TATA SET FOR FIRST SIKORSKY DELIVERIES
ROTORCRAFT The helicopter production facility set up by India's Tata Advanced Systems at the Special Economic Zone in Adibatla, near Hyderabad, will deliver its first consignment of cabins for S-92 helicopters to the US airframer this month. Separately, Indian automotive major Mahindra has offered to set up a Rs0.3 billion ($68 million) aerospace project in the zone.
ISRAEL TO MONITOR UAV EXPORTS TO RUSSIA
EXPORTS The Israeli defence ministry is to establish a special unit to administer tight controls over the sale of Israeli-made unmanned air vehicles to Russia. In October, Israel Aerospace Industries signed a $400 million contract to sell components for UAVs to Oboronprom from next year. The Israeli defence ministry refuses to comment on restrictions related to this deal, but sources familiar with the contract say it includes only systems with "no strategic capabilities".
SMALL BUSINESSES SUE OVER BOEING DEAL
LITIGATION The American Small Business League is suing the US Department of Homeland Security for refusing to release reports on contracts awarded to Boeing. The league, which believes the information contained in the reports may show that Boeing and the DHS co-operated in an effort to circumvent federal law, which requires 23% of all federal contracts to be awarded to small businesses, is preparing litigation involving other prime contractors.
SEA LAUNCH EMERGES FROM CHAPTER 11
SPACEFLIGHT Long Beach-based Sea Launch has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with Russia's Energia Overseas as majority owner and is currently preparing for a land launch at Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan, scheduled for as early as the first quarter of 2011. The company filed for protection in June 2009, citing knock-on effects from a January 2007 launch failure, cost overruns totalling $119 million and the global economic downturn.
IRIDIUM SEALS CASH FOR NEXT CONSTELLATION
SATELLITES Iridium Communications has successfully closed the $1.8 billion financing facility for its next generation satellite constellation, Iridium Next, putting into effect its system development contact with Thales Alenia Space.
ROCKWELL COLLINS POSTS CIVIL PROFITS RISE
ELECTRONICS Rockwell Collins Commercial Systems business segment posted a 14% rise in operating profit to $81 million for its year to the end of September, as civil air transport electronics sales rose 1.2% to $998 million, while sales in the business and regional aviation sector fell 11% to $806 million. Sales in the government airborne systems segment rose 5% to $1.85 billion.
UK REGION GETS COMPOSITES FOCUS
RESEARCH The UK's North West Aerospace Alliance is to pump £2 million ($3.2 million) into composites research in its region. The funding, to be matched by companies involved, will target cost reductions and speed improvements in components manufacturing.
GOODRICH BREAKS GROUND FOR POLAND PLANT
MANUFACTURING Goodrich has begun site preparation activities at a new 5.3Ha (13 acre) site in Rzeszow, Poland to build a manufacturing facility to support, initially, its landing gear business. Production is expected to start in the second quarter of 2012.
Source: Flight International
