US Modernizing its FPS-117 Surveillance Radars

Early brochure

The L-band, solid-state, 3-D AN/FPS-117 remains a very popular air surveillance radar around the globe, and can support both military and civilian functions. They’re designed for relatively good range and minimal maintenance, even in extremely harsh environments like northern Alaska and Greenland.

Lockheed Martin MS2 Radar Systems in Liverpool, NY has long since taken over from GE as the contractor who makes and maintains them, while the Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, UT handles contracts, with a goal of maintaining current system coverage until 2025…

Boeing’s Humongous Backlog is Overwhelmingly Commercial

• Boeing reported 2013 revenue up 6% to a record $86.6B. Total backlog grew by $51B to $441B. As big as that number is, Airbus towers above it with more than $800B in their order book, or 8 years of production. Is this too much of a good thing? Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security business grew by 2% to $33.2B, though the company expects to lose as much as 10% of that topline in 2014. At $67B, the DSS backlog amounts to just 15% of the total.