NATO signs AGS study contract
FUNDING NATO has advanced its estimated ?4 billion ($5.2 billion) Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) project with the award of a ?20 million study contract to the Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution (TIPS) team responsible for the 23-nation effort. To conclude by year-end, the study will investigate interoperability, command and control, cost-saving measures and the integration of the Transatlantic Cooperative AGS Radar, says TIPS. NATO will place a design and development contract worth about ?500 million for the AGS system in late 2005 or early 2006, it says.
General aviation recovery continues
SHIPMENTS More evidence of an industry recovery comes as the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reports first quarter shipments up almost 16% from the same period last year. Business jet deliveries were up 21% to 138 aircraft, turboprops up almost 68% to 57 units and pistons up just under 10% to 432. Billings rose 14% to $2.7 billion.
Boeing is to provide ship-based unmanned air vehicle services to support operations in Iraq under a $14.5 million US Navy contract. The deal involves the use of the ScanEagle low-cost, long-endurance UAV developed by the company and the Insitu Group. Designed to be launched from and recovered by a ship, the ScanEagle will operate from a USN vessel to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services for a naval expeditionary strike group deployment and for Gulf oil platform security. Two land-based ScanEagle mobile deployment units are already operating in Iraq in support of the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
Source: Flight International