BAE Systems Seeks Relays, Switches For Raptor

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated announced that it has been awarded two contracts totaling $2.5 million by BAE Systems to supply solid state relays and solid state input and output switches for the Vehicle Management System and the Stores Management System used on the U.S. Air Force F/A-22 Raptor. The F/A-22 is touted an air dominance fighter and the world's first truly stealth, multi-mission combat aircraft. The relays and switches function as the interface between the F/A- 22's central computer and the vehicle's control surface actuators in the Vehicle Management System and the control of weapons release mechanisms in the Stores Management System. The F/A-22 program is sponsored by the Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patter

Japanese Military Cargo Aircraft To Fly July '07

General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE) has selected Goodrich Corporation to supply nacelle systems to support development of a new Japanese military cargo aircraft, the C-X. The contract is expected to generate in excess of $100 million over the life of the program, including sales of spare components. The Japan Defense Agency (JDA), the primary contractor for the C-X aircraft, has selected the GEAE CF6-80C2 engine to power the twin-engine aircraft. First flight of the C-X is scheduled for July 2007, with entry into service planned in 2011.

Predators Move To Balad

The unit came packed and ready to position themselves autonomously, so they could pursue their prey quietly, unseen for hours. Arriving ready to set up one of the most impressive unmanned aerial aircraft in the U.S. inventory, the Nevada unit was ready for business within days of their arrival in Iraq. The Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle system, containing four air vehicles, a ground-control station and a primary satellite link communication suite. The sleek 27-foot-long UAV is comparable in wingspan to an F-16 Fighting Falcon at 48 feet. Its electrical optical infrared cameras are the heart of a multi-targeting system. The cameras allow the aircraft to capture images even through clouds. These abilities give the Pr

Cut Crimps DynaBil's Plans

Aerospace manufacturer DynaBil Industries Inc. stands to see a hard-won piece of business evaporate with the U.S. Army's cancellation of the Comanche helicopter program. The Army requested Feb. 23 that plans to develop and produce the sleek, fast, stealth helicopters be canceled. While certainly not the only company to be affected by the loss of business, this small supplier will feel the crunch much harder than larger entities, such as Boeing or Sikorsky. "We'll get paid for what we've done," said Hugh Quigley, president of the company. "I'm more upset because of the long-range business we're going to lose because of this."