Boeing, Ryanair Agree to Order for 32 Additional 737-800s

SEATTLE, Sept. 29, 2006 – Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Ryanair, Europe’s largest and most profitable low-fares airline, announced today an order for 32 Next-Generation 737-800s.

Deliveries for this order to the Dublin-based carrier, valued at $2.25 billion at list prices, are scheduled to begin in 2008. The order involves exercising options included in a previous purchase contract.

“With its exceptional reliability, environmental performance and low operating costs, the Boeing 737-800 has played an important role in enabling Ryanair to deliver Europe’s lowest fares and unmatched punctuality to our passengers,” said Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair. “By adding 32 more Boeing 737-800s to our fleet, Ryanair will offer more low fares to even more destinations, and will grow to serve over 80 million passengers per year by 2012.”

Ryanair is the largest European operator of 737s and operates one of the youngest fleets in Europe, composed entirely of 737-800s. To date, Ryanair has ordered 281 737-800s.

“The Boeing 737-800 has played a key role in Ryanair’s leadership in the low-fare market. Boeing is very proud of our strong partnership and Ryanair’s proven track record of delivering outstanding value to their customers and shareholders,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales for Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The popular Next-Generation 737 continues to bring exceptional value to Ryanair and travelers across Europe.”

The 737-800 is the most popular member of the Next-Generation 737 family, with more than 1,860 airplanes ordered. The 737-800’s market success is confirmed by air finance investors, who consistently rank it as the most preferred airplane due to its wide market base, superior performance efficiency and lowest operating costs in its class.

The newer 737s, which are known for their industry-leading reliability and efficient design, are 10 years younger than the competing A320 series and were designed to provide significantly more range and payload capability, improved emissions, and lower operating costs than earlier 737 models and competing models.

As of Aug. 31, 2006, 100 customers have placed orders for more than 3,300 Next-Generation 737s; the program has 1,360 unfilled orders with a value of about $91 billion at current list prices.

Danish Defence Minister on Eurofighter fact-finding mission in Germany

- Evaluation for Danish fighter aircraft replacement ‘heating up’
- EADS Manching location visit part of evaluation on best aircraft determination for Royal Danish Air Force
- EADS welcomes delegation’s fair and transparent selection process

(Munich / Manching, 28 September 2006) — As part of the ongoing selection process for the procurement of the new combat aircraft for the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF), the Danish Defence Minister Soren Gade together with the Chairman of the Defence Committee, Allan Niebuhr, and a delegation of parliamentarians and military experts visited the EADS Military Air Systems Centre at Manching near Munich. The two-day tour of EADS made by Minister Gade and representatives of the Folketing’s Defence Committee followed similar previous trips to the U.S. and Sweden.

“We are proud to show the decision-makers of our neighbour Denmark the capabilities of both the Eurofighter as the most advanced multi-role combat aircraft in service and of EADS as one of the major partners within the Eurofighter consortium”, said Dr. Stefan Zoller, Member of the Executive Committee of EADS and CEO of Defence & Security Systems (DS) in his welcome speech. “Denmark is already an important partner and customer for EADS, and I am confident that the Eurofighter would open another mutually beneficial chapter in this fruitful cooperation.”.

“When it comes to successful collaboration in technology as well economical terms, the Eurofighter programme is second to none in the next-generation fighter market,” stated Johann Heitzmann, CEO of Military Air Systems, the responsible Business Unit within EADS, “With 638 aircraft currently on firm order and 100 already delivered to the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, and with more than 15,000 flying hours booked, the Eurofighter is a proven and fielded product.” Heitzmann continued, “In addition to its outstanding operational capabilities and that Eurofighter will be the backbone of NATO and European defence on our continent for decades to come, our programme satisfies not only the RDAF requirements but also offers ample opportunities for Danish industry.”

The delegation from Copenhagen, who were also welcomed by Gunter Hebel, Director of the German Procurement Agency BWB within the Ministry of Defence as the representative of the national Eurofighter customer, received several presentations on the EADS competencies in all fields of aerospace activities and especially were given a deep look into the Eurofighter programme. The visit’s highlight was a “test flight” by the Danes in the Eurofighter simulator and a flying demonstration by an Eurofighter aircraft.

The Danish visitors stated that they were impressed by both the EADS and the Eurofighter capabilities. The delegates especially appreciated the frankness of their hosts in providing them with important information for the evalution process. Roughly two months earlier, Captain Casper Nielsen, a Danish test pilot, and RDAF test engineer Hans Rasmussen had the chance to take an extensive look into the Eurofighter’s technical and operational features, including taking part in two development flights whilst at Manching.

A decision by the Danish Government is expected in 2008 with deliveries beginning in 2016 to replace the F-16. Eurofighter is competing against Lockheed Martin’s F 35 and SAAB’s Gripen.

source: EADS

AirTran postpones delivery of eight Boeing planes

AirTran has pushed back the delivery of eight Boeing 737s until as late as 2011. The company is facing increased competition and has scaled back its growth plans.

