GE Aviation acquires pair of precision manufacturing companies
GE Aviation has acquired the assets of Morris Technologies and its sister company, Rapid Quality Manufacturing, precision manufacturing companies operating in suburban Cincinnati, OH. The companies, with about 130 employees, specialize in additive manufacturing, an automated process for creating rapid prototypes and end-use production components. With this acquisition, GE Aviation expands its engineering and manufacturing capabilities to meet its growing jet engine production rates over the next five years. Morris Technologies (Sharonville, OH) and Rapid Quality Manufacturing (West Chester, OH) have supplied parts to GE Aviation for several years, as well as to GE Power Systems and GE Global Research Center. The Sharonville and West Chester facilities will become part of GE Aviation's global network of manufacturing operations. Both companies focus on the aerospace, energy, oil & gas, and medical industries.
GS Yuasa Li-ion battery cells to power International Space Station
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) awarded a contract to GS Yuasa Lithium Power Inc. (GYLP) to provide lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cells to be used on the International Space Station (ISS). PWR will integrate GS Yuasa Li-ion cells into batteries that will replace the nickel-hydrogen (Ni-H2) batteries that currently power the ISS Electrical Power System (EPS) during its eclipse mode. This battery replacement effort is part of an initiative to extend the operation and utilization of the ISS. GS Yuasa will supply its LSE134 Li-ion cell that has completed qualification testing for the ISS program. The LSE134 (134-A·h nameplate capacity) cell is a member of GS Yuasa's Generation III family of Li-ion cells for space and is ideally suited to the electrical, size, and mass requirements of this mission. It approximately triples the available energy storage on both a per mass and a per volume basis relative to the existing Ni-H2 battery and is capable of powering critical ISS systems well beyond the required 10-year service life.
Acquisition strengthens Lockheed Martin’s unmanned systems capabilities
Lockheed Martin has acquired Chandler/May Inc., a company that specializes in the design, development, integration, manufacturing, and support of fully integrated mission critical systems for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (C4ISR) missions. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed and are not material to Lockheed Martin's results of operations. Chandler/May has delivered hundreds of integrated command and control shelters and portable ground control stations in support of U.S. Army UAS programs. It has produced more than 2200 UAVs, including the Desert Hawk UAV, a program for which Chandler/May is a supplier to Lockheed Martin. Chandler/May, which has facilities in Huntsville, AL, and San Luis Obispo, CA, will become part of Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems & Sensors (MS2) business.
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Chandler/May Inc. has developed a fully integrated UAS, consisting of the Fury UAV (shown), SharkFin Mission & Flight Control System, and Tactical Air Vehicle Control System (TACS) ground control station.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force awards contract to SAIC
Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) has been awarded a contract to provide the Mine Warfare and Environmental Decision Aids Library (MEDAL) tactical decision aid in support of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) MCH-101 helicopter. In addition to providing the MEDAL software system, SAIC will be assisting with engineering and training services as MEDAL is integrated within the broader MCH-101 ground support system, being developed by NEC Corp., the prime contractor in Japan. The JMSDF is expanding the capabilities of its MCH-101 aircraft to include airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) capabilities. MEDAL will be used in the mission planning, evaluation, and command and control of AMCM missions. In addition to supporting planning and evaluation of the MCH-101 AMCM systems, the JMSDF MEDAL system will provide capability for an increased level of interoperability with the U.S. Navy. The JMSDF MEDAL is fully compatible with the U.S. Navy MEDAL system.
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The MCH-101 helicopter for airborne mine countermeasures systems will include the AN/AQS-24A mine hunting side scan sonar, the AN/AES-1 airborne laser mine detection system, and the MK-104 acoustic minesweeping system.
Lockheed Martin to help Royal Jordanian Air Force control, defend its airspace
The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $26 million foreign military sales contract to modernize the Royal Jordanian Air Force's national air command, control, and communications infrastructure. Lockheed Martin will provide the Kingdom of Jordan with an integrated, real-time air picture across multiple command centers and many remote sites to better protect the country's airspace. The system, known as Omnyx, will combine sensor, voice, and data communications to provide interoperability throughout the Royal Jordanian Air Force and other elements of Jordan's armed forces. With input from radars and other data links, the system will assist in detecting incoming air traffic and also provide the capabilities needed for airspace management, air sovereignty and air defense missions. Lockheed Martin successfully fielded similar command and control systems in Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Taiwan, in addition to 10 North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries.
