January 25, 1993

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HEADLINE NEWS

CLASHES WITH IRAQ CONTINUE AFTER WEEK OF HEAVY AIR STRIKES

WASHINGTON The allies continued to respond to Iraqi provocations with bombs and rockets less than 24 hr. after the inauguration of President Bill Clinton. An Iraqi surface-to-air missile radar near the northern city of Mosul illuminated a French Mirage photoreconnaissance aircraft, prompting an attack by two U. S. escort aircraft.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

RAIDS HIGHLIGHT PITFALLS OF LIMITED USE OF FORCE

WASHINGTON The flareup in Iraq less than two years after the U. S. and its allies declared victory in Desert Storm highlights the limits and constraints of military force to obtain political ends. More specifically, it raises once again the issue of what America's political objectives are in this key strategic region and how much force can and should be applied to achieve them.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

NASA TAKES NEW LOOK AT FUTURE LAUNCH NEEDS

WASHINGTON NASA is initiating a series of comprehensive studies to define its future launch system needs—including how long the space shuttle should remain in operation and what eventually would replace it. The evaluation comes as the U. S. struggles to devise a strategy for the replacement of its current, aging fleet of launch vehicles to meet the civil, military and commercial missions into the next century.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

PENTAGON CRITICIZES AIR STRIKE ON IRAQ

WASHINGTON Pentagon officials contend the Jan. 13 raid that initiated the week-long series of attacks against Iraq was only a limited success because senior administration or military leaders hurried the operation. The initial attack against air defenses in southern Iraq "should have been delayed another 24 hours for weather," a senior Pentagon official said.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

PENTAGON REPORT FAULTS USAF C-17 PROGRAM OFFICIALS

WASHINGTON A Pentagon Inspector General's report charges that the U. S. Air Force improperly advanced McDonnell Douglas nearly $500 million on the C-17 program in late 1990 and recommends disciplinary action against several service officials.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

NEW TOMAHAWK UPGRADE ON TAP

NEW YORK The U. S. Defense Dept. this autumn is expected to put into motion a Tomahawk missile modernization plan that could boost the flexibility and responsiveness of the weapon. The Tomahawk baseline improvement program will develop technology upgrades to the Tomahawk weapon system.

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

NEW RULE CAUSED 1992 LOSS AT MCDONNELL DOUGLAS

LOS ANGELES McDonnell Douglas earned significantly less last year due primarily to fewer commercial aircraft deliveries and losses on the C-17 program, but the corporation's application of a new accounting rule will result in a net loss for 1992.

By BRUCE A. SMITH4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

ENDEAVOUR ADVANCES SHUTTLE CAPABILITIES, ASTROPHYSICS

WASHINGTON The first space shuttle mission of 1993 has advanced astrophysics and expanded orbiter capabilities toward eventual space station operations. During the week-long mission on Endeavour, the crew of five successfully deployed Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-6 (TDRS-6), conducted an extravehicular activity, shut down and restarted one of the orbiter's electricity-producing fuel cells and operated a new toilet.

By JAMES R. ASKER3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

FRENCH SAY U. S. TRADE POLICY THREATENS NATO ARMS CONTRACTS

PARIS Top French aerospace leaders believe what they see as stiffening protectionist trade policies by the U. S. will become a major issue in North Atlantic Treaty Organization procurements. A coordinated European backlash against U. S. trade policy could kill earlier planning for European acquisition of the AIM-120A AMRAAM and other NATO systems, some top French executives believe.

By CRAIG COVAULT,PIERRE SPARACO3 min

January 181993

February 11993

January 25, 1993

January 25, 1993