Boeing Completes Block E Avionics Upgrade of B-1 Bomber Fleet

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 27, 2006 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] this week installed the final Block E avionics modification kit on the U.S. Air Force’s active fleet of 67 B-1B Lancer long-range heavy bombers, completing a five-year, $680 million contract for enhanced computer hardware, software and weapons delivery capability.

The installation concluded the third phase of the Conventional Mission Upgrade Program (CMUP) undertaken in 1993 to convert the B-1 from a nuclear to a conventional role. A small number of CMUP-equipped Lancers delivered more tonnage of ordnance while flying fewer sorties than any other aircraft during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“With at least 40 more years of airframe life, the CMUP-equipped B-1 forms a solid foundation for the network-centric upgrades currently being developed for it,” said Greg Burton, Boeing director for B-1 and B-2 programs. “Connecting the airplane into the Global Information Grid will provide combat commanders with a potent long-range strike capability for decades to come.”

The Block E modification replaces six computers with four, providing a 25-fold increase in throughput, memory and input/output margins required for conventional weapons capability, defensive systems upgrades and future growth. The package also integrates the Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, the Joint Standoff Weapon and the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, substantially augmenting the bomber’s standoff capability.

Carrying the largest payload in the Air Force inventory, the multi-mission B-1B forms the backbone of America’s long-range bomber force. Its low radar cross-section, variable-geometry wings, turbofan afterburning engines and advanced electronic countermeasures combine to provide long range, maneuverability and high speed while enhancing survivability.

Boeing Synthetic Vision System Improves Visibility for Rescue Mission Pilots

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 27, 2006 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the successful field testing of its new Enhanced/Synthetic Vision System (E/SVS) designed to increase situational awareness for rescue mission pilots during approach and landing in various environmental and ambient lighting conditions.

Developed by Boeing Advanced Systems and Boeing Phantom Works, the E/SVS will be integrated into the HH-47 aircraft proposed for the U.S. Air Force Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) program. The E/SVS will provide pilots real-time images and passive/active detection of hazards present in landing areas.

“This system is an added measure of protection and safety for rescue pilots and crews,” said Van Horn, Capture Team lead on Boeing’s CSAR proposal. “The E/SVS will be a substantial enhancement for our aircraft and will significantly improve mission performance during search and rescue operations.”

The E/SVS demonstration field test validated the integration of multiple sensors, including infrared low-light level video cameras and laser radars that provided real-time, 185 degree panoramic viewing for pilots and crew via sensor and synthetic data fusion. The demonstration also evaluated millimeter wave radar and hyperspectral sensors.

The system will detect obstructions such as wires, vehicles or personnel present in landing areas, but hidden in brownout, whiteout or other zero-visibility conditions. The operational E/SVS system will provide 360 degree coverage with video data available to the flight crew through five Head Mounted Displays and one spare cabin video system.

The E/SVS is supplemented with terrain references from Digital Terrain Elevation Data, charts or satellite imagery and will provide imaging in a variety of conditions where pilots and crew would normally operate on instruments.

The system can be utilized on standard CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters as well as the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor in future applications.

LOCKHEED MARTIN’S COMPACT KINETIC ENERGY MISSILE SUCCESSFUL IN FLIGHT TEST AGAINST REINFORCED URBAN STRUCTURE

DALLAS, TX,September 27, 2006

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully conducted a guided test flight of its Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) against a reinforced urban structure (RUS) recently at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. All objectives for this test were achieved.

In addition to demonstrating CKEM’s capability against a RUS, the test also gathered performance data about the missile’s guidance system and collected thermal, shock and vibration effects data. This flight was the second of four guided test flights scheduled for this calendar year.

“This test demonstrated CKEM against a reinforced structure at the missile’s maximum kinetic energy,” said Loretta Painter, CKEM Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program manager at the U.S. Army Research and Development Command (RDECOM), Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), Redstone Arsenal, AL. “This test collected target effects data to assess the lethality potential of CKEM against various targets, and substantiates what CKEM could provide the warfighter.”

The remaining flight tests planned for this year are designed to demonstrate CKEM’s ability to fill current lethality gaps against enhanced reactive armor. CKEM will be particularly effective in bridging the Army’s capability gaps identified for the Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team by ensuring lethality overmatch at both close and extended ranges.

“Lockheed Martin and the Army are one step closer to providing the warfighter with a next generation, extended-range capability that currently does not exist,” said Rick Edwards, vice president – Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “CKEM technology has greatly evolved and is now aligned with the requirements of the Modular Force.”