SAE offers new credential program for engineers
SAE International is introducing a personnel credentialing program that enables engineers, product development technicians, and associated personnel to earn a Certificate of Competency or Certification in the Design Review Based on Failure Modes (DRBFM) methodology. Created by industry professionals for industry professionals, the program was developed and segmented into three distinct levels to meet the needs of specific personnel. Exam questions align with the body of knowledge to address each of the three levels. The DRBFM Process and Application Certificate of Competency is designed for individuals who require training and validation of knowledge in DRBFM process methodology. Job roles include product engineers, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, supplier quality engineers, validation and test engineers, and facilitators, trainers, and consultants in all industries. This credential requires completing an open-enrollment training course and passing an online exam. Registration is now open for the December 2012 offering of this program. For more information, contact SAE International at certification@sae.org or visit https://www.saecredentialingalliance.org/go/drbfm.
Bell Helicopter breaks ground on new global headquarters
Bell Helicopter has commenced construction for its new global headquarters in Fort Worth, TX. The company plans to invest $230 million in new and upgraded facilities as part of a comprehensive revitalization effort. The revitalization effort is designed to consolidate more than 1.2 million ft² of excess space, reduce building maintenance costs, and reduce 20% of the company's waste and energy use by 2015. These changes are expected to improve coordination and collaboration, increase cost-competitiveness and are projected to save $19 million in annual operating expenses. Bell Helicopter's future headquarters will be home to administration, support functions, program offices, a customer center, and an integrated training facility.
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John L. Garrison, President and CEO of Bell Helicopter, speaks at the Oct. 15 groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s new Fort Worth global headquarters. (Office of Governor Rick Perry)
Rolls-Royce to power U.S. Navy’s new Ship-to-Shore Connector hovercraft fleet
Rolls-Royce won a contract to power the U.S. Navy’s future fleet of hovercrafts, known as the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC). It will work with Textron Marine & Land Systems, which has been selected to build the initial development craft, in a program that could extend to 73 craft. The SSC will replace the Navy’s current fleet of Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft over the next 20 years. The new hovercraft will be used to rapidly deploy personnel and vehicles between U.S. Navy ships and the shore. Each SSC will use multiple Rolls-Royce MT7 gas turbines, derived from the AE1107 engine, which powers the U.S. Marine Corps ’ V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Rolls-Royce will also design and manufacture the air intake and exhaust systems.
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On each hovercraft, the Rolls-Royce MT7 gas turbines will be connected to a sophisticated gearbox system providing both propulsion and lift.
Rockwell Collins to develop GPS jamming and spoofing detection technology
The Office of Naval Research awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to develop technology to locate and classify an adversary’s attempts to interfere with GPS signals and disrupt military operations. The three-year contract for the Modernized Integrated Spoofer Tracking (MIST) program calls for Rockwell Collins to develop technology and prototype system concepts to detect and locate the sources of transmitted signals that are intended to disrupt the warfighter’s ability to navigate and communicate. In the first year, Rockwell Collins will develop advanced algorithms. During the second and third years, the company will conduct, validate, and refine the capability through lab testing and demonstrations.
Elbit Systems of America to redesign, upgrade Apache Block III AH-64D Mission Processor
Boeing awarded Elbit Systems of America LLC a $17.5 million contract to redesign and upgrade the Apache Block III AH-64D Mission Processor. The Block III Mission Processor provides the aircraft with an open-system computing architecture that will be expected to integrate with both current and next-generation technologies. The new configuration will provide performance and technology improvements and solutions for component obsolescence. The new Mission Processor contains 48 processing cores and future growth to 80 cores for general purpose processing, four graphics processors, enhanced video processing, and additional encoding/decoding capabilities. The Mission Processor will provide the Apache Block III avionics and mission equipment with the ability to perform sophisticated "networking" and onboard computing tasks and will allow the Apache Block III aircraft to more easily accommodate emerging capabilities. This new mission computer underwrites a set of established technical standards through a "system-of-systems" approach so that new systems, sensors, applications and electronics can be easily integrated. Work will be performed over five years.
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