The Latest Word On Trends And Developments In Aerospace And Defense
TSA Helping Wounded Warriors. Employing its risk-based screening model, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expanding its expedited aviation checkpoint screening program to included severely injured members of the United States Armed Forces. Beginning last Wednesday, the agency began offering the screening services to the nation’s Wounded Warriors and traveling companions “in recognition of the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform,” says John Halinski, TSA’s deputy administrator. The screening benefits include eligibility to move through security checkpoints without having to remove shoes, light coats or hats. TSA already offers expedited aviation checkpoint screening benefits to members of the U.S. military through its PreCheck program and is now also allowing Wounded Warriors to enroll in the pre-screening initiative.
…Bipartisan Praise. TSA’s announcement was greeted with praise by Republicans and Democrats in Congress. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) says the policy change recognizes the “tremendous sacrifices for our nation” by the severely wounded warriors while also freeing “up TSA screeners to focus on real threats to our aviation systems.” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), a member of the committee and sponsor of a bipartisan bill that called for TSA to makes the changes that it implemented last week, says the move “upholds the highest levels of security while affording a trusted group of citizens the dignity and respect they deserve.”
…TSA Justifies AIT Use. Seeking to comply with a federal court order that TSA propose a rule prior to its deployment of whole body imagers at the nation’s airports, the agency last week issued its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for on the use of the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) for passenger screening. The rule, which would codify the use of the systems to screen individuals at aviation security checkpoints, says the AIT machines provide the best way of detecting non-metallic threats—explosives and weapons—concealed under a person’s clothing without having to touch the passenger. The NPRM notes that the threat to aviation security has evolved to include these non-metallic threats. The proposed rule also says that the machines are safe to use for passengers and TSA screeners and that the only units that will be used will include threat recognition software.
…A Critic. Despite the publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register, Marc Scribner, a fellow in land-use and transportation studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, says TSA isn’t complying with the court order, which requires a legislative rule. “Unfortunately, the proposed rule more closely resembles a general statement of policy.” Scribner also contends that the NPRM “does not offer any insight into why, where, or how the TSA is justified in using whole-body imaging scanners in airports. And that lack of transparency violates the court’s order because TSA’s rationale cannot be evaluated properly.”
…The Costs so Far. In the NPRM, TSA says that from 2008, when it first deployed AIT machines, through 2011, the net costs of deployment and operations, including manpower, were $841.2 million. The agency estimates that that the net AIT-related costs between 2012 and 2015 will be $1.5 billion, with TSA incurring 98 percent of the costs. Most of the costs are related to personnel, $1.2 billion between 2012 and 2015, followed by equipment, $287.5 million.
Open Source Advisors. The Open Source Software Institute (OSSI), a non-profit group committed to promoting the adoption of open source software solutions within the federal government, has added new members to its industry advisory board to help it lead activities in a number of areas. These areas include open source software security practices, mobility systems, big data, global outreach and capital investments. “The primary role of our Advisory Board members is to help the organization maintain focus on open source technology issues that are important to government and industry adopters,” says Carl Livesay, chief operations officer for OSSI. The new advisors are Bill Bacci of Hewlett Packard, William Grossman of Global Projects Design, AJ Jaghori, former chief technology officer at L-3 Communications [LLL] STRATIS unit, Jack Kurtz of sqrrl, and investment banker Robert Sterling.
Overhauling Lincoln. The Navy has resumed plans for the midlife refueling and overhaul of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), saying last week the aircraft carrier was heading into the docks at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia. The Navy in February put the plans on hold, citing a lack of funding because of the budget stalemate on Capitol Hill. In March Congress passed a continuing resolution for fiscal 2013 spending that included a defense appropriations bill, allowing the Navy to proceed. The four-year overhaul is expected to cost $3.3 billion.
A little flexibility. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the continuing resolution passed by Congress for fiscal 2013 that included a defense appropriations bill will help curtail furloughs and lowers by $5 billion to $41 billion the amount the Pentagon will have to cut under sequestration. “It put some of the dollars back in the right accounts,” Hagel told reporters Thursday. “We still don’t have the flexibility that we had hoped to get, but having money in the right accounts is particularly important.” He added: “It reduces a shortfall at least in the operations budget. You also know that we came out better than we went in under the sequester, where it looks like our number is $41 billion now versus the $46 billion. It gives us program authorities to start new programs–and military construction, which is significant.” He said it will also allow the Pentagon to postpone and reduce anticipated civilian employee furloughs from 22 days to 14 that will save $2.5 billion rather than the anticipated $4 billion.
