FLUG REVUE update: Week ending June 15, 2003

UPDATE
Week ending June 15, 2003

+++ JetBlue orders 100 Embraer 190s +++ NATO to use An-124 +++ Ariane flight 161 a success +++ Two Boeing launchers aloft in a day +++ STAR 21: Progress towards European Aerospace Policies +++ Joint undertaking for Galileo signed +++ OHB and Spectrum Astro form Alliance +++ News in brief +++

JetBlue orders 100 Embraer 190s
Großauftrag für Regionaljet

JetBlue Airways has announced that it has placed an order for 100 new EMBRAER 190 jet aircraft, with options for an additional 100 new aircraft. Embraer values the firm contract at $3 billion, with a potential value of $6 billion if all options are exercised. The announcement makes JetBlue the launch customer of the all-new 100-seat EMBRAER 190 aircraft. The EMBRAER 190 is the manufacturer's newest model in a family of mid-sized aircraft targeting the growing 70- to 110-seat market. This family incorporates advanced design features such as integrated avionics, fly-by-wire flight controls, and more efficient, environmentally friendly GE engines.
As with JetBlue's A320 fleet, all of the low-cost carrier's new Embraer aircraft will offer DIRECTV satellite programming at every roomy leather seat. The new aircraft will feature 100 seats in an all-coach, two-by-two seating configuration. JetBlue plans to take delivery of the first seven Embraer aircraft in 2005, with the remainder of the order expected to be delivered through 2011 at a rate of approximately 18 per year. Options begin in 2011. With this new Embraer order and the low-cost airline's current fleet of 42 Airbus A320 aircraft plus orders and options for future Airbus deliveries, JetBlue's fleet could grow to as many as 290 aircraft by the end of 2011. Lease financing has been arranged for the first 30 EMBRAER 190 aircraft deliveries. "Through this new agreement with Embraer, JetBlue will bring its superior product and award-winning customer service to the many mid-sized markets desperately in need of low fares and high quality service," said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways. "Since our first full year of operations in 2001, we have achieved continued profitability through our focus on innovation and low costs. Our unwillingness to rest on our success is evident today. With a combined Airbus and Embraer fleet, we believe we will be well-positioned to offer a better product to markets of all sizes across the U.S., without compromising the low fares, cabin comfort and great service that are the hallmarks of the JetBlue experience."

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NATO to use An-124
Struck verkündet Lufttransport- Initiative

At the NATO defence ministers meeting in Brusseels, Peter Struck, Minister of Defence of Germany announced that, as a result of the concentrated work by the NATO ministries over the past month we are taking another major step towards our aim by signing the Letter of Intent. Our declared common objective is to put in place by 2005 an operational airlift capacity for an on-call availability charter using the Antonov An-124, without however excluding the possibility of a mixed solution with the C-17. To maintain the present momentum of our work and to achieve this ambitious goal in the next two years we want next month to establish a multinational program organization so as to approach the next steps in a committed fashion.

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Ariane flight 161 a success
Zwei Satelliten von Ariane gestartet

Arianespace orbited two geostationary communications satellites: Optus and Defence C1 for the Australian operator Optus and the Australian Department of Defence, and BSAT-2c for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) of Japan under terms of a turnkey contract with Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States. With its 12th successful mission, the Ariane 5 Generic launcher confirmed its technical and operational maturity. This latest success comes two months after the previous Ariane 5 flight -- which also orbited a dual-satellite payload, and less than 10 days after Starsem's successful Soyuz commercial mission with the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft. Several days prior to launch, a ministerial-level ESA Council meeting authorized the Ariane 5 support plan and approved construction of a Soyuz launch pad at the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport. These decisions give Arianespace the means to operate a full range of launch vehicles that respond to all client requirements.
The choice of Ariane by major space telecom manufacturers and operators in the United States, Japan and Australia clearly reflects international recognition of Arianespace's top-flight launch service. Optus and Defence C1 is the second Australian satellite to be launched by Ariane. In September 1987, Ariane orbited the Aussat K3 satellite, while Singtel -- the parent company of operator Optus -- had its ST-1 spacecraft launched by Ariane in 1998. BSAT-2c is the 19 satellite launched by Ariane for Japan, and the fifth for telecom operator B-SAT -- following BSAT-1a on Flight 95, BSAT-1b on Flight 108, and BSAT-2a and BSAT-2b on Flights 140 and 142. BSAT-2C is the fifth satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corporation to be launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 5 since March 2001.

