Northrop Grumman Names Tony Spehar Vice President, Program Manager Of ICBM Prime Integration Contract

March 8, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · Comment
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News 
Northrop Grumman Names Tony Spehar Vice President, Program Manager Of ICBM Prime Integration Contract
March 8, 2010

CLEARFIELD, Utah –– Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today named Anthony (Tony) Spehar vice president and program manager for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Prime Integration Contract (IPIC), a 15-year effort to modernize and maintain the reliability, safety and security of the nation's entire force of land-based Minuteman III missiles.

Most recently, Spehar was the chief engineer and director of the company's Missile Systems Center of Excellence, which consists of some
500 missile engineers in six states. Prior to that, he was vice president and general manager of the former Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) program. Spehar succeeds Jim Meyers, who will retire effective May 31 after a 16-year career with Northrop Grumman.

"Tony Spehar brings technical and program management strength to the position that will continue the achievements that Jim Meyers managed so well," said John Clay, vice president of Missile Systems for the company's Aerospace Systems sector.

In addition to serving as KEI general manager, Spehar also held a similar position for the IPIC Minuteman III Propulsion Replacement Program, as well as other ICBM modernization efforts such as the Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting Service Life Extension Program.

He earned a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Utah. He also completed the Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Systems Management College in Fort Belvoir, Va.

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Military Communications Satellite Built by Lockheed Martin Achieves 10 Years in Service

February 26, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · Comment
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News, space 
Military Communications Satellite Built by Lockheed Martin Achieves 10 Years in Service
February 26, 2010 1:23:00 PM

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- The U.S. Air Force's Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) B8 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), has surpassed its 10-year design life of on-orbit service in providing secure and reliable communications capabilities for the warfighter.


Launched from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 20, 2000, the B8 satellite is one of 14 DSCS III spacecraft designed and built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems for the MILSATCOM Systems Wing at the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.


The satellite is also the first of four DSCS III satellites to feature Service Life Enhancement Program (SLEP) upgrades that enabled a 200-percent increase in communication capacity over original DSCS III spacecraft with its 50-watt Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers.


"The high performance and longevity of the DSCS III constellation is direct testimony to a joint U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team dedicated to providing the warfighter with secure and reliable satellite communications," said Kevin Bilger, Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of Global Communications Systems. "The DSCS III constellation has provided the Department of Defense with its core communications capability for over two decades and will continue to make a significant contribution to our national security well into the future."


The system provides uninterrupted secure voice and high-data rate communications to Department of Defense users; essential tools in monitoring events and deploying and sustaining forces anywhere in the world. In 2009, the overall DSCS III constellation surpassed 200 years of on-orbit operations, the longest total operational experience of any U.S. military communications satellite constellation.


Lockheed Martin is also progressing on the Department of Defense's highly secure communications satellite system, the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program. As the successor to Milstar, AEHF will increase data rates by a factor of five, permitting transmission of more tactical military communications, such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data. The first AEHF spacecraft has completed final testing and is planned for delivery to the Air Force in second quarter 2010.

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Second Missile Warning Satellite Achieves Key Testing Milestone at Lockheed Martin

February 16, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · Comment
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News, space 
Second Missile Warning Satellite Achieves Key Testing Milestone at Lockheed Martin
February 16, 2010

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it has achieved a key integrated test milestone on the second Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO-2) spacecraft at its facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif.

SBIRS is designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and simultaneously support other missions including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization.

The GEO-2 satellite, designed to provide new missile detection and surveillance capabilities for the nation, has completed its first phase of Baseline Integrated System Test (BIST-1), an extensive functional test that characterizes the overall performance of the satellite and establishes a performance baseline for the remainder of the test program.

With the completion of BIST-1, the team will proceed with final factory work on the satellite and prepare for the final, comprehensive BIST milestone prior to entering environmental testing. The spacecraft is planned for launch aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle in 2012.

"Concluding the first phase of BIST is another example of the entire government/industry team's commitment to operational excellence and successful execution of this critical national security program," said Dave Sheridan, Lockheed Martin's SBIRS GEO program manager. "We look forward to our continued positive momentum on SBIRS and achieving mission success for our customer."

The first SBIRS spacecraft (GEO-1) completed thermal vacuum testing and is now preparing for final integration and test activities that will culminate with final checkout and delivery to the Air Force later this year.

The SBIRS team is led by the Space Based Infrared Systems Wing at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

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New Missile Warning Satellite Built By Lockheed Martin Begins Major Environmental Test Phase

September 17, 2009 by Jeffrey Bradford · Comment
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News, space 
New Missile Warning Satellite Built By Lockheed Martin Begins Major Environmental Test Phase
September 17, 2009

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has begun thermal vacuum testing of the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite, a major program milestone that will validate spacecraft performance in a complete test-like-you-fly environment.

The U.S. Air Force's SBIRS program is designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and simultaneously support other missions, including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

Conducted inside Lockheed Martin's Dual Entry Large Thermal Altitude (DELTA) chamber, the test will verify spacecraft functionality and performance in a vacuum environment where the satellite is stressed at the extreme hot and cold temperatures it will experience in space. The extensive test is designed to validate the overall satellite design, quality and workmanship and survivability during space vehicle launching and on-orbit operations.

"The entire team has worked extremely hard throughout our rigorous process of risk reduction and subsystem and baseline testing leading up to this critical test," said Dave Sheridan, Lockheed Martin's SBIRS GEO program director. "We look forward to executing a disciplined and thorough test and delivering this revolutionary satellite that provides vastly improved surveillance capabilities for the warfighter."