NASA’s HTSO. NASA extends its contract for Hubble Space Telescope Science Operation activities with the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) for 36 months, according to a NASA statement. The option has a total estimated value of $76 million and extends the period of performance through April 2016. AURA continues to be responsible for providing the products and services required to execute the science program and process, archive and distribute the science data from Hubble. AURA will maintain and calibrate the onboard instruments, maintain the science operations ground systems, administer grants, conduct public and educational outreach and conduct astronomical research. The Hubble Space Telescope Sciences Operations take place at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.
Nellis AFB F-35A. Nellis AFB, Nev., accepts delivery of three F-35As March 19, according to an Air Force statement. These Air Force conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron where they will undergo operational testing. One of the focus areas for the squadron will be developing tactics for the aircraft and pilots. Nellis AFB is scheduled to receive 36 F-35As by 2020. The F-35 is developed by Lockheed Martin.
DoD IT Hiring. The Defense Department fails to take advantage of opportunities to hire qualified information technology (IT) experts, according to its IT czar. “The Congress has passed legislation to enable us to hire highly-qualified experts and I feel the Department has not leveraged the opportunities that we have so far, or to date, as much as we could have,” DoD Chief Information Officer Teri Takai tells the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) March 13. Takai says she wants to extend, and expand, an IT best practices and information exchange pilot program, formally known as the IT Exchange Program (ITEP). Scheduled to end Sept. 30, ITEP places DoD personnel in private companies and employees from industry with DoD components to trade lessons learned. Terms run from between three months and one year and may be extended in three month increments for no more than an additional year.
Orbital’s Antares. Orbital Sciences plans a test flight of its new Antares medium-class rocket during the April 17-19 timeframe, according to NASA. Called the A-ONE mission, the launch originates from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Va. The A-ONE mission’s goal is to demonstrate the operational Antares launch system, from roll-out of the rocket from its integration facility, through emplacement on the pad and fueling, to launch and delivery of a simulated payload to a target orbit of 250 km x 300 km with an inclination of 51.6 degrees. A successful test launch will lead to Orbital’s Demonstration Mission of cargo delivery to the International Space Station (ISS). Antares is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to provide responsive, low-cost, and reliable access to space.
WGS-5 Launch. Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) sets May 8 for the launch of the Air Force’s fifth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-5) satellite, according to a service statement. The launch will take place on one of United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Delta IV vehicles at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. WGS is to provide broadband communications connectivity for the United States and its allies, including tactical communications for ground forces and relaying data and imagery from airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. WGS is DoD’s highest-capacity communications satellite system and can process more than 3.6 gigabits per second of data.
GPS IIF-3 Anomaly. The Air Force is still investigating the launch anomaly that took place during the launch of the third Global Positioning System IIF satellite (GPS IIF-3) last October, the service says in a statement. Final testing related to the investigation is underway. The Air Force says ULA; United Technologies Corp.’s Rocketdyne and the service have been working closely on this investigation. Launch officials plan investigation closure reviews in mid-April. During the launch, an upper stage engine on a Delta IV RL-10B-2 rocket did not perform as expected, even though the Delta IV delivered the GPS IIF satellite into its proper orbit.
Rocketdyne. GenCorp still awaits approval from the federal government to formally take over Rocketdyne, GenCorp spokesman Glenn Mahone tells Defense Daily. GenCorp says in January it was preparing to sell its Liquid Divert and Attitude Controls (LDACS) businesses to comply with federal antitrust requirements as part of the company’s pending acquisition of Rocketdyne from Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. GenCorp last July announced it agreed to acquire Rocketdyne from UTC for $550 million, a deal that would significantly expand its heavy-lift engine business. The deal, which GenCorp still expects to complete by June, is expected to nearly double the size of the company. GenCorp’s Aerojet propulsion and motors business is known for its tactical rocket motors and propulsion products, although it manufactures or modifies several engines.
SpaceX’s Merlin. Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s (SpaceX) Merlin 1D engine achieves flight qualification and is now fully qualified to fly on the Falcon 9 rocket, according to a company statement. Through a 28-test qualification program, the Merlin 1D accumulated nearly 33 minutes of total test time, the equivalent run time of over 10 full mission durations. The program included four tests at, or above, the power (147,000 pounds of thrust) and duration (185 seconds) required for a Falcon 9 launch. The Merlin 1D engine was also tested at propellant inlet and operating conditions that were well outside the bounds of expected flight conditions. SpaceX expects the first Merlin 1D engines on Falcon 9’s sixth flight later this year.
