Oct 22, 2009, post by Satellite News
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (Nasdaq:CMTL) informed that its Virginia-based subsidiary, Comtech AeroAstro, Inc., has been awarded a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (“AFRL”) for the development of Advanced Plug and Play Technologies for space missions. The contract is an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (“IDIQ”) contract with a maximum value of $200.0 million and an order period of five years. The award includes an initial Task Order with a value of $500,000. Additional potential orders are not expected to be received until fiscal 2011.
“Plug and play technologies are changing the paradigm for space mission development,” informed Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech Telecommunications Corp. “This contract supports our ongoing work to modularize complex, highly capable satellites and payloads — so that they can be assembled and launched in a matter of days rather than years — while improving the fault tolerance and reliability of those systems to support the Air Force’s operational space needs.” This project is sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
Oct 02, 2009, post by Satellite News
Over 200 military, civilian, and VIP aircraft in more than 15 countries worldwide are currently flying with the protection of the IAI/ELTA system.
ELTA Systems Ltd., a group and wholly owned subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has been awarded a contract to supply its self-protection systems, Flight Guard, for commercial planes in Israel. Contracts for various clients in Israel and abroad for the self-protection systems are estimated to be valued at tens of millions of dollars, over period of years. This is the only system to be tested and authorized by the Israel Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA).
ELTA has been developing, producing, and supplying aircraft self-protection systems for many years. In 2005, a version of “Flight Guard” was authorized by the ICAA, following two years of in-depth inspections, flight tests, and licensing examinations. With over 200 military, civilian, and VIP aircraft in more than 15 countries worldwide currently flying with the protection of the ELTA system, the operational efficiency of the system has been successfully proven.
The system includes a Missile Approach Warning System, which rapidly scans for potential threats in the area surrounding the aircraft, and raises an alert only when it detects a direct threat to the aircraft.
Upon detection of a direct threat, a jamming system immediately deploys decoy flares to steer any threatening heat-seeking missiles away from the aircraft and toward the decoy flares. The system has the lowest false alarm rate, and is easy to install and operational on various kinds of aircraft.
In Israel, the self-protection system was chosen for its particular effectiveness during takeoff and landing, when the aircraft is most vulnerable to threats from the ground. Other self-protection systems, based on different sensors, suffer from false alarms.
The “Flight Guard” system will be provided within one year to the customer. Additional orders for the system are expected upon completion of the current order.
Aug 18, 2009, post by Satellite News
Comtech AeroAstro (CAA) has informed that Stanley O. Kennedy, Jr. has been named as the Vice President and General Manager of the Space Products Group.
Kennedy is responsible for developing enabling missions, technologies, components, and sensor systems to support internal CAA Space Systems Group development and external government and commercial clients mission needs. Prior to this appointment, Kennedy was Vice President of the CAA Advanced Products Group. A 24-year aerospace industry employee, Kennedy brings mission domain knowledge in military, intelligence, civil, and commercial markets to support his new position.