The SBIRS team is led by the Space Based Infrared Systems Wing at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

The team is executing to a planned schedule that supports GEO-1 delivery and launch in the beginning of fiscal year 2011 aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

Lockheed Martin's SBIRS contract includes the two highly elliptical orbit (HEO) payloads now on-orbit, two geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data. The team was recently awarded a $1.5-billion contract for the third HEO payload, the third GEO satellite and associated ground modifications. A contract to include a fourth HEO payload and potential fourth GEO satellite is expected to be awarded later this year.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

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New Military Communications Satellite Begins Final Round of Testing at Lockheed Martin

September 10, 2009 by Jeffrey Bradford · Comment
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News, space 
New Military Communications Satellite Begins Final Round of Testing at Lockheed Martin
September 10, 2009

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- The first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellite built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) for the U.S. Air Force has entered final testing at the company's Sunnyvale, Calif. facilities.

AEHF will provide global, highly secure, protected, survivable communications for all warfighters serving under the U.S. Department of Defense. The AEHF system is the successor to the five-satellite Milstar constellation which has accumulated over 50 years of combined on-orbit operations.

With the successful completion of all spacecraft environmental testing, the Lockheed Martin-led team is now executing the final integrated spacecraft and system test procedures necessary to prepare the vehicle for flight. Over a 75-day period, the satellite will go through a series of factory tests to verify all spacecraft interfaces, demonstrate full functionality and evaluate satellite performance.

"The start of final integrated system testing is a major milestone for the team that moves this sophisticated space vehicle another step closer to the launch pad," said John Miyamoto, Lockheed Martin's AEHF vice president.

Col. Michael Sachet, commander of the Protected Satellite Communications Group at the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center said, "We are on track for delivery early next year and look forward to the ultimate deployment of this satellite, which will provide substantially improved high-speed, protected communications for our warfighters."

The first AEHF spacecraft is planned for a 2010 launch aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle. The second and third AEHF satellites are also progressing through final integration and test activities and are on track for launch in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the Advanced EHF system prime contractor and is providing a militarized version of its flight-proven A2100 spacecraft bus and the mission control segment, which will consolidate Milstar and Advanced EHF satellite control and communication resource planning into a single, modernized mission control system.

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., is the payload integrator and provider of the payload processors, nulling antennas, the inter-satellite crosslinks, RF antenna equipment, and phased array antennas. Advanced EHF satellites will also feature an electric propulsion system, provided by Aerojet of Sacramento, Calif.

A single AEHF satellite will provide greater total capacity than the entire Milstar constellation currently on-orbit. Individual user data rates can be up to five times higher than Milstar's highest speed. The faster data rates will permit transmission of tactical military communications, such as higher-quality real-time video and quicker access to battlefield maps and targeting data.

In addition to its tactical mission, AEHF will also provide the critical survivable, protected, and endurable communications to the National Command Authority including presidential conferencing in all levels of conflict.

Lockheed Martin is currently under contract to provide three AEHF satellites and the Mission Control Segment to the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, located at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. The program has begun advanced procurement of long-lead components for a fourth AEHF satellite.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

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Boeing Completes On-Orbit Handover of 2nd Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite to US Air Force –Press Release

Boeing Completes On-Orbit Handover of 2nd Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite to US Air Force

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 17, 2009 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] on June 15 successfully transferred control of the second Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite to the U.S. Air Force, which will monitor and control the new satellite from Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. WGS-2 was declared ready for Department of Defense operational testing after rigorous ground testing, an April 3 launch and a thorough on-orbit checkout. WGS satellites are the Defense Department’s highest-capacity
communications satellite, offering a major increase in bandwidth for airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines.

“The Air Force could not be more pleased with the performance of the WGS government-industry team and, of course, the performance of this important satellite,” said Brig. Gen. Samuel Greaves, commander of the Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) Systems Wing at the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles. “We have high
expectations in the MILSATCOM Systems Wing, and this team has once again proven that it is fully capable of meeting that challenge.”

The WGS system will augment and eventually replace the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) constellation. WGS-1, which Boeing delivered to the Air Force in January 2008, and WGS-2 together are capable of handling more than 25 times the capacity of the entire DSCS constellation. The Defense Department has ordered six WGS satellites
from Boeing and is making plans to buy more satellites to address growing SATCOM bandwidth needs worldwide.

“The WGS-2 handover is another important step in our overall mission to supply a system that will provide a quantum leap in wideband satellite communications worldwide,” said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. “Boeing is proud to have delivered another WGS satellite that is meeting and, in many cases, exceeding all requirements for our Air Force customer.”

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

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Contact:
Diana Ball
Space & Intelligence Systems
562-797-4303
diana.ball@boeing.com

Marc Selinger
Space & Intelligence Systems
703-414-6138
marc.selinger@boeing.com

Orbital Awarded New Minotaur V Mission by U.S. Air Force and NASA

DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) today announced that the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) recently ordered the first Minotaur V launch vehicle under the company’s Orbital/Suborbital Program-2 (OSP-2) contract. The Minotaur V rocket will propel NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) probe on a trajectory to enable it to orbit the Moon. The Air Force’s Space Development and Test Wing (SDTW), locate

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ITT Partnership Awarded IDIQ Contract for Spaceport Launch Services

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spaceport Systems International (SSI), a limited partnership between ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT) and California Commercial Spaceport, Inc. has been awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide spaceport launch services for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center Launch Test Squadron. The maximum potential value of the five-year contract is $48 million and actual revenue from the contract will be dependent upo

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ITT Selected to Build Critical Elements for Global Positioning System Advanced Control Segment (OCX)

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT) announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center as part of the Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) team to provide components and services for the next generation of Global Positioning System (GPS). Under the contract agreement, ITT will provide navigation processing components, precision monitor station receivers, and key components of the system security design for the GPS Advanced Control Segment

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