February 17, 1992

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HEADLINE NEWS

French Spot Space Images Guiding USAF Pilots Into Russian Airfields

WASHINGTON The U. S. Air Force is using images from space taken by French Spot Earth resources satellites to guide U. S. military transport pilots flying relief supplies into unfamiliar, potentially hazardous airfields throughout the former USSR.

HEADLINE NEWS

Controllers Struggle With Radar Antenna On JERS-1 Satellite

TOKYO Controllers had received no indication late last week that a command to Japan’s Earth Resources Satellite-1 to deploy its synthetic aperture radar antenna had succeeded. After several launch delays, JERS-1, a 1.4-ton spacecraft, which also carries optical sensor, was placo! successfully in a 570-km., Sun-synchronous orbit Feb. 11 by the ninth and last H-l launch vehicle from Tanegashima Space Center.

HEADLINE NEWS

U. S. Air Force Mercy Flights Deliver Food, Medicine to Cities of Former Soviet Union

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA U. S. Air Force C-141 and C-5 cargo transports launched Western humanitarian relief efforts into the Commonwealth of Independent States last week with delivery of the first of 4.5 million pounds of surplus food and medical supplies.

HEADLINE NEWS

Italians Redesigning Skyshark To Improve Stealth Qualities

TURIN, ITALY Italy’s Skyshark standoff weapon is being redesigned for a reduction in radar cross section to improve its stealth characteristics for missions against high-value, protected targets. Skyshark’s airframe is now faceted to lower the 5-meter-long weapon’s radar return.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ

HEADLINE NEWS

Future European Airlifter Program Enters Pre-Feasibility Study Phase

PARIS A European industry team is starting pre-feasibility studies on the Future Large Aircraft (FLA), which is proposed to enter service in the next decade as a multirole military airlifter. These studies represent the latest step in a program that could lead to development and production of the airlifter, which could be operational by 2003.

HEADLINE NEWS

Iran Rebuilds Air Force With Russian Aircraft

WASHINGTON At least 21 Iranian pilots were trained in the CIS and have returned to start a training program in Iran, Alireza Jafarzadeh, a member of the People’s Mojahedin of Iran, said. Initial definitions of Europe’s FLA military transport were for a high-wing aircraft with a length of just over 40 meters.

HEADLINE NEWS

Pentagon Sees Drawbacks, Gains From SDIO's Russian ABM Proposals

WASHINGTON Proposals by the U. S. Strategic Defense Initiative Organization to acquire ballistic missile defense technology from Russia may involve long-term disadvantages as well as immediate gains, according to Defense Dept. officials. These officials acknowledge obvious advantages available to the U. S. through the SDIO initiatives-quick, inexpensive acquisition of high-quality technology and the services of more than 1,000 scientists and engineers who developed it (AW&ST Feb. 10, p. 18).

By DAVID F. BOND

HEADLINE NEWS

National Test Facility Speeds Development Of Simulation for Missile Defense System

FALCON AFB, COLO. The National Test Facility is accelerating development of its simulation capabilities in order to support integrated strategic defense system activities about five years earlier than originally planned. This change reflects the Bush Administration's adoption of a Global Protection Against Limited Strikes (G-PALS) program and plans for initial deployment of an effective missile defense system in the mid-1990s.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

HEADLINE NEWS

House Lawmaker Pushes U. S. Arms Labs Overhaul

WASHINGTON The chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee has called for sweeping changes in the division of responsibilities of the three major U. S. national weapons laboratories, to reflect the post-Cold War era.

By PATRICIA A. GILMARTIN

HEADLINE NEWS

Atlas 2 Launch Bolsters Military Spacecraft Network

CAPE CANAVERAL The U. S. Air Force began replenishing its most-vital satellite communications network with the long-delayed flight of its first General Dynamics Atlas 2 medium launch vehicle last week. Liftoff of the Atlas 2-Centaur with a third-generation General Electric Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) spacecraft at 7:41 p. m. EST on Feb. 10 also was termed the final leg in the Defense Dept.

By EDWARD H. KOLCUM

February 101992

February 241992

February 17, 1992

February 17, 1992

French Spot Space Images Guiding USAF Pilots Into Russian Airfields

Controllers Struggle With Radar Antenna On JERS-1 Satellite

U. S. Air Force Mercy Flights Deliver Food, Medicine to Cities of Former Soviet Union

French Spot Space Images Guiding USAF Pilots Into Russian Airfields

Controllers Struggle With Radar Antenna On JERS-1 Satellite

U. S. Air Force Mercy Flights Deliver Food, Medicine to Cities of Former Soviet Union