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Impulso á Defesa contra Misseis Balisticos

"FAM del Mundo"

A Agencia de Defesa contra Misseis (MDA) dos EUA seleccionou a
Northrop Grumman Space e Mission Systems, junto com a Raytheon, para
desenvolver  eprovar o Interceptor de Energia Cinética (KEI),
mediante um contrato de oito anos no valor de 4.500M $. O desenho
beneficiou-se do feito de que os EUA já não está limitado pelo
Tratado de Misseis Anti Balisticos (ATBM), do qual se retirou em
Junho de 2002. Esta arma formará parte de um sistema defensivo que
deve entrar em serviço em 2010-2012. Inicialmente o sistema será
baseado em terra capaz de ser transportado em aviões C-17, mas ainda
se espera o desenvolvimento de uma versão para ser instalada em
navios.

[Fábio G.]

Uma noticia relacionada:

VARIOS CIENTÍFICOS DUDAN DE LA EFICACIA DEL ESCUDO ANTIMISILES DE EE.UU.

Según un informe realizado por una organización de científicos independientes, el escudo antimisiles que construye Estados Unidos no es capaz de destruir las armas enemigas. El estudio asegura que, tras un análisis del sistema y las pruebas practicadas, no se fundamenta la idea de que el sistema pueda “evitar un ataque real”.  

[Fábio G.]

Raytheon ganha contrato para vendas no exterior

A empresa Raytheon foi a vencedora de um contrato para a venda de
bombas guiadas por laser a diversos paises aliados dos EUA. As
vendas serão feitas no marco do programa de Vendas Militares ao
Exterior (Forgein Military Sales program - FMS) segundoinformou a
própria companhia. A US Air Force otorgou a esta empresa a fabricação
de um numero não desvendado de bombas guiadas por laser LGB GBU-10
Paveway II e de kits para a conversão de bombas convencionais a este
modelo ao Egipto, Omán, Coreia do Sul, Taiwán e Emirados Árabes
Unidos. Ainda no marco do mesmo programa, Raytheon também levará a
cabo a produção e entrega de 596 misseis ar-ar AAM Sidewinder, do
modelo AIM-9M-2 para as Forças Aéreas do Egipto e Taiwán, e mais
concrétamente para as suas frotas de caça-bombardeiros F-16 Fighting
Falcon.

[Fábio G.]

GENERAL DYNAMICS COMPRA EL FABRICANTE DE VEHÍCULOS MILITARES ALVIS.

El grupo norteamericano General Dynamics comprará el fabricante británico de vehículos militares Alvis por 456 millones de euros, en una de las mayores operaciones trasatlánticas del sector en los últimos años. La empresa británica está participada en un 29 por ciento por BAE Systems y es uno de los grandes proveedores del ejército de Reino Unido. Alvis registró unos beneficios de 30,1 millones de euros el año pasado.

[Fábio G.]

Boeing-Led Team Successfully Tests SMART Materials Helicopter Rotor
ST. LOUIS --- A team led by The Boeing Company has successfully used advanced materials in the design, development and testing of a revolutionary new helicopter rotor that could benefit all rotorcraft.  
 
The Smart Material Actuated Rotor Technology (SMART) system offers an 80 percent vibration reduction, a jet-smooth ride and other benefits. It employs existing materials to drive on-blade trailing edge flaps to reduce vibration and noise and improve aerodynamic performance. Whirl tower testing was conducted by Boeing at its Mesa, Ariz., rotorcraft facility. The $10 million joint program teaming Boeing with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NASA, the U.S. Army and three universities achieves unprecedented aerodynamic flow control.  
 
The goal of DARPAs Smart Materials and Structures Demonstration program is to create a shift in the design of undersea vehicles and torpedoes, aircraft wings, engine inlets, and helicopter rotor blades.  
 
The rotor system is now ready for forward flight testing to quantify significant improvements in vibration, noise, and aerodynamic performance expected. With completion of wind tunnel and/or flight testing, commercial, military, and unmanned helicopters could incorporate this technology within five years.  
 
The SMART active flap rotor system used for the whirl tower tests is a modified five-bladed, bearingless MD 900 Explorer helicopter rotor. Each 17-foot long blade incorporates actuator assemblies that move a single flap on its trailing edge. During 13 hours of whirl tower testing, the flap actuators operated for seven hours under a full range of conditions.  
 
