Boeing Will Submit Proposal Based on K-767

March 4, 2010 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, EADS, KC-X, KC-X Tanker News, Kansas, Northrop Grumman Corp., Proposal, Syndicated Industry News, Washington 

As it did in the last contest two years ago Boeing (BA) plans to submit a 767 based tanker. This is similar to the ones they are already building for Japan. To differentiate it from previous versions they are calling it a “NewGen” aircraft. Boeing will upgrade the basic 767 design with a new fueling boom and parts of the 787 cockpit technology.

There is still no formal word from Northrop Grumman (NOC) or EADS (EADS:P) if they plan to submit a proposal this time around.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Senator Murray (D-WA) Illustrates She Knows Nothing About U.S. Economy

December 16, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Alabama, Boeing, Congress, KC-X, KC-X Tanker News, Kansas, Northrop Grumman Corp., Syndicated Industry News 

The competition between Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) for the KC-X contract is pretty hot. As with many of these contracts the states that stand to benefit the most legislators are supportive. The states being Washington and Kansas for Boeing and primarily Alabama for Northrop. At the same time it doesn’t help anybody to throw insults around and play loose with facts.

Recently Senator Patty Murray of Washington was on National Public Radio (NPR) and supposedly said that “I would challenge anybody to tell me that they’ve stood on a line in Alabama and seen anybody building anything.” Ms. Murray demonstrates taht she knows little or nothing about the U.S. economy and Alabama’s contribution.

Mercedes Benz and Honda make thousands of cars a year in Alabama one assumes on a production line. Hyundai has a 500,000 car a year plant as well. Boeing employs thousands of people in the state as well working for NASA and the Defense Department. So she insulted those people while supporting them at the same time.

The contest should be above such petty insults.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Senator Murray (D-WA) Illustrates She Knows Nothing About U.S. Economy

December 16, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Alabama, Boeing, Congress, KC-X, KC-X Tanker News, Kansas, Northrop Grumman Corp., Syndicated Industry News 

The competition between Boeing (BA) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) for the KC-X contract is pretty hot. As with many of these contracts the states that stand to benefit the most legislators are supportive. The states being Washington and Kansas for Boeing and primarily Alabama for Northrop. At the same time it doesn’t help anybody to throw insults around and play loose with facts.

Recently Senator Patty Murray of Washington was on National Public Radio (NPR) and supposedly said that “I would challenge anybody to tell me that they’ve stood on a line in Alabama and seen anybody building anything.” Ms. Murray demonstrates taht she knows little or nothing about the U.S. economy and Alabama’s contribution.

Mercedes Benz and Honda make thousands of cars a year in Alabama one assumes on a production line. Hyundai has a 500,000 car a year plant as well. Boeing employs thousands of people in the state as well working for NASA and the Defense Department. So she insulted those people while supporting them at the same time.

The contest should be above such petty insults.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Boeing Confirms Use Of Wichita Facility If KC-X Won

November 18, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Congress, KC-X, KC-X Tanker News, Kansas, Syndicated Industry News 

Boeing’s (BA) Wichita, KS plant has supported may of their military programs over the years. In their last bid for the KC-X proposal the 767 aircraft would have been modified to become the new tanker there. In October the company would no longer make that commitment to using the Wichita plant. The company had discussed using a lower cost plant to do the work with an eye to lowering their overall cost. This obviously was a blow to the employees and the political supporters of the work being done there.

Now Boeing announced yesterday that at least some of the military conversion of the aircraft will be carried out in Wichita. This will gain them even further support from some key Senators and Congressmen as well as there unions. In many ways the company had no real choice. The Wichita plant has long been established, can do the work and needs it. The announcement makes sense at this time.n

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kansas Quietly Supports Boeing

November 4, 2009 by Matthew Potter · 1 Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Congress, KC-X, KC-X Tanker News, Kansas, Syndicated Industry News 

The Boeing plant located in Wichita has a long and distinguished history of supporting that company’s military programs. It is safe to assume that if Boeing does win the KC-X contract that some of the work will be done there. That means that Kansas’ leaders are very interested in Boeing winning the deal. In the spirit of this it was reported that the Kansas Governor, Mark Parkinson, recently met with the Air Force Secretary. The former Governor of the state, Kathleen Sebelius, is now a cabinet secretary in the Obama Administration which certainly allows for some low key lobbying.

With the continued economic problems facing the country good manufacturing jobs are hard to come by and this means that mayors, governors and legislators will all be doing their part to support the different bidders in this process.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brownback Lauds Successful Airborne Laser Test — Press Release

June 12, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Congress, Department of Defense, Events, Kansas, MDA, Military Aviation, Services, States, development program, missile defense 

Brownback Lauds Successful Airborne Laser Test

Congratulates Missile Defense Agency, industry team on successful in-flight test of laser tracking system

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today commented on successful tests of the Airborne Laser tracking system over the weekend. “The ABL continues to make history,” Brownback said. “Last Saturday, for the first time, a boosting missile was tracked by lasers able to compensate for atmospheric conditions and remain locked on target for an extended period of time.”

The Airborne Laser is a modified Boeing 747 that carries laser systems designed to track and destroy ballistic missiles during the early, or boost, stages of flight. The ABL consists of three lasers, a tracking laser, an environmental laser that compensates for atmospheric variables, and a weaponized laser, all working in conjunction to track and destroy missiles in their boost phase. The successful test was conducted this weekend while the plane was in flight and was able to continuously track a launched missile.

Brownback continued, “I want to congratulate the Missile Defense Agency and its industry partners on this test. Every day, their hard work brings us a step closer to having a boost phase defense against ballistic missile threats. Especially with North Korea’s recent provocative behavior, ABL’s progress is more important than ever.”

The Airborne Laser is scheduled to undergo a series of tests this summer, culminating in a full system test to shoot down a missile this fall.

STATEMENT: Michael Rinn, Boeing vice president and ABL program director:

This is the first time in history anyone has actively tracked a boosting missile with a laser while closing atmospheric compensation loops. This was done at significant ranges and for many times longer than would be required to kill the missile had the high-energy laser been used.

Additional missile engagements will fine-tune the pointing accuracy and performance of the system. This significant test is a major step toward conducting this year’s missile-intercept test, which will demonstrate the unprecedented speed, mobility, precision and lethality that ABL could provide to America’s warfighters.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kansas Fights for the ABL

April 13, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Congress, Events, Federal Budget Process, Kansas, MDA, Military Aviation, Proposal, Services, U.S. Air Force, development program, missile defense 

Boeing uses their Wichita, KS facility to modify aircraft for use by the military. Obviously the state has a vested interest in keeping this plant with work. The tankers if Boeing wins the KC-X contract as well as the second Airborne Laser (ABL) 747 would be built here. So it is not surprising that The Kansas City Star is reporting that the Kansas Congressional delegation is a tad upset with Gates’ proposal to cancel the second ABL aircraft.

With all of the various programs that Gates’ has recommended terminating or restructuring you can expect to see stories like these. One state will demand that a ship building program continue or a vehicle one. The F-22 supporters started making a case before the announcement of the ending of production. Contractors and Congressman have a vested interest in keeping programs going for revenue and economic impact reasons. The fighting over keeping programs is really just another aspect of the whole earmark process. As Gate’s budget makes it through Congress there will be whole sale changes to what he proposed with programs continuing.

Tags:

>