CPI Aerostructures announced that the U.S. Air Force has released a new order under CPI Aero’s C-5 TOP contract for a variety of structural panels valued at approximately $863,000. Orders under this program, including this $863,000 order, have totaled $33.3 million since the inception of the contract.

CPI Aero is engaged in the contract production of structural aircraft parts for leading prime defense contractors, the U.S. Air Force and other branches of the armed forces. In conjunction with its assembly operations, CPI Aero provides engineering, technical and program management services. Among the key programs that CPI Aero supplies are the A-10 Thunderbolt attack jet, the UH-60 BLACK HAWK helicopter, the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, the MH-60S mine countermeasure helicopter, the Gulfstream G650, C-5A Galaxy cargo jet, the T-38 Talon jet trainer, and the E-3 Sentry AWACS jet. CPI Aero is included in the Russell Microcap® Index.

Optomec announced today that the company has received a Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) contract from the US Navy to continue the development of a new repair capability for restoring aircraft engine integrally bladed rotors (IBRs, also known as blisks). The Phase II contract brings the total amount of funding to $900,000. Optomec’s Phase I and Phase II proposals for funding were supported by Pratt & Whitney, the leading supplier of gas turbine engines to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Modern jet engines use IBRs, which are one-piece components integrating the blades and disc. These components wear over time, as the tips of the airfoils rub into the shrouds. They can also be damaged by foreign objects entering the engine and impacting the airfoils. To repair these components, material added to restore the damaged IBR airfoils must meet the same stringent property requirements as new components. During six years of development work, the LENS system has proven its ability over competing processes in IBR repair because it has been shown to be uniquely capable of producing material with the desired shape, structure and properties for this demanding application. In addition, the LENS process has demonstrated economic viability to repair IBRs that would otherwise cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace.

In the current project, the nickel-based superalloy that is used to manufacture the IBR is considered very difficult to weld, and typically suffers from extensive cracking when welded. However, these problems have been eliminated by using the LENS process. Dr. Richard Grylls, LENS Product Manager for Optomec states, “We are implementing an upgraded control system that enables the production of improved microstructures that will enable the LENS process to make repairs with outstanding properties for many high-strength superalloys, and also expand the capability of LENS to repair Titanium IBRs. This new capability will find application beyond IBR repair, including other airfoil repairs in aerospace and industrial gas turbine applications.” The additional funding will be used to conduct extensive mechanical property testing, and to continue to advance the technology readiness level of this repair. For more information on LENS, click here.

Three BAE Systems space computers have taken flight on a NASA satellite to study the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space. NASA selected the company’s RAD750^® and RAD6000^® computers to handle large amounts of data processing for its Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, in the harsh, high-radiation solar environment.

Two RAD6000 radiation-hardened computers aboard NASA’s Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager payloads will process large volumes of scientific data and manage the satellite’s directional orientation. A RAD750 computer will run the software that keeps the spacecraft in orbit.

“This is a unique mission that requires a high tolerance to the extreme conditions encountered near the sun. Our space computers were chosen because they have the flight heritage that shows they thrive in such conditions,” said Vic Scuderi, manager of satellite electronics for BAE Systems. “The images provided by the SDO will have 10 times better resolution than high-definition television.”

The first mission to be launched for NASA’s “Living With a Star” program, the SDO will address aspects of the sun and solar system that directly affect life on Earth. The SDO will study the origins of solar activity and how space weather derives from it. Measurements of the interior of the sun, the sun’s magnetic field, the hot plasma of the solar corona, and the irradiance that creates the ionospheres of the planets will help scientists predict solar variations. Space weather can threaten astronauts, aircraft, satellite communications, navigation systems, and electrical power on Earth.

BAE Systems has been building radiation-hardened computers since the early 1990s and is a leading provider of computers capable of withstanding the radiation, temperature, vibration, and other extremes encountered in space flight. The latest version, the RAD750, was developed through a partnership among BAE Systems, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The RAD6000 is the predecessor to the RAD750.

dB Control, a manufacturer known for its high-power microwave amplifiers, radar transmitters and power supplies, has been awarded a five-year contract worth approximately $13.2 million by the U.S. Navy to produce up to 300 amplifiers to be integrated into Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) systems. The contract includes 500-Watt traveling wave tube (TWT) amplifiers that will be integrated into the entire life cycle of the U.S. Navy’s ECM systems, including rack-mount units used in laboratories and loop facilities during product development, airborne pods onboard manned aircraft, ground-based applications, testing and fleet training systems.