These successful whirl tower tests demonstrated that the active flap system works in full scale, confirming it meets the requirement, said Friedrich Straub, Boeing principal investigator in Mesa. This can provide up to 80 percent vibration reduction and reduce noise for a helicopter passing overhead.  
 
The vibration reduction and performance improvement should provide a jet-smooth ride, significantly reducing helicopter life cycle costs, increase productivity and fleet readiness. Proving the integration, robust operation, and authority of the flap system was the key objective met by the whirl tower tests.  
 
This technology development program evaluates the potential of dynamically morphing blade structures to achieve revolutionary improvements in rotorcraft performance and mission capability, said William Warmbrodt, chief of the Aeromechanics Branch at NASA Ames.  
 
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the worlds largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the worlds largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASAs largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.

[Fábio G.]

Raytheon Awarded $36M contract modification for Fire Scout UAV Tactical Control System Software

FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $36.8 million contract modification by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md.

Raytheon will provide modifications to its Tactical Control System (TCS) software and product support for the Navy Fire Scout helicopter, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to achieve the following:
    -- simultaneous control of multiple UAVs;
    -- compliance with NATO's Standardization Agreement 4586
    -- integration of plug and play payloads;
    -- the weaponization of the Fire Scout and Fire Scout operational evaluations.

Work will be performed in Falls Church, Va., and State College, Pa. "The enhancements to be made as part of this effort will increase TCS' interoperability and simplify the process for adding new unmanned systems and payloads," said John Nannen, vice president of Remote Systems for Raytheon. "We are proud to be a teammate of the Navy's and continue work on this important project."

TCS successfully completed its first flight of the Fire Scout in August 2003. Since this event, TCS has flown the Fire Scout from a ground control station on the USS Denver and a control system aboard the P-3C AIP aircraft. The full Level 5 command and control of the Fire Scout from the P-3C in December 2003 was a first in the UAV industry.

As a risk reduction for future integration on the Littoral Combat Ship, plans are in place for the TCS to demonstrate its control of the Fire Scout from the High Speed Vehicle (HSV) in the fall of this year. HSV is an automated vehicle that operates at speeds up to 55 mph in a variety of environments.

Raytheon Company, with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 78,000 people worldwide.

Editor's Notes: NATO's Standardization Agreement 4586 sets out the specifications of a common ground station for UAV's used by NATO forces. Implementation will enable information between different national UAV's to be shared via common ground stations to provide the opportunity of greater control to NATO and national commanders over the use of UAV's in military operations. You can find additional information at http://uav.navair.navy.mil/nato/article.htm.

[Fábio G.]

USA

NUEVOS MISILES SLAMRAAM LANZADOS DESDE TIERRA SERÁN FABRICADOS POR
RAYTHEON.


Raytheon ha sido elegida por el US Army y el Cuerpo de Marines de
EEUU para la fabricación de misiles aire-aire de alcance medio
lanzados desde tierra (SLAMRAAM). La empresa fabricará integrará y
probará todo el sistema, que cuenta con una capacidad de alcance
inter-media entre el sistema Patriot de largo alcance y el sistema
Avenger de corto alcance. El contrato está estimado en 127 millones $.
   

[Fábio G.]

BOEING AUMENTA SUS INGRESOS POR EL NEGOCIO DE DEFENSA .

The Boeing Company ha registrado durante el primer trimestre de 2004 unos beneficios netos de 623 millones de dólares, resultado que contrasta con las de 478 millones de dólares registradas en el mismo período de 2003.
Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) ha presentado un comportamiento fuerte durante el trimestre, tanto en crecimiento de ingresos como en rendimiento se sus márgenes al ejecutar programas claves de defensa. IDS cerró negocios clave durante el primer trimestre del año, incluyendo pedidos adicionales de V-22 Ospreys y del programa de satélites de comunicaciones de la Fuerza Aérea estadounidense, así como contratos complementarios para JDAMs y programas de seguridad aeroportuaria.
Los ingresos de IDS han sido de 7.400 millones de dólares, aumentando un 18 por ciento.

[Fábio G.]

