Harris Corporation recently announced a 10-year contract to provide a complete, end-to-end solution for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – Series R Ground Segment (GOES-R GS) program. GOES satellites’ most important function involves tracking severe weather of all types. Their most familiar one provides many of the images and time-lapse sequences used in American television weather forecasts.
Both GOES-R and its accompanying ground systems represent significant advances over previous versions…
Bell’s 412 series helicopters represent the latest evolution of its famed “Huey” design that can be sold to civilians. Militarily, it lags behind the newer UH-1Y, which is just entering service with the USMC. The 412 family was available far earlier, however, and remains a commercial and military success. These twin-engine utility helicopters are easily identifiable by their 4-bladed composite rotors, and serve with a wide array of military, government, and civilian operators around the world. Over 700 have been produced.
Bell 412EP (“enhanced performance”) helicopters are being sold to the Mexican Air Force (FAM). Mexico will use them to fight drug traffickers, gangs, and other criminal activities in its ongoing “Cartel War,” which has already claimed thousands of lives. The helicopters can also provide support to Mexico’s civilian population during natural disasters. Events related to this purchase, and background resources regarding Mexico’s situation, include…
Environmental Leader covers the US Navy’s i-ENCON program, which helped US Navy ships save more than $79 million in fuel costs during Q1-Q2 2009. That’s the largest 2-quarter cost savings since the fleet-wide conservation program was implemented in FY 1999.
The article explains i-ENCON in more depth, reviews the trend in the U.S. Navy’s overall energy consumption level, and points to an interesting new initiative in Raser Technologies Inc.’s new 100 miles-per-gallon, extended-range electric Hummer H3 demonstrator.