In addition to designing and producing the amplifiers at the company’s secure, 40,000 square-foot facility in Fremont, Calif., dB Control will also provide the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., with ongoing engineering, technical and repair support services. Text of the official contract announcement is available from the U.S. Department of Defense N68936-10-D-0010.

“Detecting potential threats quickly and accurately depends on the reliability of the TWT amplifier powering the ECM systems. As it can be a matter of life or death for our armed forces personnel, reliability is paramount,” said dB Control CEO Joe Hajduk. “When the U.S. Navy evaluated competitive bids, our rugged TWT amplifiers stood out as the best choice to provide exceptional reliability, even in harsh airborne environments.”

Many people may think of the car company, however the defense and security division of Saab has signed a contract on further deliveries of the RBS 70 ground based air defence system to the Finnish Army. The order has a value of MSEK 260.

First deliveries of materiel are scheduled for 2011.

“This is very positive and it further proves the capability of the RBS 70 system which until now has been exported to 18 countries located on all five continents,” says Tomas Samuelsson, Head of Business Area Dynamics.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.

SpaceX announced that all flight hardware for the debut launch of the Falcon 9 vehicle has arrived at the SpaceX launch site, Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Final delivery included the Falcon 9 second stage, which recently completed testing at SpaceX’s test facility in McGregor, Texas. SpaceX has now initiated full vehicle integration of the 47 meter (154 feet) tall, 3.6 meter (12 feet) diameter rocket, which will include a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit.

“We expect to launch in one to three months after completing full vehicle integration,” said Brian Mosdell, Director of Florida Launch Operations for SpaceX. “Our primary objective is a successful first launch and we are taking whatever time necessary to work through the data to our satisfaction before moving forward.”

Following full vehicle integration, SpaceX will conduct a static firing to demonstrate flight readiness and confirm operation of ground control systems in preparation for actual launch.

Though designed from the beginning to transport crew, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft will initially be used to transport cargo. Falcon 9 and Dragon were selected by NASA to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) once Shuttle retires. The $1.6B contract represents 12 flights for a minimum of 20 tons to and from the ISS with the first demonstration flights beginning in 2010.

GE Aviation successfully completed a second flight test of its Electro-Optical Grid Reference System (EOGRS) in support of future automated aerial refueling applications in late December 2009. This activity further expands the EOGRS operational envelope and demonstrated performance enhancements beyond those which were successfully achieved during the first flight test conducted in late July 2009.

“These flight tests confirm the viability of our technology for aerial refueling drogue stabilization and tanker-relative navigation, including in a GPS-denied scenario,” said Stuart Mullan, president, Military Business for GE Aviation Systems. “This is the second successful airborne test of proprietary GE laser-grid technology and the wealth of data that was gathered confirms robustness and field of view improvements over the first flight.”

This second flight test enabled GE to confirm refinements made to the grid navigation system transmitter and detectors. An Omega Aerial Refueling Services Inc K-707 tanker was again used for the flight test. It was modified by adding GE’s EOGRS transmitter and a form, fit, and function replacement US/NATO MA-3 refueling drogue with EOGRS detectors.

This flight test provides high fidelity refueling drogue motion and position data, allowing GE to validate EOGRS navigation accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability.

Advances in automated aerial refueling technology, such as GE’s EOGRS, will increase the safety of manned refueling as well as facilitate unmanned refueling operations. This technology is a key enabler of persistent, world-wide aerial refueling operations. In addition, EOGRS solves the complex portion of the automated refueling equation by providing a system capable of performing terminal guidance between the tanker and receiver aircraft. The GE EOGRS tanker-relative navigation system is on a path toward certification as a sole and/or supplemental means of navigation.

Protonex announced that it has received an incremental $1.49 million contract award from the U.S. Army CECOM to deliver additional advanced portable battery charger / APU fuel cell products. This follows the US Army CECOM’s decision to exercise an option in its original contract with the Company which was announced on 20 January 2010.

