Radix Researches Radical Receivers

Radix Technologies Inc. of Mountain View, CA received a $25M not-to-exceed, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program contract for Topic N99-189 entitled “Small Global Positioning System Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna for Aircraft.” The idea is to create a receiver for aircraft using a pattern antenna that’s small, controlled, and has effective anti-jamming capabilities but isn’t too expensive. Work will be performed in Mountain View, CA, and is expected to be completed in March 2010. This contract was competitively procured using an SBIR Program Solicitation under Topic N99-189 and 10 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J. issued the contract (# N68335-05-D-0004).

Integral Gets $23.8M to Help Monitor Satellites’ Integrity

Integral Systems of Lanham, MD is being awarded a $23.8M cost-plus award-fee contract to provide for first developmental step (Spiral 1) of a system to detect, characterize, report on, and assess any attacks on U.S. owned, operated or used satellite communications. The Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System program will include a suite of RF interference sensors, geolocation equipment, and centralized control. Solicitation began October 2004, and this work will be complete by March 2007. The Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center of Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA issued the contract (FA8819-05-C0018).

Missile Defense Test Fizzles

Reuters: U.S. Missile Defense Test Fails

Earlier test

A much-touted test of the U.S. anti-missile shield failed yesterday when the kill vehicle failed to launch due to an unknown technical reason. The target missile launched successfully from Kodiak Island, Alaska about a quarter hour prior to the kill vehicle’s failure. The $85 million test was the first test in two years for the $10 billion a year program. A successful hit would have allowed the U.S. Administration to consider deploying a rudimentary system based on the current technology. Michael Wynne, the Defense Departments head of procurement told reporters that, while the goal had been set to have something up and running by the end of this year, “I’m not constrained by timing, exactly.”

Of the eight tests run so far on the program, five of them have scored kills in highly scripted conditions. Boeing is the prime contractor, working with Northrop Grumman for battle management and Raytheon for the kill vehicle. Lockheed Martin and Orbital Sciences contribute booster rockets.

Reuters: U.S. Missile Defense Test Fails

Earlier test

A much-touted test of the U.S. anti-missile shield failed yesterday when the kill vehicle failed to launch due to an unknown technical reason. The target missile launched successfully from Kodiak Island, Alaska about a quarter hour prior to the kill vehicle’s failure. The $85 million test was the first test in two years for the $10 billion a year program. A successful hit would have allowed the U.S. Administration to consider deploying a rudimentary system based on the current technology. Michael Wynne, the Defense Departments head of procurement told reporters that, while the goal had been set to have something up and running by the end of this year, “I’m not constrained by timing, exactly.”

Of the eight tests run so far on the program, five of them have scored kills in highly scripted conditions. Boeing is the prime contractor, working with Northrop Grumman for battle management and Raytheon for the kill vehicle. Lockheed Martin and Orbital Sciences contribute booster rockets.

Reuters: U.S. Missile Defense Test Fails

Earlier test

A much-touted test of the U.S. anti-missile shield failed yesterday when the kill vehicle failed to launch due to an unknown technical reason. The target missile launched successfully from Kodiak Island, Alaska about a quarter hour prior to the kill vehicle’s failure. The $85 million test was the first test in two years for the $10 billion a year program. A successful hit would have allowed the U.S. Administration to consider deploying a rudimentary system based on the current technology. Michael Wynne, the Defense Departments head of procurement told reporters that, while the goal had been set to have something up and running by the end of this year, “I’m not constrained by timing, exactly.”

Of the eight tests run so far on the program, five of them have scored kills in highly scripted conditions. Boeing is the prime contractor, working with Northrop Grumman for battle management and Raytheon for the kill vehicle. Lockheed Martin and Orbital Sciences contribute booster rockets.