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Two Boeing launchers aloft in a day
Zwei Boeing-Raketen an einem Tage gestartet

On a historic day in the launch industry, Boeing Launch Services' customers successfully launched two spacecraft within hours of each other from different vantage points on the globe. Both Sea Launch and Delta II launch vehicles proved once again, the ability of Boeing to achieve mission success for its launch customers. In an early morning launch from the equator the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL lifted off its launch platform in the Pacific Ocean at 6:56 a.m. PDT (13:56 GMT) and successfully placed the Thuraya-2 commercial telecommunications satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The Boeing GEO-Mobile satellite was launched for Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Thuraya mission was flown on the 6,000 kg Sea Launch configuration. Boeing successfully acquired the satellite at approximately one hour and 40 minutes after lift-off, with preliminary orbit data indicating another on-target satellite placement for Sea Launch.
Less than four hours later a Boeing Delta II was launched from Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., during an instantaneous launch window of 1:58:47 p.m. The first of two scientific missions for NASA, the Mars Exploration Rover A, recently named “Spirit,” successfully separated from the Delta II launch vehicle after 37 minutes and began its 7-month journey to Mars. The second of the Mars missions, Mars Exploration Rover B, or “Opportunity”, is currently scheduled to launch on June 25 from Cape Canaveral aboard a Delta II Heavy launch vehicle. Boeing has successfully launched all of NASA's Mars probes and rovers aboard Delta II launch vehicles and hopes to continue NASA missions with the unique, proven capabilities of the DeltaII.

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STAR 21: Progress towards European Aerospace Policies
Europäische Luftfahrtpolitik macht Fortschritte

On 10 June, the STAR 21 Advisory Group concluded that positive progress has been achieved concerning the development of aerospace initiatives in Europe over the past eleven months. The initiatives aim to enhance and further develop the institutional framework for aerospace in Europe, work towards a European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency, and develop a truly European space policy. – Amongst other things, the Group underlined the need to increase the effort on Research and Technology in Europe. – The European Commission expressed support to the proposed Industrial Implementation Programme for the Single European Sky.
Less than a year after publication of the STAR 21 report “Strategic Aerospace Review for the 21st Century”, Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society and Chairman of the STAR 21 Advisory Group, convened the members to review progress against the report recommendations.
Commissioner Liikanen recalled that two key Communications had recently been issued by the European Commission, “Industrial Policy in an Enlarged Europe” and “European Defence – Industrial and Market Issues”. Both are expected to positively affect, in the medium term, the institutional framework within which aerospace is evolving. Industry has welcomed these documents and supports the initiative towards a European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency, which emerges as one of the proposals from the Convention on the Future of Europe. However, industry also pointed out the still insufficient European spend on defence. Commissioner Busquin recalled the importance given by the European Commission to security research. Industry underlined that it is ready to support this initiative and work towards launching projects as soon as possible in 2004.

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Joint undertaking for Galileo signed
Galileo GPS geht voran

On 10 June 2003, the European Commission and ESA have signed the Foundation Act of the GALILEO Joint Undertaking. This Act notably designates the representatives of both founding parties to the Joint Undertaking's Administrative Board and Executive Committee and will allow for a rapid establishment of the Joint Undertaking in the coming weeks. The founder members of the Joint Undertaking are the European Community (represented by the European Commission) and the European Space Agency. They may be joined by the European Investment Bank and private enterprises subscribing to the initial funding of the Joint Undertaking to a minimum of 5 million euros. This sum is reduced to 250,000 euros for small and medium sized enterprises. However, in order to avoid conflicts of interests, private enterprises will not be allowed to become members before the finalisation of the tendering procedure with a view to selecting the future holder of the concession to deploy and exploit the system.
The main two missions of the Joint Undertaking are: To preside over the implementation of the development phase: It has been agreed that this implementation of the development phase will be entrusted to the European Space Agency as regards the space and associated terrestrial components and to prepare the subsequent stages of the programme: The Joint Undertaking will have to prepare the structures designed to ensure the management of the deployment and operation phases and to determine the conditions for financial participation by the private sector which will be preponderant.
The organs of the Joint Undertaking are the Administrative Board, the Executive Committee and the Director. The Administrative Board consists of representatives of the members of the Joint Undertaking. It is the organ that takes all decisions of a strategic nature in the programming, financial and budgeting areas. The Executive Committee consists of three persons: a representative of the European Commission, a representative of the European Space Agency and a representative designated by the Administrative Board who shall be from the private sector (once private companies have become members). The Executive Committee shall assist the Director and shall carry out all tasks entrusted to it by the Administrative Board. The Director is the legal representative of the Joint Undertaking and ensures its day-to-day management.