This award increases the total funded value of the overall contract to $3.34 million and additional options remain within the contract which, if awarded, could increase the total value of the contract to $6.4 million.

Under the terms of this eight-month, phase two program, Protonex is expected to deliver 30 additional portable battery charger / APU products to the U.S. Army for field use. The M250-CX units will include all of the next-generation improvements developed during the phase one program, which include increased power output, further integrated battery management and charging capabilities, additional ruggedisation and reduced overall size and weight.

Commenting on the news, Greg Cipriano, Vice President, Marketing & Military Development, at Protonex said, “This additional phase two program is another important milestone for Protonex as our M250-CX power systems move closer to deploying to our U.S. soldiers. We are excited about delivering on our first low volume order for the M250-CX, one of the Company’s flagship military products.”

Protonex’ M250-CX system is a lightweight, 250-watt portable power system designed to meet the stringent demands of a wide range of military battery charging and auxiliary power unit applications. The unique design combines advances in fuel cell energy conversion and battery charging technology into one complete product solution to provide military battery charging and 28V auxiliary power with extremely low weight, noise, and thermal signature.

SpaceX recently conducted a three-day long demonstration of cargo loading and unloading procedures for its Dragon spacecraft, which NASA has contracted to provide delivery services to the International Space Station (ISS) starting in 2010.

SpaceX hosted a group of NASA personnel at its corporate headquarters in Hawthorne, CA, including astronauts Marsha Ivins and Megan McArthur, and other key personnel from NASA‘s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The tests covered a range of procedures using actual NASA cargo modules, in a variety of standard sizes, including powered cargo modules that provide temperature control for sensitive items such as medical and biological samples during their journey to the ISS, and return to Earth. Dragon is currently one of the only spacecraft in the world capable of transmitting status on environment-sensitive cargo back to Earth during transit to the ISS.

SpaceX performed the tests in an actual flight Dragon spacecraft outfitted with cargo racks, stowage lockers, as well as interior lighting, telemetry and environmental systems, as will be employed while Dragon is berthed at the ISS.

“SpaceX was honored to host the NASA crew, and pleased by their positive feedback and remarks,” said John Couluris, SpaceX Director of Mission Operations. “We look forward to the day when the first of many Dragons arrive at the ISS delivering actual cargo in support of continued ISS operations.”

Under NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, SpaceX will perform three flights of the Dragon spacecraft to demonstrate delivery of cargo to the ISS as well as returning cargo to Earth. Following those flights, SpaceX will begin the NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, conducting a minimum of 12 cargo flights between 2010 and 2015 with a guaranteed minimum of 20,000 kg to be carried to the ISS.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is a medium-to-heavy lift, two-stage launch vehicle capable of lifting approximately 11 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) and in excess of 4.5 tons to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Designed to the highest levels of reliability and performance, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft were selected by NASA to resupply the ISS when the Space Shuttle retires.

Aerospace firms have a unique opportunity to help in the Haiti relief efforts, and it’s great to see a number of these businesses rushing to help. One company that is going above and beyond the call of duty is Spacenet. Spacenet has collaborated with its partners to leverage its coverage and capabilities in Haiti to assist with the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake. The company has ramped up its operations and support organizations to expedite delivery of fixed and transportable satellite equipment and services, and is working with partners to donate satellite equipment and space segment to various relief organizations. These services include high speed commercial grade broadband data and digital voice capability. Spacenet has developed a Rapid Response Team to support recovery efforts in the area and is offering special service terms to those units deployed in Haiti.

“Spacenet is committed to helping with relief efforts in Haiti during this difficult time,” said Spacenet President and COO Glenn Katz. “We are working with a number of our partners in the area so we can collectively leverage our resources to provide assistance and expedite emergency communications solutions where and when they are most needed. At the same time, we are implementing permanent communications to replace or supplement components damaged by the earthquake.”

Spacenet has created a special toll-free hotline and website for representatives of organizations taking part in the disaster recovery effort to inquire about Spacenet assistance. For more information call 800-296-5818 or visit www.spacenet.com/relief-efforts.