ATK CASTOR 30XL. ATK successfully tests its newly developed CASTOR 30XL upper stage solid rocket motor this past Wednesday, according to a company statement. The test was the final qualification for the ATK commercial motor, which was jointly developed by ATK and Orbital Sciences in 20 months from concept to completion. The CASTOR 30XL is designed to ignite at altitudes above 100,000 feet. In order to accurately test the motor performance, the static fire was conducted at the Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) using a vacuum chamber specifically designed to simulate upper atmospheric conditions. The motor is intended for use by Orbital as an enhanced second stage of the Antares launch vehicle.
SSL Study. The Air Force selects Space Systems/Loral (SSL) to study the feasibility of accommodating next-generation U.S. military weather systems on commercial polar orbiting satellites, according to a company statement. SSL will examine options to help Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (AFSMC) lower its cost to replace the legacy Defense Meteorological Satellite Program through the use of alternative architectures such as equipping commercial satellites with advanced meteorological sensors. SSL will study the technical feasibility of hosting a third generation meteorological instrument on a SSL commercial bus platform, identify commercial business opportunities that the Air Force can leverage to achieve weather sensing from a Highly Inclined Elliptical Orbit (HIEO) and quantify the value proposition for performing the mission in this non-traditional fashion. The six-month study contract was awarded under a broad agency announcement (BAA) issued last June.
Embraer FLA. Embraer CEO Frederico Curado and assorted Florida politicians mark the opening of the company’s 40,000 square foot facility at Jacksonville International Airport, Fla., where Embraer will build its A-29 Super Tucano for the Air Force’s Light Air Support (LAS) program, according to a company statement. Embraer is teaming with Sierra Nevada Defense Corp. (SNC) to provide 20 light attack aircraft worth around $427 million to Afghanistan’s nascent air force. The Air Force recently rescinded a stop work order despite losing bidder Beechcraft’s lawsuit and Government Accountability Office (GAO) protest. Embraer says delivery of the first A-29 is scheduled for summer 2014.
AFRL/RI Logos. Logos Technologies and the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) formally enter an agreement to focus on sharing various types of data, according to a company statement. Called “Exploitation and Analysis of Various Large Data Sets,” the agreement creates a collaborative initiative between the two institutions to share wide area motion imagery (WAMI), moving target indicator (MTI), full motion video (FMV), advanced analysis and data conditioning techniques and capabilities.
Aerojet Delta II. Aerojet’s Delta II second stage AJ10-118K engine successfully passes a requalification test of its ablative chamber at the company’s J4 altitude simulation test facility in Sacramento, Calif., according to a company statement. The three-burn hot fire test simulates a “test-like-you-fly” duty cycle configuration, qualifying the new engine configuration for flight. The intent of the requalification program was to replace the asbestos insulator material with a readily-available and environmentally-friendly alternative. There are currently four flights in the near-term manifest for Delta II, two in 2014 and two in 2016.
Marginal Success. The DoD Inspector General Says the Afghan Command, Control and Coordination System is a “work in progress.” The Afghan C2 system is “marginally sufficient,” said the report from the DoDIG Special Plans and Operations (DODIG 2013-058). Challenges remain, among them: the system does not have the ability to plan and conduct sustained operations without U.S. and Coalition support. “The effort to develop the ANA C2 system by U.S. and Coalition advisors has been marginally successful. While the ANA Command, Control, and Coordination System in place had gained capability over the past several years, the system remained fragile and needed significant Coalition support to ensure successful development of an independent, sustainable C2 capacity in the foreseeable future,” the report says. Further comment and information is due by April 22.
Added Protection. Navistar Defense is working an aggressive timeline on survivability upgrade kits for MaxxPro MRAPS. The first kits were due in December, but the company delivered initial kits before Thanksgiving. Anecdotal evidence said two MaxxPro vehicles with the survivability upgrade kits hit IEDs, and all 14 people survived with “scratches at most.” The Army ordered the upgrade kits to respond to evolving threats in Afghanistan.
Need The Sun. Iris Technology Corp. wins a $7.8 million order under a previously awarded contract from Marine Corps Systems Command. The order for 1,563 Solar Power Adapters-Generation II (SPA II) will support the program manager, Expeditionary Power Systems. “We have made major technological advancements in solar harvesting, battery charging, and power management in this next generation StarPower controller,” says Iris Technology Chief Technology Officer Carl Kirkconnell. “Marines will be able to carry fewer batteries for the same missions, increasing their mobility, effectiveness, and ultimately keeping them safer in the fight.”