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OHB and Spectrum Astro form Alliance
Zusammenarbeit von OHB und Spectrum Astro

Spectrum Astro and OHB-System announced that they signed an Agreement To Cooperate (ATC) to support international space programs and opportunities, specifically in the area of missile defense. Through this agreement, two of the world's most innovative and cost-effective aerospace and missile defense companies are forming a business alliance that will provide an effective and productive midtier alternative to the larger international aerospace alliances. “We believe this alliance will enable innovative and transformational solutions on international space programs by advancing state-of-the-art products and services to our customers,” said W. David Thompson, Spectrum Astro President and CEO. “OHB's legacy of success mirrors Spectrum Astro in providing on-time, on-cost performance and positions us for the emerging global space and missile defense business environments.” “This transatlantic alliance between Spectrum Astro and OHB-System opens for our medium sized companies an unprecedented opportunity for international cooperation and expansion. Our joint effectiveness will add innovative aspects to future space and missile defense programs,” stated Prof. Manfred Fuchs, OHB-System President and CEO.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Boeing has decided that the 7E7 will be the first commercial jet ever to have a majority of the primary structure -- including the wing and fuselage -- made of advanced composite materials. Following months of intensive study and analysis, the company has selected a graphite combined with a toughened epoxy resin as the main composite. The wings will also include TiGr composites -- a combination of titanium and graphite. Titanium is a strong metal known for its light weight and durability. Graphite is a stable form of carbon. Over the past year and a half, a team made up of more than a dozen aerospace companies looked at advanced composites and new aluminum alloys as possible materials for the 7E7. Bair said generally accepted assumptions that composites would weigh significantly less and cost significantly more than aluminum were found not to be universally true.
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A milestone in the development of high-altitude, long-endurance, remotely operated aircraft occurred with the successful flight of NASA's Altair. Altair is the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to feature triple-redundant flight systems and avionics for increased reliability. The slender-wing aircraft lifted off the runway at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Inc. (GA-ASI) flight test facility at El Mirage, Calif. The purpose of the historic first flight was to evaluate the UAV's basic airworthiness and flight controls. After the successful test flight, Altair glided to a landing on the remote desert runway. The entire flight was conducted at low altitude within a relatively short range of the El Mirage flight test facility. After initial airworthiness test flights, Altair will serve as the avionics test aircraft for the production version of the MQ-9 before being transferred to NASA. At DFRC, Altair will first be used to evaluate various new control communications and collision-avoidance technologies that are critical to enabling UAVs to fly safely in national airspace.
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Bombardier announced the sale of its Military Aviation Services (MAS) unit to Spar Aerospace Limited, a subsidiary of New York-based L-3 Communications Corporation, for a total consideration of $90 million US. L-3's Canadian presence was established in 2001 when it purchased SPAR Aerospace. MAS was part of Bombardier's Defence Services business and was earmarked for divestiture as part of Bombardier's recapitalization program, which was announced on April 3, 2003. BMO Nesbitt Burns acted as Bombardier's financial advisors for this transaction. The transaction is subject to the approval of all appropriate regulatory authorities and to other consents from government bodies in Canada and the U.S. The MAS division of Bombardier's Defence Services business, which employs approximately 950 people, provides maintenance, repair, overhaul and a full range of technical services for military aircraft, from systems engineering to aircraft modification, and generated revenues of approximately $125 million Cdn in fiscal year 2003. MAS has been the prime contractor for CF-18 maintenance since 1986. MAS main facilities are located in Mirabel, Quebec and Bridgeport, West Virginia.
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MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. announced that the company has been awarded the first phase of a multi-million dollar contract by a prime contractor in the United States to work on a military demonstrator satellite. The first phase of the contract awarded to MDA subsidiary MD Robotics is valued at $1.45 million (U.S.) MDA President and CEO Dan Friedmann said: "Our strategic plan is to expand from manned space markets into a number of new markets, including unmanned operations in space. This is our second key win in this field, after the Orbital Express project announced last year."
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Lockheed Martin filed a lawsuit against The Boeing Company and three of Boeing's former employees. The 23-count complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Orlando, alleges that Boeing and its employees committed violations of Federal and Florida law resulting from their solicitation, acquisition, and use of Lockheed Martin proprietary information during the competition for launch contract awards under the U.S. Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. This proprietary information included extremely sensitive and detailed cost and technical data regarding Lockheed Martin's EELV proposal.