Rotorhub

Schweizer 333 Becoming Light Utility Helicopter of Choice
 

Elmira, New York The Schweizer Model 333 continues to prove itself as the ideal helicopter for powerline and pipeline patrol.  

Schweizer Sales and Service Center, Chesapeake Bay Helicopters, recently took delivery of a Model 333, for which they have received a contract to perform power line inspection and LIDAR (Light Ranging and Detection) surveys.  The helicopter will be configured specifically for this role.

Chesapeakes powerline operations will be conducted using gyro stabilized Poly-Tech infra-red and Daycor Corona cameras.  The LIDAR system is a Litemapper 2800 and will be used to measure the amount of powerline sag under various weather and load conditions.  The information gained from these patrol flights will assist the power company in determining the amount of increased voltage that the powerline can accept and still maintain proper line clearance between the powerline and other obstacles.  The LIDAR system will also be utilized for aerial survey missions, powerline and pipeline planning and density studies, topographical surveys and coastline erosion studies.  The aircraft will mainly be operated in the eastern U.S, although specific operations may be conducted in other parts of the country.  Chesapeake plans to operate the 333 a minimum of 45 hours per month.

When asked for his comments on acquiring a 333 for this specified patrol role Wilson Gilliam, President of Chesapeake Bay Helicopters, stated, The 333 has a wide center of gravity envelope, which permits a great deal of flexibility in equipment placement.  The spacious cockpit is perfect for mounting LCD screens and supplemental equipment.  The 333s low vibration rotor system is well suited for our sensitive equipment because lower vibration levels equate to less maintenance on camera mounts and gimbal features.  Although the customer was originally considering other helicopters, the 333s low direct operating costs, stability and proven safety features convinced them that it is the right helicopter for the job.  We are able to offer the 333 to our customers for about 20% less than other comparable single engine turbine helicopters.

Another Model 333 operator in Wisconsin has seen similar success with a 333, which they have been operating since early 2003.  Aero Optics Inc. located in East Troy, Wisconsin uses their 333 for a variety of airborne missions including powerline patrol, pipeline patrol, wildlife surveys, video and still photography.  They operate the 333 an average of 225 hours per year.

Don Voland, President of Aero Optics stated, The 333 is an ideal aircraft for patrol and survey work because of the seating arrangement which allows all observers to have an unobstructed view both forward and to both sides.  The wildlife survey observers we fly have given the 333 seating arrangement very high marks for visibility and comfort.  The low operating costs per hour and reserve power are also major factors which make it stand out from other single turbine helicopters.  Aero Optics experience is an example of how customers and operators alike benefit from the 333s low direct operating costs, unique cockpit configuration and rugged dependability.  

The proven 333 operates throughout the world in many demanding roles including law enforcement patrol, powerline/pipeline patrol, commercial and military flight training, ranching, external load operations, animal surveys, aerial photography and personal transportation.  The spacious cockpit, generous useful load, impressive performance, robust design and low direct operating costs make the 333 first in its class.    

In addition to the Model 333 helicopter Schweizer Aircraft Corp. manufactures the 300C and 300CBi, the Firescout unmanned helicopter, the SA 2-37B and RU-38B surveillance airplanes, and an extensive range of major components and airframes under subcontract to the U.S. aerospace industry including companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Sikorsky, and the U.S. Government.  Schweizer sells and supports its aircraft through a worldwide network of sales and service centers.

[Fábio G.]

Bell Opens New Sales Center at Alliance Airport

FORT WORTH, TX (May 21, 2004) - Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh conducted ceremonies today officially opening the new Bell Helicopter Customer Center offices at Fort Worth Alliance Airport in the AllianceTexas development.

Immediately preceding the ribbon cutting a new Bell 206B3 JetRanger was delivered to the Fort Worth Police Dept. Air Support Unit.  The specially equipped aircraft has a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) that provides thermal imaging capabilities that helps locate people who may be lost or hiding.

In his comments at the ceremony Mr. Redenbaugh said; "This move will provide our new matrix Sales & Marketing organization, training academy and eventually our product support warehouse functions absolutely premier world-class organization.  In addition, there are plenty of lodging and restaurant facilities nearby to support our many customers from around the world that train with us."

Also attending and speaking at the event was Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief as well as Ross Perot Jr. chairman of Hillwood.  Several other dignitaries were also present.

