Hard.Copy - 22 August 1997
ARTICLE CITATIONS GATHERED FROM COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS.BMDO Releases RFP For NMD Lead Systems Integrator. Aerospace Daily, Aug 18, 1997, p 259 BMDO has issued a request for proposal for the lead system integrator contract for the national missile defense program. The contractor must provide an in-depth analysis and evaluation involving development, testing, acquisition, deployment and operation of an NMD system. Hughes Team Gets BVRAAM Study Contract. Aerospace Daily, Aug 18, 1997, pp 259-260 Hughes Ltd. has won an $8.2m program definition and risk reduction study contract from the MoD for the BVRAAM. Alliant Techsystems Tests Outrider TUAV Subsystem. Aerospace Daily, Aug 18, 1997, p 260 Alliant Techsystems successfully completed a series of performance tests on three key Outrider TUAV subsystems. The successful testing of the C-band data link, the electro-optic/infrared payload control and a new engine which has been integrated into an air vehicle puts the TUAV program closer to total system integration. US Will Be Responsible For Half Of ESSM Production. Aerospace Daily, Aug 21, 1997, pp 281-282 The US will be responsible for about half of the development and production of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile program. The US was the first to sign the MOU governing the production of new missile which will have a new rocket motor, tail control section and guidance upgrades. The ESSM will be a faster more maneuverable missile than the NATO Sea Sparrow RIM-7P version. Troops Finish Tests Of New Target For Russian SAM. Aerospace Daily, Aug 21, 1997, p 282 Russian air defense forces have completed testing of a new target for the S-300 SAM. Arrow 2 Destroyed In Israel Test. Aerospace Daily, Aug 21, 1997, p 281 During the fifth test of the Arrow 2 anti-tactical ballistic missile, a malfunction caused the Arrow 2 to go off course and forced ground controllers to destroy the missile. The Arrow 2 was launched from an Israeli launch site and was directed at a target launched four and a half minutes before. GAO Finds Errors In USAF Inventory Database. Aerospace Daily, Aug 22, 1997, pp 289-289A According to a recent GAO report the USAF REMIS database contains numerous inaccuracies about the inventory of aircraft and missiles. US Navy Wants Input On Aviation Propulsion Technologies. Aerospace Daily, Aug 21, 1997, p 285 The US Naval Air Systems Command are seeking proposals for propulsion technology to increase the performance and affordability of air vehicles. News Breaks: A Fully Integrated Prototype. Aviation Week & Space Technology, Aug 18, 1997, p 16 A fully integrated prototype of the US Army's kinetic energy antisatellite (KE ASAT) kill vehicle was hover tested for the first time on Aug. 12 at Phillips Laboratory's Edwards AFB. During the KV's 47.8 sec. autonomous flight its sensors locked onto and tracked a distant (1 km away) light source (about as bright as a household "night light") that simulated a moving target. Washington Outlook: Middle East Jitters. Aviation Week & Space Technology. James R. Asker, Aug 18, 1997, p 19 According to Israel's Washington ambassador, Eliahu Ben-Elissar, Syria is "preparing for war" and constitutes the greatest near-term military threat to Israel. Syria's military improvements include purchase and local production of improved Scud-C missiles with 720-780 mile range. Ben-Elissar said Israel will field a tactical high energy laser for destroying short range, unguided missiles by 2000. HUMVEE-Mounted AIM-120 Missile Intercepts Target During Test. Defense Daily. Greg Caires, Aug 21, 1997, pp 302-302 A Hughes AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) launched from a HUMVEE successfully intercepted a target 8/15/97 at Eglin AFB. Outrider Spy Drone Components Pass Performance Tests. Defense Daily, Aug 18, 1997, p 280 Three key components of the Army's Outrider unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) passed critical performance tests last week. The successful components include: the C-band data link, the electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor controls and a new engine. Inspector General Gives Minuteman Upgrade Good Marks. Defense Daily, Aug 19, 1997, p 290 In a recent report, the Pentagon Inspector General praised the Air Force for its handling of the $1.9b upgrade to the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fleet. UK MoD Awards Missile Contract To Hughes. Defense Daily, Vago Muradian, Aug 18, 1997, pp 280-281 The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) last week awarded an $8.25m study contract for the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) program to Hughes Ltd. Hughes will use the study to reduce the risks associated with its proposed BVRAAM solution, the Future Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (FMRAAM). Army Wants 500 KM Range For Improved ATACMS. Defense Daily, Brian Shannon, Aug 19, 1997, pp 285-286 According to COL John Holly, the Army wants the next generation of its Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile to be capable of carrying a wider range of payloads out to a range of 500 km. Other design drivers are mentioned in this