Raytheon GBU-53B finishes test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Raytheon Co. completed a series of captive carry flight tests of its entry in the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II competition. Engineers tested the weapon's integration and guidance receiver navigator on an Air Force F-15E and also conducted seeker-performance evaluations on an Army UH-1 helicopter. (Source: Raytheon via PRNewswire, 07/29/09)

General Dynamics 2Q report

FALLS CHURCH, Va. –General Dynamics reported second-quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations of $621 million compared to 2008 second-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $641 million. Revenues in the most-recent quarter grew to $8.1 billion, increasing 10.9 percent over second-quarter 2008 revenues of $7.3 billion. (Source: GD via PRNewswire, 07/29/09) Gulf Coast note: General Dynamics has operations along the Gulf Coast.

JSF engine marks milestone

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – The engine that will power the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter surpassed 12,000 engine test hours as part of the system development and demonstration phase. Added to hours during the concept demonstration program, the F135 engine has more than 15,600 test hours. Pratt & Whitney will deliver the first seven production engines later this year. (Source: Pratt & Whitney, 07/28/09) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is scheduled to host the Joint Strike Fighter Training Center; Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has an operation at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

EADS 2Q report

PARIS - EADS NV, parent company of Airbus, reported second-quarter net profit rose close to 70 percent. Earnings before interest, taxes and other items rose to $936 million. That’s up from last year but below analysts’ forecasts. The company also warned it may take hits on future profits from the delayed A400M military transport program. (Sources: multiple, including AP via Google, Dow Jones via Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, 07/28/09) Gulf Coast note: EADS plans to build a tanker assembly plant in Mobile, Ala., if it and partner Northrop Grumman win an Air Force contract.

UAVs now in academy curriculum

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – U.S. Air Force Academy officials have integrated unmanned aircraft systems into the school's curriculum. Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould, the academy superintendent, said the service has made UAVs a priority, and their value is evidenced every day in Iraq and Afghanistan. Training on the two Viking 300 UAS' is being held Camp Red Devil at Fort Carson, Colo. The program opened July 12. (Source: AFNS, 07/27/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman UAVs are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.

EADS sells more tankers

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. said Saudi Arabia will buy three more of the company's A330 refueling tankers. The company said the Royal Saudi Air Force will take delivery of the first of six A330 tankers in 2011. EADS is part of a team led by Northrop Grumman Corp. competing against Boeing for a contract to build tankers for the Air Force. If Northrop/EADS wins, the planes will be assembled in Mobile, Ala. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 07/28/09)

Eglin VA clinic popular in first year

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Since the Community Based Outpatient Clinic opened 14 months ago, veterans in the first year have made 15,982 visits, said the facility’s chief medical officer. The clinic, near Eglin Air Force Base’s west gate, offers primary medical care, mental health services, lab work, a small pharmacy and nutrition assistance to about 4,500 veterans in Okaloosa County. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/26/09)

AF accepts HEO-2 for operations

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – The Lockheed Martin-led team developing the Space Based Infrared System said the second Highly Elliptical Orbit payload and ground system modifications have been accepted for operations by the U.S. Air Force, paving the way for U.S. Strategic Command's formal certification of the HEO-2 system next month. SBIRS is designed to provide early warning of missile launches and support other missions. (Source: Lockheed Martin via PRNewswire, 07/24/09) Gulf Coast note: SBIRS subsystems are built at the Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space and Technology Center at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Teledyne 2Q report

Teledyne Technologies' Continental Motors unit saw a $700,000 operating profit in the second quarter after losing $4.3 million in the first quarter of 2009 and $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Sales for Teledyne Continental Motors, based in Mobile, Ala., were down 38 percent in the second quarter from a year ago. The overall company, based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., had a profit of $25.2 million in the second quarter, down 23 percent from the second quarter of 2008. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 07/24/09)

One F-35 suit dismissed

VALPARAISO, Fla. – A federal judge dismissed the city’s Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Air Force. It was prompted by an Air Force agreement to provide the F-35 noise data to the city. In addition to the FOIA suit, Valparaiso has sued the Air Force over its decision to bring 59 F-35s to Eglin Air Force Base and use its runway nearest Valparaiso. Negotiations continue in that case. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/23/09)

Gates backed in corner?

