Navy awards target contract
Filed under: Alliant Techsystems, CEi, Contract Awards, U.S. Navy, development program, training
The Navy uses a variety of targets to test new systems and also to train ship’s crew. Alliant Techsystems and CEi were awarded a contract to build the Multi-Stage Supersonic Target (MSST). This will simulate anti-ship surface-to-surface missiles. The press release says it cruises at sub-sonic speeds, but the name implies that at some point it is going over Mach 1. These kind of missiles are a dangerous threat to ships and they fly at low altitude and their speeds reduce reaction time by the air defense systems.
There is more at www.bizjournals.com.
Army buys a lot of Hellfires
Filed under: Contract Awards, Lockheed Martin, Military Aviation, U.S. Army, production program
The US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to produce Hellfire missiles. These are normally fired from AH-64 and OH-58D helicopters and some Air Force aircraft. The missile is used by the US and its Allies. In Iraq and Afghanistan the Army has been using these with great effect to strike a variety of targets. The contract is valued at over $350 M and will purchase 1400 missiles. It is estimated that over 6000 have been used to date in the Global War on Terror.
For more see the Orlando Sentinal.
Air Force buys sounding rockets
Filed under: Alliant Techsystems, Contract Awards, NASA, U.S. Air Force, missile defense, production program, space
Alliant Techsystems was awarded a contract by the US Air Force to provide sounding rockets for it and NASA’s use. See a press release here. Sounding rockets tend to be small, single stage rockets that stay suborbital. They can be used to simulate targets for ballistic missile defense tests and experiments, and also support NASA activities and experiments. One common use before the Test Ban Treaty was to collect data from nuclear tests in the Pacific and the American West.
Army to dispose of nuclear waste
Filed under: Contract Awards, EnergySolutions, U.S. Army, logistics, production program
The Army signed a contract with EnergySolutions for disposal of low-level nuclear waste. See the press release here. It is a five year contract worth over $20 M. There is no description of where the waste is being generated, but it is most likely from the manufacture or disposal of Depleted Uranium ammunition. This is used by a variety of Army weapons such as the 25mm cannon on M2/M3 Bradleys, the 30mm on AH-64 and the 120mm on the M1 tank for vehicular targets.