CKEM is the next generation kinetic-energy anti-tank missile. It is less than 60 inches long and weighs less than 100 pounds, yet has an extended range for direct fire, line-of-sight engagements and provides the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, Stryker Brigades and Future Combat System platforms overwhelming lethality overmatch against all potential target sets.

 

Lockheed Martin received a $78 million contract in 2003 for CKEM’s ATD phase. Successful completion of sled tests and ATD work will ensure the missile is ready to enter the SDD phase of development later this year. Work on the contract will be performed at the company’s facilities in Dallas and El Paso, TX, and Camden, AR.

Boeing’s Workhorse Delta II Delivers Another GPS Satellite to Orbit

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 25, 2006 — The reliable Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta II launch vehicle, known as the workhorse of the launch industry in its payload class, successfully delivered to orbit earlier today a replenishment Block IIR Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite for the U.S. Air Force.

The Delta II rocket carrying the GPS IIR-15 (M) spacecraft lifted off from Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., at 2:50 p.m. EDT, Sept. 24. Following a nominal 68-minute flight, the rocket deployed the satellite to a transfer orbit.

“We are honored to have a continuing role in maintaining the GPS constellation, which is so vital to our nation’s defense and security,” said Dan Collins, vice president, Boeing Launch Systems. “The Delta team has launched all the GPS-II spacecraft and we look forward to continuing with the delivery of the replenishment satellites to keep the constellation operable 24-7.”

The Boeing Delta II 7925-9.5 configuration vehicle used for today’s mission featured a Boeing first stage booster powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine and nine Alliant Techsystems (ATK) solid rocket boosters. An Aerojet AJ10-118K engine powered the storable propellant restartable second stage. A Thiokol Star-48B solid rocket motor propelled the third stage prior to spacecraft deployment. The rocket also flew with a nine-and-a-half-foot-diameter Boeing payload fairing.

A redundant inertial flight control assembly built by L3 Communications Space & Navigation provided guidance and control for the rocket that enabled a precise deployment of the satellite.

Boeing provides launches for the GPS program aboard Delta II vehicles and has a planned GPS manifest through at least 2007. The GPS IIR-15 (M) is the second of the modernized GPS satellites that incorporates various improvements to provide greater accuracy, increased resistance to interference and enhanced performance for users.

The GPS network supports U.S. military operations conducted from aircraft, ships, land vehicles and by ground personnel. Additional use includes mapping, aerial refueling and rendezvous, geodetic surveys, and search and rescue operations.

GPS provides military and civilian users three-dimensional position location data in longitude, latitude and elevation as well as precise time and velocity. The satellites orbit the Earth every 12 hours, emitting continuous navigation signals. The signals are so accurate, time can be figured to within one millionth of a second, velocity within a fraction of a mile-per-second and location to within 100 feet.

LOCKHEED MARTIN HAAWC SUCCESSFUL IN WIND TUNNEL, WING SEPARATION TESTS

ORLANDO, FL,September 26, 2006

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully performed wind tunnel and wing separation tests of its High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapons Concept (HAAWC) system, intended to enable P-3C aircrews to launch torpedoes from outside the range of enemy air defenses. The HAAWC concept employs the Lockheed Martin LongShot(R) Wing Adapter Kit on the MK-54 torpedo to allow the weapon’s launch from high altitudes and long standoff ranges.

In the wind tunnel test at the San Diego Air and Space Technology Center’s Low-Speed Wind Tunnel, HAAWC demonstrated expected performance that would enable the torpedo to be launched at the maximum desired range from the target.

“This is the first step to demonstrating this system’s capability to the U.S. Navy,” said Alan Jackson, director of the HAAWC program at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The standoff range that HAAWC provides to the Navy P-3s increases the survivability of both of the aircrew and the aircraft.”

In the separation tests, the LongShot wing kit, attached to the MK-54 torpedo, demonstrated separation at cruising speeds. The wing kit is attached to the torpedo by two metal bands. A device forces open the bands, enabling the wing kit to jettison normally from the torpedo. In actual operation, the wing kit jettisons when the torpedo reaches its normal launch altitude close to the surface of the water. From that point, the torpedo follows its normal operational procedures as it would in a normal low altitude launch from a P-3.

Lockheed Martin is working under a 12-month, $3 million contract for the U.S. Navy to demonstrate delivery of the MK-54 lightweight torpedo from a P-3C aircraft operating at high altitudes (approximately 20,000 feet).

The HAAWC concept improves the delivery accuracy and shortens the engagement time of the MK-54 torpedo. The standoff capability provided to the P-3s could potentially open up the possibility for future use of MK-54s against surface targets by allowing the aircraft to launch from outside the range of a ship’s air defenses.

In addition, HAAWC reduces airframe stress by allowing the aircraft to stay at altitude to launch HAAWC-equipped torpedoes. This will assist in reducing fatigue on those aircraft currently in U.S. Navy service, as well as future Navy aircraft.

