight Test. The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team has launched its flight clearance certification review, a process that will prepare the F136 engine for flight testing over the next several months. Following flight certification, the first F136-powered F-35 Lightning II will take to the air in early 2011, in alignment with Lockheed MartinOs ongoing flight test schedule for the Joint Strike Fighter program. The flight clearance certification reviews will include representatives from the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Government Joint Program Office, the U.S. Air Force and Navy. The review team will evaluate all pre-flight and performance parameters that will lead the F136 engine to be cleared for flight testing. The review team has already conducted two days of detailed technical reviews, which included representatives from Edwards Air Force Base and Patuxent River Naval Air Station. May 27, 2009