October 19, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

Vista F-16 Tests Preview X-38 Flight Controls

STANLEY W. KANDEBO NEW YORK NASA and the Air Force have begun a series of evaluations with the Vista F-16 to take an inflight first look at some of the control laws that will be tested later this year in a prototype X-38 space station crew-return vehicle.

HEADLINE NEWS

Greek Military Order Yields $1.4 Billion for Raytheon

London Greece’s decision to acquire Patriot PAC-3 air defense systems, T-6A trainers and upgrade its Hawk missile systems represents more than $1.4 billion in new business for Raytheon. Although terms of the final contracts have yet to be negotiated, the Patriot order alone could be worth more than $1.1 billion.

By John D. Morrocco

HEADLINE NEWS

Export Orders Show New Thomson Focus

PARIS Aflurry of orders in key export markets is putting the spotlight on a major reorganization intended to streamline the activities of Thomson-CSF and make it more competitive in foreign markets. The orders, worth over FF7 billion ($1.3 billion), are in the area of communications and air defense—two of eight strategic business areas that Thomson aims to focus on under a new company organization put in place on Oct. 1.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA

76B

HEADLINE NEWS

BMW Rolls-Royce Targets Development Capacity Issues

Paris and Berlin BMW Rolls-Royce is studying various options intended to deal with looming overcapacity at its design operations in Dahlewitz, near Berlin. The company has nearly completed development of the two engines currently in its product catalogue.

By Michael A. Taverna

HEADLINE NEWS

Mitsubishi Wins Key Optus/Military Contract

San Francisco In a breakthrough for an Asian satellite manufacturer, Mitsubishi Electric Co. has won an Australian A$500-million ($320-million) contract to build a commercial satellite for the Cable & Wireless Optus network. Mitsubishi Electric (Melco) was selected from among three other European and U.S. competitors to be prime contractor on Optus C1, a hybrid spacecraft that will serve both the commercial needs of the Optus network and the military communication needs of the Australian Defense Dept.

By Michael Mecham

HEADLINE NEWS

Northrop Grumman Using Lean Concepts To Reduce Costs

Dallas Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Systems and Aerostructures (ISA) sector here plans to develop and implement lean concepts throughout the enterprise to reduce costs and earn new business, according to Ralph D. Crosby, corporate vice president and general manager.

By Edward H. Phillips

HEADLINE NEWS

NASA, FAA Team On Aeronautics

CLEVELAND NASA and the FAA are pledging to coordinate their research and long-term planning to improve aviation safety, revolutionize air travel and ultimately usher in a new era of low-cost space transportation. Concurrently, NASA is pressing ahead with ambitious research that aims by 2007 to reduce the aircraft accident rate by a factor of five, triple aviation system throughput, and cut aircraft emissions by a factor of three.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

HEADLINE NEWS

Schroeder Team Sets Stage for New Course

PARIS LONDON Initial public statements and key cabinet appointments in German Chancellor-elect Gerhard Schroeder’s new government point to a continuation of defense and foreign policy principles followed by outgoing Chancellor Helmut Kohl, but perhaps radical change on the finance/economic front.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA,JOHN D. MOROCCO

Business WATCH

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has won an award of $25 million for nonrecurring engineering design, ground/flight testing and logistics support of the CH-60 vertical replenishment helicopter, with work to be completed by late 2000. Yehud Industrial Zone in Israel has received an $11.9-million contract to develop by September 2002 a night targeting system for use in support of U.S. Navy AH-1W helicopters.

By LESIA DAVIDSON

NASA’s AERONAUTICS/SPACE GOALS

SAFETY: Reduce the aircraft accident rate by a factor of five by 2007 and a factor of 10 by 2022. CAPACITY: Triple aviation system throughput, while maintaining safety, by 2007. AFFORDABILITY: Reduce cost of air travel 25% by 2007 and 50% by 2022.

October 121998

October 261998

October 19, 1998

October 19, 1998

Vista F-16 Tests Preview X-38 Flight Controls