The move by the Sales & Marketing group is the first of three groups that will eventually relocate to the Alliance Corridor.  All moves will be completed by November 1, 2004.  

The facility containing the Bell Helicopter Customer Center and Training Academy has 64,000+ square feet of office space, 82,000 square feet of hanger space and 15,000 square feet of warehousing space.  In addition to the facility, Bell has acquired some property east of Interstate Route 35W to support flight-training operations.

The facility is being leased from Hillwood Development on a 15-year agreement.  Built in 1999, the building underwent a three million dollar improvement in 2002.  It comes with 400 parking spaces.

In addition to Bell Helicopter Marketing and the Training Academy, the facility will also serve as the delivery center and training school for the BA609 when deliveries begin.

Bell Helicopter Textron, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., is a $1.6 billion, leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of over 7,500 employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries

Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with 43,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services in industries such as aircraft, fastening systems, industrial products and components and finance. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others.

 

Source: Bell Helicopter

[Fábio G.]

Raytheon - 25.05.2004

TUCSON, Ariz. --- The first tests of a Raytheon Company Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) against a surface target resulted in two direct hits in operations at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Test Range in California May 5.

The upgraded RAMs were equipped with a new software package for engaging helicopter, air and surface (HAS) targets. The missiles were flown against a coastal patrol interdiction craft. In two separate firings, a RAM, equipped with a telemetry package in lieu of a warhead, was fired at the target craft. In each instance, the RAM acquired the target and adjusted aimpoint for maximum lethality.

"This success demonstrates an important new RAM capability, to engage the hostile surface threat in the littoral environment. In this flight test, RAM missiles detected, tracked and engaged a surface target in a complex background," said Capt. Albert Lang, the U.S. Navy's RAM program manager.

RAM is the world's premiere lightweight, quick-reaction, ship self-defense missile system. Its mission is to engage and destroy anti-ship threats with no post-launch shipboard support. The Block 1 missile, currently in production, is equipped with a state-of-the-art autonomous infrared seeker, advanced proximity fuze, and RF/IR dual-mode capability allowing it to protect ships against incoming anti-ship missiles. The HAS upgrade retains all of the Block 1 capability against anti-ship missiles and adds advanced signal processing to engage and destroy helicopter, aircraft and surface threats even in high clutter environments.

RAM is developed and produced as a joint effort between Raytheon Company's Missile Systems business unit in Tucson, Ariz., and RAMSYS, a consortium of German companies. RAM is presently deployed in the U. S., German and South Korean Navies. The Greek Navy has accepted delivery of its first RAM Weapon Systems and deployment is scheduled soon.

[Fábio G.]

Ducommun announces $5M contract for Erickson Air-Crane S-64 main blades

LOS ANGELES, California (May 26, 2004) - Ducommun Incorporated (NYSE:DCO) today announced that its Ducommun AeroStructures (DAS) business has been awarded a $5 million contract by Erickson Air-Crane, Inc. of Central Point, Oregon to fabricate the Main Rotor Blades for the S-64 Air-Crane Helicopter. The work will be performed at the DAS facilities in Gardena and Monrovia, California, with deliveries commencing in the fourth quarter of 2004.

The Erickson S-64 Air-Crane has been in service since the mid-1960s and as a result of Erickson's continuous development program is one of the premier commercial heavy lift helicopters in the world today. The Erickson S-64 Air-Crane has enjoyed unparalleled success in the logging and firefighting arenas and is the most successful firefighting helicopter available today with the ability to deliver 2500 gallons of water on a fire in a single drop. The Erickson S-64 Air-Crane has six 32 foot long main rotor blades per helicopter. The blades have been out of production since the 1970s and the new DAS fabricated blades will incorporate updated processes and materials while maintaining the original design. The availability of new blades will allow Erickson to continue to supply blades to their current fleet and will also support Erickson's current manufacturing effort which is adding approximately four aircraft per year for Erickson's own operational fleet and sales to outside customers.

DAS has built over 100,000 rotor blades in the last 40 years and is currently producing the Boeing AH-64 Apache Rotor Blades and the Carson Helicopter S-61 Composite Main Rotor Blade. DAS has also previously manufactured rotor blades for Bell Helicopter's Model 47, UH-1 Huey, and Model 206 JetRanger Aircraft.

