LOCKHEED AWARDED TWO MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACTS.Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer PALMDALE - Lockheed Martin received two multimillion-dollar contracts toward developing high-speed aircraft technologies aimed at increasing the American military's ability to attack faraway targets quickly. The Office of Naval Research The U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia (Ballston), is the office within the U.S. Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S. awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.-Palmdale a five-year contract with a ceiling of $175 million to develop high-speed turbine engine technologies that could be applied to future missiles or aircraft. The company also received an $8.3 million contract from the Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), U.S. government agency administered by the Department of Defense (see Defense, United States Department of). to continue development of technologies needed for a pilotless, hypersonic bomber capable of striking targets anywhere in the world in less than two hours. The company could receive $97 million for the construction of a test aircraft. The Air Force/DARPA contract continues initial work begun by the company in November under a $1.2 million contract for technology studies. Work for both contracts will be conducted by existing staff and neither will increase employment in Palmdale, company spokeswoman Dianne Knippel said. The Navy contract is for a program called the Revolutionary Approach to Time-critical Long Range Strike, or RATTLRS RATTLRS Revolutionary Approach to Time-Critical Long Range Strike . The program is aimed at increasing the capabilities and performance of expendable supersonic vehicles. RATTLRS is a technology demonstration program at this point and not a weapon development program, officials said. The technology developed under the program could be applied to both missiles and military aircraft. Examples of potential tactical weapons include being able to be air- launched by a jet fighter Jet fighter may refer to:
The contract requires the demonstration vehicles be capable of flying at speeds of Mach 3, roughly 2,100 mph, using only turbine engine power and sustaining that speed for at least five minutes. Government officials want the design to allow for an increase in capabilities to Mach 4, roughly 2,800 mph, for at least 15 minutes. The program's goals include at least three demonstration flights, with the first occurring in three years, according to government bid documents. Lockheed Martin is teamed with Allison Advanced Development Co. on the project. The project will use Allison's YJ102R engine, which the team says has the supersonic cruise capability of Lockheed Martin's legendary SR-71 spy plane but is simple and inexpensive enough to be used in an expendable missile. ``Our team's RATTLRS approach will contribute landmark technologies toward Long Range Strike,'' said Neil Kacena of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.'s Advanced Development Programs organization, also known as the Skunk skunk, name for several related New World mammals of the weasel family, characterized by their conspicuous black and white markings and use of a strong, highly offensive odor for defense. Works. ``The Lockheed Martin-led team builds on years of demonstrated success in high-speed, hypersonic technology development and weapon system performance in support of the Office of Naval Research's RATTLRS program goals.'' The second contract was awarded for a program called Force Application and Launch from the Continental U.S., or FALCON for short. The ultimate goal of the program is to develop an aircraft capable of flying at least 3,500 mph - more than 1,000 mph faster than the current record holder - and able to carry 12,000 pounds of cruise missiles or small-diameter bombs. Defense officials are also looking to use the same technologies developed in the hypersonic bomber program for launching small satellites into space. The SLV SLV abbr. standard launch vehicle would be capable of placing a small satellite or other payload weighing approximately 1,000 pounds into a low Earth orbit (communications) low earth orbit - (LEO) The kind of orbit used by communications satellites that will offer high bandwidth for video on demand, television, and Internet communications. at a total launch cost of less than $5 million. Defense officials hope it will be ready by 2010. Lockheed Martin heads a team made up of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Lockheed Martin Space Systems is one of the 4 major business divisions of Lockheed Martin. It is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. From a rich history of major companies Lockheed Martin has brought them together to offer design, integration, and production of: GASL Greater Annapolis Swim League , Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Under the contract, the team will conduct a six-month preliminary design effort. At the successful conclusion of that phase, Lockheed Martin will begin a 30-month phase to complete detailed design, build and flight-test of an initial hypersonic technology test-bed vehicle. Jim Skeen, (661) 267-5743 james.skeen(at)dailynews.com |
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