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The Bombardier Learjet 40 made programme on Sunday June 8, successfully completed its first transatlantic flight. Aircraft s/n 2001, equipped with the Bombardier racing interior, took off from Bombardier's Flight Test facilities in Wichita at 00:01 on June 7th, and touched down at Biggin Hill airport, UK, yesterday, after a few intermediate stops. During the course of its historic flight, the aircraft – which combines superior comfort, low direct operating costs, unequaled payload/range capabilities, and legendary Learjet performance and speed – reached a maximum altitude of 47,000 ft and a maximum speed of Mach 0.81. It will now complete a brief European tour before making its debut appearance at the Paris Air Show, where it will be static display at Le Bourget Airport throughout the show.
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Osprey No. 7 pushed the V-22 Integrated Test Team over the 500-flight hour milestone while conducting a test flight out of Edwards Air Force Base on May 30, a year and a day after the program returned to flight. "We've averaged more than 40 flight hours a month in the past year," said Lt. Col. Kevin Gross, the ITT's chief government test pilot. "Reaching the 500-hour milestone in a single year is the result of a sound plan carried out by dedicated professionals." The 500-flight hour achievement comes on the heels of a very successful ruling on the V-22 test program by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology, and Logistics. In a recent Acquisition Decision Memorandum the undersecretary writes that "the flight testing has demonstrated {the V-22 has} combat maneuvering superior to helicopters; acceptable handling qualities in low speed flight; and dynamic shipboard compatibility" among other performance attributes that satisfy "the threshold levels for all of its key performance parameters and reliability and maintainability metrics."
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The RAF has taken delivery of the last of 142 Tornado GR4 aircraft. A ceremony to mark the handover of the last of the updated aircraft was held at the BAE Systems site at Warton in Lancashire. Representing the Defence Logistics Organisation, Air Chief Marshal Sir Malcolm Pledger, Chief of Defence Logistics was at Warton to officially receive the aircraft. Speaking at the ceremony Sir Malcolm offered his personal thanks to all concerned in building the GR4 thus ensuring that the Royal Air Force is now equipped with its most potent weapon system ever. Sir Malcolm said, "The fact that the last Tornado GR4 is being delivered now is a timely reminder that this aircraft will be with us for a number of years to come." The total cost of the program is over one billion pounds and sees the Tornado aircraft upgraded in a number of areas. These include an updated weapons system to allow the carriage of new and future weapons such as Storm Shadow, Brimstone and the Raptor reconnaissance pod. Updates have also been made to navigation systems, head-up and cockpit displays which are now compatible with night-vision goggles. An integrated Global Positioning System and Ground Proximity Warning system have been added to the navigation suite providing an extremely effective covert capability.
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Boeing completed the sale of its wiring assembly plant in Corinth, Texas, to Labinal, Inc. The purchase terms were not disclosed. Labinal, a Snecma Group company, is headquartered in Paris. The Corinth plant and its 800 employees become part of Labinal's North American Wiring organization. In announcing the planned sale on April 15, Mary Armstrong, vice president and general manager of Boeing Commercial Airplanes' Aircraft Systems and Interiors group, said: "This agreement is the right thing for the Corinth employees, for the community and for Boeing. It allows Boeing to concentrate on our core strategy of large-scale systems integration and provides Corinth and its employees the opportunity to grow. Labinal is the world leader in the aerospace wire harness business and intends to prosper in this industry. The acquisition of Corinth will contribute to that growth."
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NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announced today, Dr. Jeremiah F. Creedon, Associate Administrator for Aerospace Technology is retiring after 40 years with the agency to join the faculty at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va., effective July 3. Creedon has held the position since June 2002.
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Space Imaging has won a contract from the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) to evaluate a new technology enabling the rapid search of large imagery databases for specific elements such as vehicles, buildings, weapon systems and geographical landmarks. Evaluation of the technology started in April and will be finished in August 2003. The technology, created by Look Dynamics of Longmont, Colo., combines optical and digital processing to build intelligent shape- and pattern-based databases. These databases can be quickly and easily searched for specific structures, objects and terrain features. Under its contract with NIMA, Space Imaging will evaluate the technology for national security applications.
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Rolls-Royce and Marubeni Corporation announced on 11 June that Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) had signed up as a Programme Associate on the Trent 900 engine being developed for the Airbus A380. KHI will supply the casings for the Trent 900's intermediate pressure compressor.