Defense Secretary Robert Gates thought he punted the aerial tanker problem to someone else, but since he opted to stay on in his post, it’s right back in his hands. Gates has insisted on a winner-take-all in the competition between Boeing and the Northrop Grumman/EADS team, but the House Appropriations Committee says it must review terms of the competition. That increases the chance of politicking. Analysts say the review could lead Gates to agree to a splitting the contract. (Source: Politico, 07/23/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop/EADS plan to assemble the tankers in Mobile, Ala., if they win. Boeing will build them in Washington if it wins.

Goodrich 2Q report

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Goodrich Corp. reported second quarter sales of $1,700 million, a decrease of 8 percent compared to the second quarter 2008 sales of $1,849 million, including sales reductions of $91 million related to foreign currency exchange rate impacts and for lowered sales resulting from the formation of the engine controls joint venture with Rolls-Royce. (Source: Goodrich via PRNewswire, 07/23/09) Gulf Coast note: Goodrich has an aerospace service center in Foley, Ala.

Raytheon 2Q report

WALTHAM, Mass. - Raytheon Co. reported second quarter 2009 income from continuing operations of $504 million, up 17 percent compared to $432 million in the second quarter 2008. Net sales for the second quarter 2009 were $6.1 billion, up from $5.9 billion in the second quarter 2008. (Source: Raytheon via PRNewswire, 07/23/09) Gulf Coast note: Raytheon has operations along the Gulf Coast.

Northrop Grumman 2Q report

LOS ANGELES - Northrop Grumman Corp. reported that second quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations totaled $394 million compared with $483 million in the second quarter of 2008. Second quarter 2009 earnings included a net $64 million pre-tax gain for legal matters as well as a $105 million pre-tax charge for cost increases in the estimates to complete several ships under construction at the company's Gulf Coast shipyards. (Source: Northrop via PRNewswire, 07/23/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop has multiple operations along the Gulf Coast.

Pentagon orders more M777s

The Pentagon has ordered 62 more M777 howitzers from BAE Systems in a deal worth $117 million. The additional work for the company’s Barrow, UK, and Hattiesburg, Miss., facilities pushes manufacturing on current sales well into 2012. The Hattiesburg facility, which opened in 2003, is responsible for final integration and test of the weapon system. (Source: BAE Systems, 07/20/09) Gulf Coast note: BAE Systems also has operations in Gautier, Miss., and Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Test wing gets new leader

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The 46th Test Wing welcomed a new leader in a ceremony this week. Col. Michael Brewer accepted the helm of the wing from Maj. Gen. Charles Davis, program executive officer for weapons and Air Armament Center commander. Brewer was previously vice commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Det. 3, Edwards AFB, Calif. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 07/21/09)

Boeing 2Q report

CHICAGO - The Boeing Company's second-quarter revenues rose 1 percent to $17.2 billion, while earnings per share rose 22 percent to $1.41. Operating cash flow increased to $1 billion. The company also reported a backlog of $328 billion, nearly five times current annual revenues. (Source: Boeing via PRNewswire, 07/22/09) Gulf Coast note: Boeing has operations along the Gulf Coast.

Last shuttle engine test slated

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – The last planned Space Shuttle Main Engine test will be July 29 at 2 p.m. CDT at this South Mississippi NASA center. The 520-second test ends a 34-year era of space shuttle main engine testing at Stennis. The first shuttle mission was in 1981 and there have been 126 since then, with all the main engines tested at Stennis. Seven flights remain before the space shuttle fleet is retired. The center is now helping NASA prepare for the next era of human spaceflight. Between 2007 and 2008, Stennis conducted component testing as part of early development of the J-2X engine for the Constellation Program. The J-2X will be tested at simulated altitudes up to 100,000 feet on the 300-foot A-3 test stand currently under construction at the center. (Source: NASA, 07/21/09)

County, Navy reach runway accord

MILTON, Fla. - Santa Rosa County and the Navy reached an agreement to let businesses in a planned aviation park use a Whiting Field Naval Air Station runway. Whiting Aviation Park will be built on 267 acres of land adjacent to the base. The land was purchased as part of Santa Rosa County's ongoing encroachment-prevention efforts. The agreement allows up to 75 flights a day. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 07/21/09) Previous story, June 2009

County in running for service center

MILTON, Fla. - Santa Rosa County officials say the county is in the running for a military-related service center that could employ 800 people. The executive director of TEAM Santa Rosa Economic Development Council told the board of directors Monday that she could find out next week if East Milton has been chosen as one of three sites in Florida to compete with four other states for the facility. The company has not been named. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 07/21/09)