Industry News

A joint venture of Geocent and Plasma Processes has received a six-month contract from NASA to develop multifunctional radiation shielding composites for potential use in space crew vehicles, habitats and other applications. Geoplasma aims to produce materials that can help shield space exploration vehicles and habitats against galactic cosmic rays as part of the Phase I Small Business Innovation Research program, […] More

The first batch of CAE instructors have graduated from Aviation Performance Solutions‘ training program and are now conducting upset prevention and recovery training as part of the U.S. Army‘s Fixed-Wing Flight Training program in Dothan, Alabama. APS said Wednesday it administers the UPRT Train-the-Trainer program to CAE instructors who will provide upset training at CAE’s newly opened Dothan Training […] More

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has selected a team composed of Xerox’s PARC subsidiary, Siemens, Georgia Tech and Michigan State University to build digital modeling tools designed to transform manufacturing processes through the TRAansformative DESign program. DARPA’s TRADES program seeks to further develop computer-aided design software to fabricate complex objects through the use of existing […] More

Lockheed Martin‘s venture capital arm has made a strategic investment in Terran Orbital as both companies aim to advance development of nanosatellite technology. Lockheed said Thursday it will obtain an equity stake in Irvine, California-based Terran as part of the cash and in-kind investment deal. The two companies previously worked to support multiple Defense Department and NASA missions. […] More

BAE Systems‘ technology solutions and services business has won a potential $36.2 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract from the U.S. Navy to provide wargame support services to the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. The Defense Department said Thursday the contractor will provide assessment, execution, planning and research services intended to help MCWL implement the Expeditionary Warrior series and other wargames. […] More

The U.S. government has awarded Orbital ATK a contract to provide repair services for Iraq’s trainer aircraft. The contract covers the Iraqi air force’s five Cessna Caravans and 12 Cessna 172 Skyhawk planes, Orbital ATK said Thursday. Cary Ralston, vice president and general manager of defense electronic systems division at Orbital ATK’s defense systems group, […] More

LiquidPiston has received a $3 million rapid innovation fund from the U.S. Army to support the development of a new portable compact artillery power system (CAPS). The company said Wednesday that the CAPS offering will power the service branch’s Howitzer M777 digital fire control system and help the Army prolong mission duration as well as […] More

Orbital ATK has opened a 60,000-square-foot engineering facility next to the company’s satellite assembly and testing hub in Gilbert, Arizona. The company said Wednesday it aims to create 155 full-time positions over the next five years through the expansion project that will increase Orbital ATK’s total footprint in Arizona to nearly 850,000 square feet. Rick Kettner, Orbital […] More

Three companies have joined Leonardo and IMP Aerospace & Defence as part of an industry team that aims to help modernize Canada’s fleet of EH101/CH-149 Cormorant helicopters designed for search-and-rescue missions. Team Cormorant is composed of Leonardo Helicopters, IMP, CAE and the Canadian businesses of Rockwell Collins and GE, Leonardo said Tuesday. The industry team also intends […] More

The U.S. Navy has awarded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions a $34.6 million contract modification for the low-rate initial production of subsonic aerial target drone systems. Kratos said Wednesday the fiscal 2017 LRIP is the first annual production order for the BQM-177A drone system. The company also secured a $2.5 million contractor logistics support contract […] More

BAE Systems and Leonardo have formed a partnership to further develop a family of precision-guided munitions for a range of weapons systems designed to help U.S. and allied forces counter land, maritime and aerial threats. The companies will work to adapt Leonardo’s family of precision-guided projectiles – Vulcano – for use with BAE’s Mk 45 […] More