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Alcatel Space announced it has signed a Euro 148 million contract with KT Corporation (formerly Korea Telecom) and the Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD) to build South Korea's first civil and military communications satellite, Koreasat 5. Alcatel Space will supply both the multimission satellite and its ground control system, along with launch and early operations phase (LEOP) support. Based on the new-generation Spacebus 4000 platform from Alcatel Space, Koreasat 5 will feature a state-of-the-art broadband payload, including new technologies developed within the scope of the Syracuse III program.
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Elbit Systems announced that it has received a $47 million contract from the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the supply of Unmanned Airborne Vehicle (UAV) systems to Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The contract is to be performed over a three-year period. Elbit Systems, through its subsidiary Silver Arrow, is the primary supplier of advanced tactical UAV systems to the IDF. The new contract follows a UAV project for the IDF that was successfully completed by Silver Arrow.
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A Proton rocket successfully placed the AMC-9 satellite into orbit this morning for Alcatel Space and SES Americom. The launch was conducted by the U.S.-Russian joint venture International Launch Services (ILS). This marks the 300th flight of a Proton vehicle, including 38 years of Russian federal missions and seven years with commercial flights under the auspices of ILS. Today's mission was the first Proton rocket launch of the year for ILS. The vehicle used today was Proton vehicle with a Breeze M upper stage, which lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 4:15 a.m. local time (22:15 June 6 GMT, 6:15 p.m. June 6 EDT). After 8 hours and 55 minutes, the AMC-9 satellite was separated from the Breeze M and placed into geostationary transfer orbit. Satellite builder Alcatel Space of Cannes, France, contracted for the launch as a delivery-in-orbit mission.
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General Dynamics and Veridian Corporation have entered into a definitive agreement for General Dynamics to acquire Veridian; General Dynamics will offer $35 in cash for each outstanding Veridian share. With the assumption of Veridian's $270 million of debt, the cost of the transaction would be approximately $1.5 billion. The proposed acquisition, which would be immediately accretive to General Dynamics' earnings and cash flow, has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Subject to an affirmative vote by Veridian shareholders and normal regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2003.
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Using the superior sensitivity of ESA's X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton, a team of European astronomers has made the first direct measurement of a neutron star's magnetic field. The results provide deep insights into the extreme physics of neutron stars and reveal a new mystery yet to be solved about the end of this star's life. A neutron star is very dense celestial object that usually has something like the mass of our Sun packed into a tiny sphere only 20–30 km across. It is the product of a stellar explosion, known as a supernova, in which most of the star is blasted into space, but its collapsed heart remains in the form of a super-dense, hot ball of neutrons that spins at a incredible rate.
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A new report on the future success of the UK aerospace industry, commissioned by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, is launched. The report is produced by the DTI's Aerospace Innovation and Growth team, a partnership venture between Industry and Government and led by Sir Richard Evans, Chairman of BAE Systems. The report states that aerospace is one of the most successful sectors of UK industry, and the largest aerospace industry in the world after the US. The key challenge is for the industry to sustain and enhance its prominence in the face of major changes in the world market. It warns that failure to face up to the new demands of the market would damage Britain's competitive edge.
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At the end of last week, Bremen-based space technology company OHB-System AG shipped three special front-mounted cameras for the physical research laboratory FSL (Fluid Science Lab) to Alenia Spazio in Turin. This followed the delivery over the past six months of the entire laboratory cabling system, the power supply and the video management unit for recording, processing and transmitting image and research data. The Italian company is building the experiment equipment for the COLUMBUS module of the International Space Station for the European Space Agency ESA. The Fluid Science Lab is designed to conduct experiments on the transportation of materials and energy as well as the surface properties of liquids and gases in gravity-free conditions as of 2004. A better understanding of these phenomena is of crucial importance for optimizing the terrestrial use of fluid resources, e.g. in combustion, lubrication, surface-coating and other technical processes.
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Rockwell Collins has been selected by Singapore Airlines as the provider of moving map and flight information displays on board five new Airbus A340-500. Initial installations have begun and will be completed later this year. The Collins Airshow 420 system provides airline passengers with real-time aircraft location, flight time, nearby points-of-interest, air speed, altitude and temperature information, as well as safety briefings and many other customer-specified items. Key features of the Collins Airshow 420 include: topographical maps combined with geopolitical borders, city names and points-of-interest; a variety of resolutions available in six different areas of coverage that span the globe; custom maps for a close-up view of most metropolitan areas; and 3-D perspective maps that simulate a view of the world as it appears from the flight deck on a clear day.
