August 6, 2020 | International, Aerospace
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force has completed critical design review of an experimental navigation satellite, clearing the way for fabrication to begin and keeping the launch on track for 2022.
The Air Force Research Laboratory's Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3) is one of the Air Force's first Vanguard programs — platforms that can delivers remarkable new capabilities to the war fighter. NTS-3 is being developed to demonstrate new positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies that will inform how future GPS satellites work. AFRL plans to operate the satellite in geosynchronous orbit for one year to experiment with new PNT signals and test new architectures. Beyond the space-based test vehicle itself, NTS-3 will also demonstrate new ground-based command and control as well as new software-defined radios.
And, once on orbit, NTS-3 could provide immediate support to the war fighter. The experimental satellite will augment the GPS constellation from geosynchronous orbit, providing a geographically focused signal.
“The NTS-3 Vanguard is an experimental, end-to-end demonstration of agile, resilient space-based positioning, navigation, and timing,” Arlen Biersgreen, the NTS-3 program manager, said in a statement. “It has the potential for game-changing advancements to the way the Air Force provides these critical capabilities to war fighters across the Department of Defense.”
L3Harris is the prime contractor on NTS-3, and was awarded an $84 million contract for the experimental satellite in 2018. With the critical design review complete, the company can now move forward with fabrication, demonstration and testing. The NTS-3 contract includes a follow-on option for production of an entire constellation, if the Air Force chooses to exercise it.
“Collaboration with our customers has enabled us to move rapidly through important milestones to design this experimental satellite,” said Ed Zoiss, president of space and airborne systems at L3Harris. “Our goal is to deliver new signals to support rapidly evolving warfighter missions.”
Due to scheduling, NTS-3 technology is unlikely to be included on the any of the GPS III satellites in production, but it will likely inform aspects of the subsequent GPS IIIF satellites which are set to go on orbit in the late 2020s. L3Harris is developing the payloads for those satellites as well.
March 3, 2023 | International, Aerospace
The signing of the KC-30A Sovereign Industrial Capability Charter underscores the collective responsibility that we share to keep them mission ready
October 29, 2019 | International, Aerospace
The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin finalized a US$34 billion agreement for the production and delivery of 478 F-35s at the lowest aircraft price during the history of the program. This contract includes all U.S., international partners and foreign military sales aircraft in Lots 12, 13 and 14. In the agreement, the F-35 Enterprise meets and exceeds its long-stated cost reduction targets for each variant – and the F-35A unit price, including aircraft and engine, is now below US$80 million in both Lot 13 and Lot 14, the F-35A unit cost represents an estimated overall 12.8 per cent reduction from Lot 11 costs for the conventional landing variant, and an average of 12.7 per cent savings across all three variants from Lot 11 to 14. “Driving down cost is critical to the success of this program. I am excited that the F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin have agreed on this landmark three-lot deal. This agreement achieves an average 12.7 per cent cost reduction across all three variants and gets us below US$80 Million for a USAF F-35A by Lot 13 — one lot earlier than planned,” said Air Force LGen Eric Fick, F-35 program executive officer. “This US$34 billion agreement is a truly historic milestone for the F-35 Enterprise.” The agreement includes 291 aircraft for the U.S. Services, 127 for F-35 international partners, and 60 for F-35 foreign military sales customers. Price details include: F-35A — Lot 12: US$82.4M; Lot 13: US$79.2M; Lot 14: US$77.9M; % reduction from Lot 11: 12.8 per cent F-35B — Lot 12: US$108M; Lot 13: US$104.8M; Lot 14: US$101.3M; % reduction from Lot 11: 12.3 per cent F-35C — Lot 12: US$103.1M; Lot 13: US$98.1M; Lot 14: US$94.4M; % reduction from Lot 11: 13.2 per cent “With smart acquisition strategies, strong government-industry partnership and a relentless focus on quality and cost reduction, the F-35 Enterprise has successfully reduced procurement costs of the fifth generation F-35 to equal or less than fourth generation legacy aircraft,” said Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin, F-35 program vice-president and general manager. “With the F-35A unit cost now below US$80 million in Lot 13, we were able to exceed our long-standing cost reduction commitment one year earlier than planned.” The sub US$80 million unit recurring flyaway cost for an F-35 represents an integrated acquisition price for the fifth generation weapon system. With embedded sensors and targeting pods, this F-35 unit price includes items that add additional procurement and sustainment costs to legacy fourth generation aircraft. Program Progress With more than 450 aircraft operating from 19 bases around the globe, the F-35 is playing a critical role in today's global security environment. More than 910 pilots and 8,350 maintainers have been trained, and the F-35 fleet has surpassed more than 220,000 cumulative flight hours. Eight nations have F-35s operating from a base on their home soil and seven services have declared initial operating capability. In addition to strengthening global security and partnerships, the F-35 provides economic stability to the U.S. and international partners by creating jobs, commerce and security, and contributing to the global trade balance. The F-35 is built by thousands of men and women in America and around the world. With more than 1,400 suppliers in 46 states and Puerto Rico, the F-35 Program supports more than 220,000 direct and indirect jobs in the U.S. alone. The program also includes more than 100 international suppliers, creating or sustaining thousands of jobs. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/pentagon-and-lockheed-martin-reach-agreement-reducing-f-35a-cost-by-12-8-per-cent
July 28, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Today's aerospace and defense companies are at the forefront of two historic trends: unprecedented innovation and increased complexity. To take advantage of these trends and compete successfully, aerospace and defense companies must embrace the digital enterprise (digital twin and digital thread) in order to be more productive, innovate faster, and achieve program execution excellence to ensure programs deliver on technical requirements, cost and schedule. Read this white paper to learn how digital transformation affects aerospace manufacturers and government agencies enabling productivity and innovations for the next generation of design, manufacturing and maintenance. https://aviationweek.com/knowledge-center/growing-importance-digital-thread-across-ad-product-lifecycle