The LongShot is a low-cost, self-contained wing adaptor kit that provides range extension and autonomous guidance to a family of existing air-to-surface munitions, including sea mines, gravity bombs, laser-guided bombs and tactical munitions dispensers. No aircraft modification is required to deploy a LongShot equipped munition. The system is completely self-contained, including a flight control computer, a GPS-based navigation system and power sources and does not require an electrical interface with the aircraft.

Images show Mars “face” is a rugged landform

New images from the European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter show that a face-shaped rock formation on Mars is a heavily eroded surface. A 1976 picture by NASA’s Viking raised public speculation that the form was a face created by intelligent life on Mars.

Boeing Supports Initial Operational Capability of Small Diameter Bomb on F-15E Strike Eagles

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 26, 2006 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has met the necessary U.S. Air Force requirement to support Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) system, which recently served with a squadron of Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles stationed at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, England.

Boeing met the requirement, called Required Assets Available, on Aug. 28, allowing the program to proceed with its IOC.

“The SDB team demonstrated a record-breaking commitment to meeting the August date, which we set back in 2001,” said Boeing SDB Program Manager Dan Jaspering. “We are pleased to provide SDB to the Air Force on cost and on schedule.”

Joe Hoerter, Boeing F-15 vice president, said, “The F-15E already was the world’s most capable multi-role fighter, and now, with this great weapon system, Boeing has made it even better.”

The SDB I weapon system, which includes a four-bomb capacity carriage, is the first of a new generation of weapons whose small size and robust performance greatly increase mission capability.

Lt. Col. Will Reese, commander of the 494th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, called the SDB I “a great weapon of choice,” and he recognized Boeing’s work to integrate the capability with the F-15E.

Col. Richard Justice, 918th Armament Systems Group commander and SDB program manager at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., also applauded the teams’ work, saying, “‘Ahead of schedule, under cost, exceeds requirements, suitable, effective and mission capable’ are a string of words, to my knowledge, never before associated with an Air Force Acquisition Category 1D program. This program is truly one of the most remarkable successes in Air Force acquisition history.”

An all-weather, 250-pound class weapon system, SDB I quadruples the number of weapons each aircraft can carry. At 71 inches long and with a standoff range of 60 nautical miles, the weapon is compatible with every U.S. fighter and bomber aircraft. Boeing will manufacture more than 24,000 such weapons and 2,000 carriages for the Air Force. The Air Force is investing $1.2 billion for production, with deliveries planned beyond 2015.

The F-15E has two Pratt & Whitney F100-P&W-229 engines, each generating 29,000 pounds of thrust, allowing the aircraft to reach speeds exceeding twice the speed of sound. The F-15E can carry up to 23,000 pounds of payload, including air-to-ground weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition, SDB and AGM-130 and air-to-air weapons such as the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile and Sidewinder.

Boeing Begins KC-767 Tanker Advanced Boom Flight Tests

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 26, 2006 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] began a new chapter in aerial-refueling history on Sept. 21 by flight-testing its fifth-generation KC-767 Tanker boom for the first time.

During a complex series of tests in Wichita, Kan., the test team deployed the fly-by-wire boom (a telescoping tube used to deliver fuel to military aircraft) to several vertical and horizontal positions during flight and successfully demonstrated integration between the aircrew operator and the world’s most advanced refueling system.

“We’ve taken the proven aerodynamic shape and size of previous systems and made the KC-767 boom even more capable and reliable,” said Mark McGraw, Boeing vice president for Tanker Programs. “The fly-by-wire system provides more precise and responsive controls to the operator, automatically corrects its position to reduce potential damage to the receiver aircraft and is easier to maintain.”

The evolutionary design also features a full-time Independent Disconnect System that improves safety dramatically by allowing the boom operator to disconnect from the receiver aircraft at any time.

Boom testing will run for several weeks and is the first in a series of extensive air-refueling tests that will be conducted in upcoming months. As of Sept. 21 the KC-767 Tanker has logged more than 129 flights and about 380 hours.

“We purposely waited to schedule this portion of our flight test so we could fully integrate our boom redundancy management system in our laboratory,” said Pam Leblond, KC-767 Air Vehicle chief engineer. “Having the boom operate in flight today makes all the extra efforts worthwhile.”

Boeing is building tankers for Italy and Japan, with delivery to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in February 2007, followed by delivery to Italy in mid-2007. In addition to flight-testing the KC-767 for international customers, Boeing is competing for a contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation tanker aircraft.

Air Force may postpone awarding tanker contract

The Air Force wants to delay awarding a contract worth up to $20 billion to build aerial tankers until 2009, according to media reports. Teams led by Boeing and Northrop Grumman are competing for the contract. The Air Force may fund development efforts by both companies until it picks a winner.

Next Page »