Global Watch
MSMF 2009 Volume: 2 Issue: 5 (October)
MBDA and the BUMAR group of Poland respectively signed a framework agreement between their two organizations to jointly modernize Poland’s ground-based air defenses. Long term co-operation will permit significant exchanges of technology between the two partners and the optimization of investments already made. “The agreement will draw on elements of MBDA’s short-range VL MICA and medium-range Aster 30 missiles with other major subsystems such as the radars and the command and control systems developed by PIT (the Warsaw-based telecommunications research institute Przemysłowy Instytut Telekomunikacji) and RADWAR (one of several companies within the BUMAR group, which is Poland’s largest defense equipment manufacturer),” read a company statement.
The agreement, covering the development, production, delivery and marketing of the future air defense missile system, confirms and advances MBDA’s well-established relationship with BUMAR. In September 2007, MBDA signed an agreement with the leading elements of the Polish defense industry, including PIT and RADWAR. This earlier agreement, aimed at establishing the means of meeting the country’s national air defense requirements as well as its NATO and European commitments over the next two decades, recognized MBDA’s leading position in the area of air defense systems designed to counter current and future proliferating threats.
Marie-Astrid Steff:
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Navy’s Cooperative BMD Programs Updated
Rear Admiral Brad Hicks, the U.S. Navy’s Aegis BMD director, provided a program update at the George C. Marshall Institute. One topic of interest was his service’s cooperative BMD efforts with eight nations and NATO.
Hicks confirmed that his service’s largest BMD co-development effort, with Japan on the 21-inch diameter SM-3 Block IIA, remains on schedule for a flight test in 2014-15. The next significant milestone for the Japanese service’s evolving sea-based BMD efforts will be a test later this fall.
Other programs’ highlights include continued construction of three South Korean Aegis ships and Australia’s procurement of three Aegis ships (DDG 101-103).
Exploring Low Power Ion Propulsion Systems for Satellites
Aerojet and NEC Corp. announced that the companies will explore the feasibility of jointly supplying low power ion propulsion systems for the U.S. and Japanese aerospace markets. Ion propulsion systems can be used for geosynchronous satellite propulsion systems and deep space missions providing significant advantages over traditional chemical propulsion systems due to the higher fuel efficiency.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA) and NEC have jointly developed a low-power “Microwave Ion Engine” that uses microwaves for ion generation, enabling long life and high mission reliability. NEC’s Microwave Ion Engine is currently flying on JAXA’s HAYABUSA asteroid rendezvous and study mission, and has proved to be robust and reliable, with more than 30,000 hours of in-space operation. “Aerojet is a leading supplier of satellite propulsion systems in the United States and has broad experience and technical capabilities with satellite propulsion systems,” said Kunio Kondo, senior general manager, Aerospace and Defense Operations Unit, NEC Corp., in a joint company statement provided to MSMF. “Collaborating with Aerojet will help NEC to expand its low-power Microwave Ion Engine business in the U.S. market.”
Glenn Mahone:
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Partnering Agreement Announced
AGI, developer of commercially available software for the space, defense and intelligence industries, announced its new partnership with Sumitomo Corp., a 90-year-old, Japan-based organization focused on products and services for industries ranging from infrastructure to transportation and construction systems. “Through this strategic affiliation, Sumitomo will market and sell AGI products in Japan. LSAS Tec Co., a longtime AGI software user, has been subcontracted to provide technical support,” read an AGI statement.
Stefanie Claypoole:
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