A new laboratory that provides thermoplastic composites research for Boeing and other aerospace companies has opened at Enschede in the Netherlands. “With this opening, the Thermoplastics Composites Research Center, or TPRC, is no longer a virtual institute,” said William Gerry, who represents Boeing as chairman of the TPRC board. “The TPRC research team is now…

Forecast International projects that the commercial communications satellite market will be worth $52.7 billion from 2012-2021. According to its “The Market for Commercial Communications Satellites” study, which tracks some 49 satellite production programs, 419 individual communications satellites will be produced during that timeframe. According to the study, high-speed broadband Internet, digital television and video broadcasting,…

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a $44.3 million contract to integrate high-speed, secure communications and networking systems on an E-6B Mercury aircraft, part of the Take Charge and Move Outstrategic communications relay mission. Navy E-6B TACAMO aircraft provide survivable and reliable airborne command, control and communications between the president of the United States,…

Lockheed Martin received a $27.1 million contract from the U.S. Army for the first phase of a three-year development program that will increase crew protection and update the Army’s fleet of Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) M270A1 mobile rocket launchers. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will upgrade, assemble and test seven prototype vehicles. Phase one…

The Lockheed Martin commercial geostationary communications satellite fleet has achieved a significant milestone by accumulating 1,000 years of in-orbit operations. JCSAT-13, built for SKY Perfect JSAT, and VINASAT-2, manufactured for Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, were successfully launched May 15 and are the 100th and 101st satellites in the Lockheed Martin fleet. “Our focus on…

Boeing and Embraer announced June 26 an agreement to collaborate on the KC-390 aircraft program. Under this agreement, Boeing and Embraer will share some specific technical knowledge and evaluate markets where they may join their sales efforts for medium-lift military transport opportunities. “Boeing has extensive experience in military transport and air refueling aircraft, as well…

Northrop Grumman recently demonstrated the ballistic missile detection, tracking and targeting capabilities of the company’s AN/AAQ-37 distributed aperture system and AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar, both of which are featured on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Leveraging NASA’s Science Mission Directorate-sponsored Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment launch operation, the demonstration was coordinated with NASA…

At the request of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Lockheed Martin officials met June 20-23 with representatives of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 776, which represents about 3,600 striking Lockheed Martin employees in Fort Worth and at Edwards AFB, Calif., and NAS Patuxent River, Md. “We are pleased to report…