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The North African airline Tunisair has engaged the services of Lufthansa Consulting (LCG) for an eight-month project aimed at developing a new commercial strategy. A contract to that effect has been signed in Tunis by the two companies. "We're looking forward to this cooperation," said Stefan Auerbach, Managing Director of Lufthansa Consulting, at the signing ceremony. "We'll be developing for Tunisair a strategy that will enable it in a changing economic environment to offer a marketable and competitive service both in its home market and internationally." The task of developing the right commercial strategy will involve analyzing the market both for scheduled and charter flights and determining the best route network under existing market conditions. Lufthansa Consulting will also be looking at the organization and functions of the carrier's sales operation, optimizing it as necessary. The LCG consultants will assist with implementing the new strategy and will set up needed control mechanisms.
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Louis P. Bartolotta, Jr., formerly Vice President of Marketing for AgustaWestland, Cascina Costa, Italy, has been named Managing Director of the Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company, in Fort Worth, Texas. Bell/Agusta is a joint venture between Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, and AgustaWestland SpA, to design, develop, produce and market the BA 609 civil tiltrotor and the AB139, which is a conventional twin engine helicopter. Mr. Bartolotta comes to Bell/Agusta from Agusta Headquarters in Italy where he served as Director of Marketing, Agusta S.p.A as well ass Vice President of Marketing, AgustaWestland (Italy).
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EADS, part of the Eurofighter consortium, signed a contract with Thales of Norway for the development of advanced maintenance data recording techniques. This contract, worth six million euros, will involve close cooperation between Thales and EADS over the next three to four years in high technology development work. The cooperation will place Thales of Norway in a prime position to win future production contracts on the Eurofighter program. It will also allow Thales to utilise the high technology experience gained in this work in other product areas of key long-term strategic importance to the future success of this Norwegian company. The contract forms part of the larger 20 million euro agreement with the Norwegian Government for Norway's participation in the development of the Eurofighter weapons system. The contract has been concluded within only three months.
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The worldwide fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737s this week surpassed 10 million flight hours, a feat equal to one airplane flying more than 1,141 years nonstop. The world's fastest-selling airplane family is the first and only commercial jetliner to reach this milestone in record time -- five short years. The newer 737 family, which includes the 737-600, 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900, entered service in 1998. Since then, it has logged almost half the hours accumulated by its aging competitor, the 16-year-old A320.
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NATO's new Missile Defence Feasibility Study (MDFS) has cleared a major funding hurdle and with this has achieved a key milestone in Alliance efforts to examine options for protecting Alliance territory, forces, and population centres against the full range of missile threats. The Defence Ministers noted at their meeting on 12 June 2003 at NATO HQ the excellent progress and expressed their confidence that the new study will be under contract by October 2003 to coincide with their informal meeting in Colorado Springs, United States. Following approval by the North Atlantic Council on 10 June, common funding from NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) was authorised for contracting one MDFS. The Alliance's Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A), Host Nation for this Study Project, will soon issue an Invitation For Bid (IFB) to the two transatlantic consortia already involved in the feasibility study in support of a future NATO Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence (ALTBMD) capability.
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Rafael has introduced Python 5, the latest member of the Python air-to-air missile family. Python 5 is a fifth generation air-to-air missile that provides the pilot engaging an enemy aircraft with a full sphere launch capability. The missile can be launched from very short to beyond the visual range with greater probability of kill, excellent resistance to countermeasures, irrespective of evasive target manoeuvre or deployment of countermeasures. Python 5 is an innovative combination of advanced new technologies and the operationally proven Python 4 components. The missile incorporates a new dual waveband imaging seeker, advanced computer architecture, INS, sophisticated IRCCM and flight control algorithms. The Python 5 maintains Python 4 unique aerodynamic airframe, INS, powerful rocket motor, warhead and proximity fuze. Python 5's revolutionary full sphere capability is achieved by the lock-on-after-launch combined with excellent acquisition and tracking capability. Its dual waveband Focal Plane Array (FPA) seeker and sophisticated algorithms enable acquisition of even small, low signature targets at Look-Down, adverse background and clouds environments.
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