USS Theodore Roosevelt’s Mid-Life RCOH Overhaul

by Joe Katzman | Sep 4, 2013 | Contracts - Awards, Engines & Propulsion - Naval, Northrop-Grumman, Support & Maintenance, Surface Ships - Combat, USA

CVN-71, Indian Ocean(click to view full) The USS Theodore Roosevelt [CVN 71] was built by Northrop Grumman’s Newport News sector. Commissioned on Oct 25/86, CVN 71 is expected to remain in service until 2036. As it approaches its mid-life stage, however, the...

Along Came A Spider: The XM-7 RED Mine

by Joe Katzman | Aug 27, 2013 | Contracts - Awards, Design Innovations, FOCUS Articles, Issues - Political, Mines & Countermine-IED, New Systems Tech, Non-Lethal Weapons, Other Corporation, Other Equipment - Land, Policy - Doctrine, Signals Radio & Wireless, Support & Maintenance, Transformation, USA

XM-7 Spider System(click to view full) The 2004 National Landmine Policy directed the Pentagon to end the use of persistent landmines after 2010, and introduce self-destructing and self-deactivating alternatives. The XM-7 Spider is the successor to the Matrix system...

New Eyes for the USA’s H-60 MEDEVAC Helicopters

by Joe Katzman | Aug 27, 2013 | Contracts - Awards, Delivery & Task Orders, Field Reports, Helicopters & Rotary, Other Corporation, Sensors & Guidance, United Technologies, USA

UH-60Q, Baghdad(click to view full) Sikorsky’s H-60 Hawk family has become the backbone of the US Army and Navy’s helicopter force, with a number of fielded variants. The USAF’s HH-60 is well known for its medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) role, as well...

US Weather Satellites: From NPOESS’ Hairy Crises, to DWSS/ JPSS Split Ends

by Joe Katzman | Aug 26, 2013 | Boeing, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, Environmental, Issues - Political, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Project Failures, Project Management, Project Methodologies, R&D - Contracted, Satellites & Sensors, Scandals & Investigations, Sensors & Guidance, USA

NPOESS (click to view full) The National Polar-orbiting Observing Satellite System (NPOESS) was a joint program of the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce and NASA to replace less sophisticated weather satellites that are expected to fail over the next...

HERCULES Order Provides a Lift for BAE’s York Plant

by Joe Katzman | Aug 22, 2013 | BAE

M88 & M1: Need a tow?(click to view full) BAE’s armored vehicle plant in York, PA could really use a lifeline right now. In August 2013, it got a small piece of planned good news. The Pentagon announced a maximum $149.9 million firm-fixed price order for 49...