article. Arrow Missile Malfunctions In Fifth Test Flight. Defense Daily, Aug 21, 1997, p 301 The 5th test flight of the Arrow 2 missile was terminated 8/20/97 due to a malfunction prior to intercept. The cause of the problem is under investigation by the US and Israel. Pentagon To Seek NMD Bids. Defense News, Jeff Erlich, Aug 18, 1997, p 8 By the end of the month, the Pentagon will ask US firms for bids to design the NMD program. Noel Longuemare in his memorandum said the program will be conducted with an eye toward minimizing costs, even at the expense of capability. Slowdowns In THAAD, F-22 Efforts Could Add Billions To Final Prices. Defense News, Jeff Erlich, Aug 18, 1997, p 16 The SAR released on August 8, 1997 shows a slowdown in the schedule of THAAD, which will result in significant cost increases. The SAR showed the schedule changes made to THAAD after four consecutive test failures will increase the cost by $1.4b. US Navy Tests Move To Communications, Targeting. Defense News, Robert Holzer, Aug 18, 1997, p 11 The US Navy plans to test a new set of communications and targeting systems as part of the ongoing fleet experimentation plan. One of the main questions will be how to integrate tactical aviation into strike missions ashore as warships get more land-attack missiles. Navy May Be Stuck As JASSM Partner. Defense News, Mark Walsh, Aug 18, 1997, pp 1, 16 The Navy may be stuck as a funding partner for JASSM production and development for the JSF. The Navy claims it does not need the new missile because its own version, the SLAM-ER already meets their needs. US Allies Need Missile Defense Ability In Own Backyard. Defense News, Eugene Fox, Stanley Orman, Aug 18, 1997, pp 15-16 This article claims that although the US has a theater missile defense system, many of our allies would not be protected in a time of crisis. It is asserted that the US has neither the resources nor the responsibility to provide protection to others and that these countries should seek multinational procurement and production to protect themselves. Boeing Admits Missile Can't Meet Air Force Range Needs. Defense Week, Tony Capaccio, Aug 18, 1997, pp 1, 12 Boeing Company officials told Air Force Chief of Staff Ronald Fogelman last month its SLAM ER missile does not meet the minimum range requirement for the most common launch profile of the service's new stealthy, standoff weapon. This range information is the latest twist in a congressional appropriations battle the Air Force is waging. It hopes to overturn Capitol Hill directives ordering the service to buy the SLAM ER instead of developing its own project, the Joint-Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. Pentagon, House Clash Over Navy Missile Defense. Defense Week, John Donnelly, Aug 18, 1997, p 3 House lawmakers and the Pentagon have squared off again over a House-passed requirement that the Navy's Theater Wide antimissile system be deployed seven years faster than the current plan. In an appeal to the House-Senate defense authorization conferences, the Pentagon told the House that the 2001 timetable was "neither technically nor programatically feasible." Congress Approves $490 Million In FY97 Reprogramming Sources For DoD. Inside the Pentagon, Aug 22, 1997, pp 1, 16-31 The four defense oversight committees informed the DoD earlier this month which programs could have funds reprogrammed to other programs and which programs would benefit from those funds. Of the $786m requested by the Pentagon for reprogramming only about $490m were approved. Attached is each of the four panels' lists of reprogramming approvals and disapprovals. BMDO May Count Minuteman Acquisition Cost In NMD Competition. Inside the Pentagon, Elaine M. Grossman, Aug 22, 1997, pp 3-4 BMDO may take into account the original acquisition costs of Minuteman ICBM boosters recycled into propulsion systems for NMD interceptors. This may apply when the parts are included in a design competing against boosters newly built to power NMD interceptors. Test Failures Lead To Cost Rise In THAAD Project. Jane's Defence Weekly. Barbara Starr, Aug 20, 1997, p 8 The THAAD program's research and development costs have risen to $7.7b from the previous estimate of $6.3b. The increased cost will cover extra flight tests, an extended flight test schedule and risk reduction activities for engineering and manufacturing development. The next intercept attempt is scheduled for December. If successful, further tests are scheduled for next April and August. The aim is to get three successful intercepts to move the program from Dem/Val to the EMD phase in Jan. 1999. USA Wants Single Team Missile Procurement. Jane's Defence Weekly. Barbara Starr, Aug 20, 1997, p 18 The US DoD Acquisition Board (DAB) has approved a procurement strategy that will result in a single US defense contractor team winning a $1.5b award next February to become the lead systems integrator (LSI) for a NMD system. The BMDO will oversee selection of an LSI to conduct in-depth analysis and evaluation of an NMD architecture. The LSI will consider issues involving development, testing, acquisition, deployment and operation of a GBI system. The contractor will then make recommendations on the best technical solution.