Joseph C. Berenato, chairman and chief executive officer of Ducommun, stated, "We are very pleased with the award of this contract which recognizes our extensive capability in the production of helicopter blades and reaffirms our focus on higher level subassembly and assembly work to increase our proportion of value added work."

Ducommun AeroStructures manufactures large, complex structural components and assemblies in aluminum, specialty alloys such as titanium, metal bond and composites for a wide variety of military and commercial aerospace applications. Founded in 1849, Ducommun Incorporated manufactures components and assemblies for the aerospace industry.

The statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's future financial results could differ materially from those anticipated due to the Company's dependence on conditions in the airline industry, the level of new commercial aircraft orders, production rates for Boeing commercial aircraft, the C-17 and Apache helicopter rotor blade programs, the level of defense spending, competitive pricing pressures, manufacturing inefficiencies, start-up costs and possible overruns on new contracts, technology and product development risks and uncertainties, product performance, risks associated with acquisitions and dispositions of businesses by the Company, increasing consolidation of customers and suppliers in the aerospace industry, possible goodwill impairment, availability of raw materials and components from suppliers, and other factors beyond the Company's control. See the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 3, 2004 for a more detailed discussion of these and other risk factors and contingencies.

Source: Ducommun

[Fábio G.]

LOCKHEED MARTIN SE ADJUDICA UN CONTRATO DE LA US AIR FORCE DE 401 MILLONES.

La empresa norteamericana de defensa Lockheed Martin se ha hecho con un contrato de 401 millones de euros de la US Air Force para la entrega de 24 aviones de combate F/A-22, según ha informado en Ministerio de Defensa de Estados Unidos. El contrato, en el que participarán las tres factorías de la empresa, incluye tanto los aviones como los equipos y servicios asociados.

[Fábio G.]

Northstar Aerospace wins 5-year $5.8M contract to supply main transmission gears to Sikorsky

CHICAGO, June 2 /CNW/ - Northstar Aerospace, Inc. (TSX:NAS) announced today it has finalized two outsourcing contracts with international aerospace giants Rolls-Royce plc of the United Kingdom and Sikorsky Ltd. of the United States.

Outsourcing of specialized manufacturing is a growing trend in the global aerospace sector. Northstar has previously announced its strategic intent to further develop this segment of its business and capabilities.

Northstar has signed two, long-term agreements to manufacture gears and couplings for Rolls-Royce plc and Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co. KG. The contracts will be worth US$20 million over the lifetime of the agreements. The award covers both new build and spares gears and couplings across the range of Rolls-Royce military, civil and industrial engines including Trent 500, 800 and 900 used on the Airbus A340-500/600, Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 programs.

The Sikorsky contract is valued at US$5.8 million and runs through mid-2009. Northstar will manufacture gears for main transmissions used in the U.S. Army's UH 60 Blackhawk helicopter.

Northstar will complete the work for both contracts at its facilities in Canada.

"These contracts underline Northstar's position as a strategic, long-term outsource supplier to Rolls-Royce and is the culmination of many months of work, won against significant global competition. Northstar's deepening association with Rolls-Royce provides us the platform to grow the relationship across the breadth of our capability. This contract award is additionally significant because it expands our participation in the commercial aircraft market segment," said Mark Emery, Chief Executive Officer, Northstar Aerospace Inc.


"The Sikorsky contract gives us more work on the Blackhawk helicopter program. We now participate in all three major U.S. military helicopter programs including the Apache and Chinook as well as the Blackhawk," he added.


Outsourcing is a growing trend in international aerospace. Emery said these contracts position Northstar as a strategic outsource supplier for both Rolls-Royce and Sikorsky. The company has an existing outsourcing arrangement with the Boeing Company.

Northstar Aerospace Inc. is a supplier of components and assemblies to the global aerospace industry. Its principal products include helicopter gears and transmissions, accessory gearbox assemblies, rotorcraft drive systems and other machined and fabricated parts. It also provides maintenance, repair and overhaul of Pratt & Whitney helicopter engines and avionics equipment. The company's executive offices are located in Chicago, IL. Its plants are located in Milton, Windsor, Cambridge and Bolton, Ontario as well as Chicago, Illinois, Phoenix, Arizona and Stroud, Oklahoma.

[Rui Elias]

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