Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 15, 2008 - (Page 8) FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 Boeing Taps ThyssenKrupp for Ten Years Finmeccanica’s Universe Is Now Steady-State Titled—in the style of a Papal Bull— “Becoming Who We Truly Are” and delivered to a packed auditorium at the volume of a rock concert for the hard-of-hearing, the address opening Finmeccanica’s extensive exhibit at Farnborough was an illuminating statement of Italian ambitions in the company’s key sectors: helicopters, aeronautics and defense and security electronics. Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, Chairman and CEO, is content that, with the impending acquisition of DRS Technologies in the U.S., “an important phase in the life of Finmeccanica will be coming to a close. We have defined the shape in which the group will go forward. We also believe that a new phase is beginning, Guarguaglini. in which Finmeccanica must become what it truly is.” For all its U.S. ambitions, Finmeccanica is a major force in the UK, with 9,700 employees here, including AgustaWestland, MBDA and Selex activities. According to Guarguaglini, company priorities are to invest heavily in R&D and personnel training and to “avoid 50:50 relationships.” Seen until as recently as 2004 as an Italian company, with only 20% of orders coming from abroad, Finmeccanica has increased that number to 58% in three years.—Paul Jackson ThyssenKrupp Aerospace, a new division of the company uniting TKX and TMX Aerospace with newly acquired Apollo Metals and Aviation Metals, has been selected by the Boeing Co. for a new 10-year contract regarding the supply of virtually all aluminum and steel metals used in the manufacture of commercial aircraft. Today’s B737, B747 and B777 aircraft are about 70% aluminum, 20% steel and 10 percent titanium. Neither company released details, but Juergen Funke, president of ThyssenKrupp Group, said, “It’s substantial.” ST Aerospace, GE Sign Support Contract Singapore Technologies Aerospace and GE Aviation have pledged “global cooperation” in support of ST’s CFM56 maintenance, repair and overhaul business. Included is a 10-year materials services agreement encompassing component repairs, and the supply of new and used parts. The value of this deal is estimated at $1.5 billion, based on materials and labor costs of shop visits forecast for the contract period. CFM will also establish a spare parts logistics center in Singapore, and ST will have access to CFM56 OEM technical data. Chemring Targets U.S. Energetics Via Scot Buy The UK’s Chemring last month closed its $40 million acquisition of Illinois-based Scot, Inc., and says the deal positions it for a leadership role in energetics: the cartridge- and propellant-actuated devices used for emergency systems in military and civil aircraft. “The acquisition of Scot provides Chemring with an important U.S. center of excellence for the design, development, qualification and manufacture of pyrotechnic devices,” Chemring says, with engineering capability complementing the “high volume manufacturing and automation skills within Chemring North America.” Scot products may be found on F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, B-1, B-2 and C-17 aircraft, as well as various missiles and space vehicles, and the Boeing 767. Chemring is at Stand E7, Hall 4. Galileo FOC Satellite Tender The European Commission and European Space Agency have issued a request for proposals for 28 full operating capability satellites— 26 operational units plus two spares—and related ground equipment, total value $3.38 billion, for the Galileo satellite navigation system. Six separate work packages will be competed. Satellites and launchers will be procured in batches on a firm-plus-options basis, subject to contract performance. The EC hopes to short-list candidates for negotiations by mid-August and have all contracts signed by second quarter 2009. Galileo is due to become operational in 2013. Three May Team for Dual-Role Weapons Lockheed Martin, ATK and Northrop Grumman are in talks to form a team to develop air-launched dual-role weapons, according to industry officials. For the partnership, Northrop Grumman would provide some seeker technology, with ATK contributing its motor and Lockheed Martin potentially handling integration and possibly some seeker work for the group, industry officials say. The market for weapons capable of destroying aerial and ground targets is expected to mature in the coming decade. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory is leading the Joint Dual-Role Air Dominance Missile technology development program, with Boeing as the sole contractor working on warhead and propulsion and control technologies. BAE Anti-Missile System Tests on Super Hornet The AN/ALE-55 fiber-optic towed anti-missile decoy has begun operational tests on Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets of the U.S. Navy as part of the IDECM radio frequency countermeasures system. “Its performance during development testing clearly demonstrates the potential to provide required improvements to aircrew survivability.” said Capt. William Chubb, manager for tactical aircraft protection systems. Deployment is set for December 2009. 8 July 15, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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