UTC Aerospace Systems has been awarded a contract to provide the advanced DB-110 airborne reconnaissance system on the F-16 platform for the Turkish Airborne Reconnaissance Program. The contract was awarded by Aselsan Elektronic Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. on behalf of the Turkish Air Force. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. Under…

The Lockheed Martin team developing the U.S. Air Force’s next generation Global Positioning System III satellites has turned on power to the system module of the programís first spacecraft, designated GPS III Space Vehicle One (SV-1). The milestone is a key indication the team is on track to deliver the first satellite for launch availability…

Lockheed Martin photograph by Thinh Nguyen Lockheed Martin delivered an HC-130J Combat King II to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 28. Aircraft number 5716 is the seventh of 15 HC-130Js to be assigned to the Air Combat Command (ACC) since initial contract award in 2008. The HC-130J Combat King II, along with the existing…

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., and Boeing will submit a joint proposal to build a demonstrator aircraft — based on Sikorskyís X2ô Technology rotorcraft design – for the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator Phase 1 program. The JMR TD program supports the Army’s Future Vertical Lift initiative to deliver…

Boeing and Air Lease Corporation announced an order Feb. 28 for 10 777-300ERs (extended range) airplanes. The order, valued at $3.2 billion at current list prices, adds to the growing portfolio of long-haul airplanes for the Los Angeles-based leasing company. “This order for 777-300ERs will help us meet the growing airline demand for long-haul passenger…

The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments are making progress on integrating the health records of service members and veterans, senior government officials told the House Veterans Affairs Committee Feb. 27. President Barack Obama directed the two departments to create a seamless system of integration for medical records. ìThe direction was clear: When a member of…

Dr. Steven H. Walker, Deputy Director for DARPA, has received the 2013 Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson Skunk Works Award from the Engineersí Council. Established in 1992, the annual award honors an individual with outstanding professional qualities and a top reputation for engineering accomplishments and leadership. Recipients embody the model of excellence Johnson established for future…

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with it’s Dragon spacecraft onboard, lifts off from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., March 1. Following launch, SpaceX confirmed its Falcon 9 rocket lifted off as planned and experienced a nominal flight. After Dragon achieved orbit, the spacecraft experienced an issue with a propellant…

New Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel promised Feb. 27 to always be frank with the men and women of the department and said he expects all to be direct in return. Hagel spoke to the Pentagon workforce and a worldwide audience on the Pentagon Channel just after taking the oath as the nationís 24th defense secretary….

Air Force photograph The B-17F “Memphis Belleís” engine primer knob from the co-pilotís side panel. Young Airman Ralph Barrett had no idea what that strange looking part he had found in Memphis was, but it looked interesting so he picked it up and decided to hang onto it. The part eventually made it to his…